The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is Homer's newest attraction. Perhaps its oldest is fishing.
Homer area services
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Lodging
Charters and tours
Homer, Alaska, is considered the halibut capital of the world -- or so locals claim. And it's hard to argue with them. Halibut charters leave the small-boat harbor on the Homer Spit every morning. Last year, the winner of the Homer Halibut Derby pocketed more than $46,000 with his 345-pound halibut. There also is good salmon fishing in the area.
Aside from fishing, there are plenty of other activities.
Some just want to stare at the beauty of Kachemak Bay and the surrounding area, while others want to immerse themselves in it.
"Once you come over that hill into town, I don't care how many vistas you've seen across Alaska, this is the most beautiful place there is," Schneider said of the overlook at Baycrest Hill.
Barb Buzzelli, owner of Inlet Charters, said the options for outdoor adventure are limitless. Just across Kachemak Bay from Homer is a wonderful wilderness world, highlighted by Kachemak Bay State Park, one of the largest coastal parks in the nation. The park and its neighbor, Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park, offer about 400,000 combined acres. The area includes islands, glaciers, mountains more than 4,000 feet high, fjords, beaches and rugged coastlines.
Roger MacCampbell, chief ranger at the park, said there are about 90 miles of hiking trails in Kachemak Bay State Park. The park can only be accessed by water or air.
"Since you can only get there by boat or airplane, the park is still pretty much a wilderness experience," MacCampbell said. "It's virtually uncrowded once you get on the trails and off the main beaches.
"It's a good place to explore and there is good alpine country. You can really get out there on your own. It's a good place to sit and contemplate things."
There are several water- and air-taxi services in Homer. They provide access to the state park and some of the smaller communities across the bay from Homer, including Seldovia and Halibut Cove.
Water taxis also provide access to excellent kayaking options.
Buzzelli said there are guided half- and full-day trips to a number of locations. Kayaks allow access to Halibut Cove, China Poot Bay, Peterson Bay, Sadie Cove, Tutka Bay, Jakolof Bay, Kasitsna Bay and Seldovia Bay.
"You can go to the state park and hike to a lake and kayak in the lake," she said. "Or you can kayak in the different bays. You can see bird rookeries, seals, otters, bald eagles. There is really good tide pooling.
"There is almost no limit to what kind of trip you can do. You can't get bored. You could do four different day trips and then start doing overnighters."
For those looking for more sedate adventures, those options abound, whether it's looking at art or enjoying a fine meal.
Buzzelli's Inlet Charters is on the Homer Spit, a jetty of land sticking about four miles into Kachemak Bay. The Spit is a hub of activity during summer months. In addition to all the charter fishing boats that leave from the Spit, there are several restaurants, shops and the Salty Dog Saloon.
Homer and the surrounding community are a draw for artists. That is reflected in the numerous galleries around town stocked with handcrafted artwork.
Asia Freeman, director of the Bunnell Street Gallery and lifelong Homer resident, said the community nurtures artists.
"We've developed a lot of art infrastructure in Homer," she said. "It's pretty exciting. We're just really excited about working together.
"We have a very strong and well-connected group of potters and watercolor artists. There are a high number of painters; it's remarkable. There are 75 people actively painting in Homer."
In addition to Freeman's Bunnell Street Gallery, 106 W. Bunnell St., which is in a historic building built in 1937, there are other galleries to visit, whether shopping for souvenirs or just looking. They include:
• Art Shop Gallery, 202 W. Pioneer Ave.
• Fireweed Gallery, 475 E. Pioneer Ave.
• Jars of Clay Pottery, Main Street at Pioneer Avenue
• Picture Alaska Art Gallery, 488 E. Pioneer Ave.
• Ptarmigan Arts Studios and Gallery, 417 E. Pioneer Ave.
• The Sea Lion Fine Art Gallery, 4241 Homer Spit Road.
• The Studio, 177 E. Bunnell St.
The Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett St., is an excellent place to look at art and get a history lesson on the region.
Summer exhibits include "Kachemak Bay: An Exploration of People and Place" and "Women of the North," a contemporary Native art exhibit. There are films on bears and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. There also is a remote camera on Gull Island that allows visitors to see what's happening without getting wet.
The museum also has outdoor exhibits and a botanical garden.
Seldovia is just a plane flight or boat trip away, and it's worth a little effort to get to the unique community.
Seldovia's Otterbahn Trail leads to Outside Beach, with beautiful views across Kachemak Bay and out into Cook Inlet. The easily hiked trail is rich with birds and berries. It is thickly wooded and fairly flat. There is a boardwalk across a wetland.
In Seldovia, there are restaurants and bed and breakfasts to make the stay enjoyable.
