Homer, AK - Activities

Visit the Spit - You Should Go

The Spit

A Fisherman and his Halibut

The Spit is Homer's most pronounced landmark. It is a 5 mile long strip of land that juts out into Kachemak Bay. It functions the same as a California pier. There are shops, docks, restaurants, and even a hotel along its paved, 2-lane road. This  is a great place to stroll and shop, grab some grub, or just enjoy the view if the skies are clear.

Wine Tasting at Bear Creek Winery - You Should Go

Bear Creek is Homer's very own local winery. It's unique selection of berry wines make it an exciting experience for wine connoisseurs and newbies alike. The tasting is free and include 6 1-ounce samples of almost anything on their wine menu (some seasonal selections aren't available at certain times of the year). Keep in mind that the intent of these tastings is for people to buy a bottle they like, and bottles range from $20-$30. The staff is friendly and they usually have cheese, crackers, and/or chocolate to pair with your tastings.

Kayaking on Kachemak Bay - You Should Go

My very first kayaking experience was on Kachemak Bay (during a previous visit), and I have loved kayaking ever since. When we went on this trip, the weather was perfect. It was a clear day in August (rather unusual) and we saw a lot of wildlife, including a pod of porpoises, seals, and a couple of otters only 30 feet in front of us. It was almost better than the wildlife boating trip we had taken a few days earlier.

Nate in his kayak.

Unlike kayaks in California, sea kayaks are enclosed. You have to put your legs inside the front of the kayak (which has foot-operated rudders for steering) and wear a skirt (that's worn like suspenders) which you then attach to the opening on the kayak to keep water out. It's a little nerve-racking to know that you'd have to free yourself from the vessel if it tipped over, but that hasn't happened to me and I'm a beginner. We were lent two single-kayaks by a friend of my aunt's, so our trip was free. We just picked a spot on the Spit to launch from (we chose the parking lot with the gazebo) and paddled along the shoreline until we reached the docks on the other side. There, we were picked up at the parking lot next to Land's End. If you need to rent a kayak (as you probably will),  you can rent one from Bay Excursions (a day is $45 for a single and $65 for a double) or there are guided tours through True North Adventures that range from $100-$215 a person. Either way, I would definitely recommend kayaking in Homer.

Hiking and Biking Trails: Diamond Creek - You Should Go

We only did one hike during our time in Homer, but there are lots of other trail options. For a complete list of hiking trails, visit the City of Homer Recreation website. This particular trail is about 4 miles north of the main part of Homer. Once you find the trail sign, you can park and walk an extra mile to the trail head or, if you have a good off-roading vehicle, you can drive the bumpy dirt road to the trail head. We drove the road in my uncle's 4WD. The trail is a 1-mile long downhill from a forest area to a rocky beach with views of a distant volcano. The trail is shady and green, but it can also be VERY muddy, so wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty. You get back to your car the same way you came, and it's a good uphill climb, but it's not too difficult. I enjoyed the trail because of the scenery and the lack of looming bear attacks so close to town.

Enjoy the Views - You Should Go

Kachemak Bay at Dusk

The best thing about Alaska in general (but Homer in particular) is its gorgeous views. I haven't been all over the world (yet) but I have been to a few continents, and I've yet to see anything as breathtaking as the scenery in Alaska. A leisurely drive south on Pioneer Ave (which turns into East End Rd) took us to this beautiful view of the bay and glaciers around dusk (which was about 8pm at this time of year). There are also little Russian communities at that end of Homer that are worth a look. Along the way we saw a young moose eating right along the road, and we took the picture you see below.

There are also some good viewing spots in the main part of Homer. If you take a drive up East or West Hill Rd to Skyline Drive, you can find some out-of-the-way photo spots that seem too good to be true. There is a marked spot along Skyline Drive that you should just ignore. Instead, take the road leading to the reservoir (the roads are dirt from here on but are easy to drive in a sedan), make a left into a small neighborhood of houses, and follow a road that is mostly covered in grass that starts at a tunnel of trees and looks like it might be someone's driveway. If you drive up there a ways, you'll come to a field of fireweed (one of Homer's most famous flowers) and beautiful view.

The field of fireweed we found.

From this vantage point, you won't be able to get a good view of the Spit. Instead, you'll see a small hill closer to the water. Follow the road to the top of that hill (we honestly just eyed it, I didn't write down any street names and I'm not sure there were any) and turn to the left. You'll find a clearing that looks like the teenage make-out spot but has the best view of the Spit you can find. It may take some dedication finding it, but it will be well worth it.

Our view of the Spit (still a little cloudy that day)

Art Galleries - You Should Go

Due to the fact that art galleries display individuals' art, I did not take any pictures of the galleries themselves, but that is Homer's mainstay. There are the Ptarmigan Arts and Fireweed Galleries in the main part of Homer, as well as Art Shop Gallery (which is a great place to buy ornaments if you're into that...like we are). If you're willing to drive about 15 minutes, there is also the gigantic Norman Lowell Gallery just north of Homer. We visited all these and they have a range of local art, from jewelry to paintings and sculptures, to woven work and pottery. The only one you can spend a significant amount of time in is the Norman Lowell Gallery. It has about 8 different rooms all filled with the artist's paintings and some other pieces by local artists. It's FREE to go ang browse around, and you have the opportunity to purchase prints or actual paintings, although they're much too steep for my wallet. The artist is still alive and still creating new artwork, so if you're lucky you may even get a chance to meet him (like Nate and I had the pleasure of doing on our visit). My one tip is this: DO NOT JUST TYPE THE ADDRESS INTO YOUR GPS. We did that and ended up on a hill in the middle of nowhere. Instead, go to the website and read the directions on the "Contact Us" page. They're easy to follow and we found the place in a snap with those.