If there’s one thing we learned on our travels throughout Alaska it’s that no two towns are alike. Homer, Alaska is no exception to that rule, in fact, it might even be the town that sets the standard for different.
We’re never keen on picking favorites- because if we’re being honest every new place we visit always seems to be our “favorite” but if we had to make a list of our most loved places in Alaska, Homer would no doubt be on it.
The town might be small but the list of things to do here is mighty.
Halibut Fishing
If there’s only one thing you do in Homer, Alaska Halibut fishing should be it. Known globally as the halibut fishing capital of the world. The cold deep waters here are the perfect environment for growing monster-sized halibut.
For our salty adventure, we chose to book a trip with Big Halibut, a local family-owned charter operation. Their full-day charter gave us the chance to not only haul in some massive halibut but to also do some ocean fishing for salmon. We highly recommend spending the money to experience both- catching salmon from a river is nothing like pulling them out of the ocean and getting to experience this classic Alaskan fishery from both sides of the tide is something not to miss! You can find more information for booking your day on the water through Big Halibut here.
Big Halibut is a full-service charter, meaning they get you on the fish, and will happily filet your fish for you on the ride back from fishing grounds, all prepped and ready for packaging on ice to take home with you. In our case when our friends at Bubba Blade heard we were on the hunt for big fish they sent us a set of their amazing filet knives- they live up to the hype and we’ve been hooked on their products ever since. If you’re interested in snagging a set for yourself, you can find out more information here.
Other Hot Fishing Spots Around Town
Homer may be known for its Halibut fishery but there is no shortage of places to fish for all manner of species around town!
The Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon: This small lagoon is stocked with both silver and king salmon, and on any given day you can find hundreds of friendly locals and visitors alike tossing a line. If you’re not into fishing but enjoy wildlife watching this is also a great spot to look for sneaky harbor seals who wander into the lagoon on the hunt for an easy meal.
Surf Casting On The Spit- The very end of town where the mighty homer spit meets the sea, is the perfect spot for surfcasting into the sea. From this spot, anglers can hook up on rockfish, lingcod, and the halibut’s smaller cousin sole.
Homer Spit
This long and narrow piece of land jutting 4.5 miles into Kachemak Bay is where all the action happens around town. Here you’ll find the fishing docks, local stores, private and city-operated campgrounds, the world-famous Salty Dawg Saloon, and a huge array of incredible restaurants.
Our favorite meal in town came from the Little Mermaid restaurant. Apparently, it’s a local favorite too because the wait to get a table was long but well worth it. Here we found some of the freshest food we ate during our entire time in Alaska. If you’re visiting Homer, this is one place you don’t want to skip over!
Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor’s Center
Operated by US Fish and Wildlife the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor’s center is a hub of information for all things related to life in and around the waters of Alaska. Here visitors can learn about the lifestyles and customs of Native Alaskans, Russian settlers, and the current challenges to wildlife conservation in Alaska.
In addition to a beautiful education center, the Visitor’s Center also has several walking paths located just behind the building, which are absolutely perfect for strolling and spotting wildlife along the way. In fact, we had one of our all-time favorite wildlife encounters in this area, when a mature bald eagle plopped down on the sand next to us and hung out for almost an hour. It was an up-close and personal experience we’ll never forget!
More information on the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor’s Center can be found here.
The Homer Farmer’s Market
It’s no secret that fresh farm-grown food can be a hard commodity to come by in the 49th State. Due to short growing seasons and harsh winters, fresh veggies can often be expensive, and honestly not really all that fresh, so imagine our surprise when we stumbled into the Homer farmers market.
This small community market opens late May thru September is chock full of local vendors selling everything from deliciously fresh veggies and locally made jams and jellies, to handmade goods, and jewelry.
Kachemak Bay State Park
There is so much to do in this beautiful little seaside town that it’s nearly impossible to fit it all into one visit- unfortunately for us, a visit to Kachemak Bay State Park was one experience we weren’t able to have. But after talking to several traveling friends who did make the trip across the bay, we couldn’t possibly not add it to this list. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, Alaska’s first State Park is one not to be missed, as we hear it! A land of glaciers with miles and miles of hiking trails if you have the time to explore this wonderland of a wilderness, we hear that it’s well worth the time and money!
Thanks For Being Here!
We’re so happy to have you here, and hope that you found the info in this post helpful or in the very least entertaining! Leave us a comment below, we’d love to get to know you better and hear your adventure stories!