Page 221 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Homer
Location: Southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula
at the end of the Sterling Highway 1; 220
miles southwest of Anchorage. Population:
5000. Visitor Information: Homer Chamber of
Commerce and Visitor Information Center, PO
Box 541, 201 Sterling Highway. Homer, AK
99603; Phone: (907) 235-7740.

Homer is nestled in the spruce at the literal end of
the road, where majestic mountains meet the sea. The
view is stupendous and takes your breath away. You
can fly in, a short 45-minute flight from Anchorage
or drive in over Baycrest Hill, breaking through
the clouds to view the city below. Homer is truly a
picture perfect setting that must be experienced.
Located on Kachemak Bay (the largest coastal
park in the United States), Homer is a rugged mixture Homer Boat Harbor
of mountains, fjords, glaciers, beaches and forests. photo by:
VC TRAVEL GUIDE
Often called the “land’s end,” Homer presides over a
marine environment that draws visitors from around
the world. The hub of most tourist activity is the Homer is bustling with activity and visitors Access to bear viewing areas from Homer can be
Homer “Spit,” a narrow strip of beach jutting five can choose from a variety of things to do or see: provided by plane, float plane or boat. You can make
miles out into the Bay. clamming, fishing, beachcombing, tide pooling, a day trip or stay over night in a land-based camp.
Fresh halibut, king salmon, shrimp, tanner and watching commercial fishing boats, sight-seeing, Photography, natural history and flight-seeing trips
dungeness crab abound as do clams, cockles and ferry boat rides and Bay tours, kayaking, hiking and are also available. Bear viewing is an appropriate
mussels. Trophy fish are the quest for many summer berry picking to name a few. Other attractions are activity for just about anyone, but not every trip is
visitors while others enjoy the scenery and wildlife the Kenai Mountains, Kachemak Bay State Park, a good fit for every person, so there are plenty of
that include sea lions, whales, porpoises, sea otters glaciers, volcanoes, viewing brown bear and a host options. The Visitor Information Center can offer
and many species of birdlife. Gull Island, a ten- of other wildlife, first class museums, art galleries information about a variety of fun and safe bear
minute boat ride off the tip of the Spit, is the third and live theater. viewing opportunities.
largest and the most accessible seabird rookery in Homer is known as the gateway to Katmai and From Homer, Smokey Bay Air serves the
Cook Inlet. Eight species regularly nest on the island; Lake Clark National Park and Preserves, both of Kachemak Bay communities of Seldovia, Port
tufted and horned puffins, common murres, black- which have dense populations of brown bears. Graham and Nanwalek with multiple daily flights,
legged kittiwakes, pigeon guillemots, glaucous- There are several Homer-based companies that offers glacier and volcano tours, statewide charters,
winged gulls and pelagic and red-faced cormorants. provide quality, guided bear viewing experiences. fly-in fishing trips, and in conjunction with

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