Homer AK

Homer’s deep-water dock sits on Homer Spit Rd, around 5 km’s from downtown Homer. Shuttles are available.

Homer Spit is open all year, although shops at its far end generally shut around mid September and reopen in April. This huge spit reaches into the middle of the bay and claims to be the furthest west road-accessible point on the north American continent. Wildlife is spectacular along it, particularly the bald headed eagles that feed and nest there. Walking the Spit from beginning to end takes about an hour. The beach walk is lovely too, but tides can block access at high water.

Take a printable map.

Sightseeing options:

Homer lies on southern Kenai Peninsula, beside the clean waters of Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet, beneath the Kenai Mountains. The peninsula’s second-largest city is known for the geographical feature locals call The Spit. 15,000 years ago a glacier covering Kachemak Bay pushed a five-mile gravel bar toward Cook Inlet; when the glaciers withdrew, the bar remained. It is now a lively port where visitors stroll beaches and boardwalks.

At Pratt Museum, discover the natural history of the bay and southern Kenai Peninsula. Tour the harbour by looking through local-art galleries or pause at the Salty Dawg Saloon, dating from the late 1800 s. At low tide, walk the sand to see tide-pool life. With luck, eagles may soar overhead and seals, otters or sea lions may share the view.

Summer in Homer is known for halibut fishing. At the start of autumn, September brings several weeks when the Fishing Hole is literally full of salmon. In and around Homer, you may also encounter moose, a black bear, puffins, seabirds, eagles, sea otters, porpoises, killer whales, porcupine, harbor seal, beluga whales and more.

Homer has 3 car-rental options: Hertz, Adventure USA and Polar.

Alongside taxis and rental cars, Homer USA operates a hop-on, hop-off trolley linking Homer Spit with the museum, visitors centers, old town, galleries, restaurants and more. An all-day pass costs $12+ tax, includes an entertaining narrated tour, and the driver will make other stops on request.

Cross the bay by water taxi to Kachemak Bay State Park for excellent hiking. Be sure to see the lake with a glacier at its end.

Kachemak Bay State Park is the USA’s jewel and the state’s first and largest Park. With wildlife on the land, in the air and across the sea, it offers enough to occupy a lifetime. Mountain goats appear on remote, beautiful Sadie Cove’s cliffs, from the entrance up to the wilderness lodge on the south-facing shore. Black bears live high in the mountains and can also be seen along Park shores in spring seeking the first food of the season. Bald Eagles are overhead, and seals and sea lions are in the ocean…

The United States dollar (symbol: $) is the official U.S. currency. ATM’s are everywhere.

Visa and MasterCard are broadly accepted, even for purchases of only a few dollars, and can sometimes be the only payment option. Overseas visitors should remember that listed prices can seem lower than their true cost because taxes and gratuities are rarely included.

State sales taxes run from 2.9% to almost 10% of retail price, with 4-6% being common. They are nearly never included in displayed prices, apart from gasoline and, in most states, alcoholic drinks consumed on-premises; instead, they are calculated and added when you pay.

The Public Library has free internet access, though it uses a donation box and signup-sheet waiting list.

At federal level the U.S. has no official language, but English is overwhelmingly the everyday standard. A number of states have made English their official state language. Spanish is also official and widely spoken in New Mexico; French is official in Louisiana and Hawaiian in Hawaii, though neither comes close to English in use and their official status is chiefly historical.

Emergency number: 911.

Most stores do not open on Sunday.