The World’s Halibut Fishing Capital Sits Beneath Towering Mountains & Ancient Glaciers in Alaska

Homer, Alaska

At the edge of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula sits Homer, a funky fishing town where artists and commercial fishermen share the spectacular Kachemak Bay.

Eagles soar over the famous Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile strip of land packed with docks, seafood shacks, and local galleries.

The town serves up some of Alaska’s freshest halibut, while snow-capped volcanoes and glaciers create a backdrop that looks almost too perfect to be real.

Here are some of the best things to do in gorgeous Homer, Alaska.

Catch a massive halibut in the fishing capital of the world

You’ll find charter boats heading out daily from Homer Harbor to Kachemak Bay where monster catches weigh several hundred pounds.

Your options range from half-day trips to full-day adventures, with captains who know exactly where the fish are biting.

Look for boats with heated cabins and onboard restrooms during longer trips. Many offer combo trips targeting salmon along with halibut.

After you’ve reached your limit, most charters will clean and package your catch for shipping or cooking, right then and there.

Fishing season runs April through October, with many vessels carrying just six passengers for a more personal experience.

Walk through Homer Spit at Kachemak Bay

Homer Spit serves as the heart of the town’s maritime role, stretching 4.5-miles filled with filled with port facilities, small boat harbors, and restaurants.

You can stroll the boardwalk while checking out local artisan shops selling handcrafted jewelry, clothing, and authentic Alaskan souvenirs.

The Spit buzzes with working fishermen who bring in their daily catch. It’s also the departure point for charter boats, water taxis, and fishing tours.

You can drive all the way to the end, with ocean on both sides, finishing at Land’s End with its own beautiful beach.

Make sure to visit the historic Salty Dawg Saloon, one of Homer’s oldest buildings, originally constructed as a coal company office.

Explore 24,000 artifacts at the historic Pratt Museum

Get a deep dive into the Kachemak Bay region at the Pratt Museum, established in 1968 with its historic cabin, botanical gardens, and nature trails.

The museum houses over 24,000 maritime objects, including archaeological artifacts, prints, photographs, and agricultural tools.

It was founded by the Homer Society of Natural History in 1965. Local artist Sam Pratt donated the land and served as the first volunteer curator.

In 1982, the Pratt became Alaska’s first private museum to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums.

Ferry over to Halibut Cove where homes perch on stilts above the water

Across Kachemak Bay you’ll find a charming community unlike anywhere else in Alaska, that boasts the only floating Post Office in the U.S.

Halibut Cove has homes perched on stilts amidst lapping waves. Since it’s only accessible by boat, the place has a car-free atmosphere.

Take a ferry from Homer and step aboard it’s preserved boardwalks that connect you to galleries, restaurants, and homes built above the tidal waters.

The Danny J has transported both residents and tourists to Halibut Cove since 1966.

Hike to glaciers in Alaska’s first state park across the bay

Just a short boat ride from Homer lies Kachemak Bay State Park encompassing glaciers, rivers, waterfalls, and a 10-mile coastline.

You’ll need to hop on a water taxi from Homer Harbor to get there. Once you arrive, extensive trail networks lead to Grewingk Glacier Lake.

This was Alaska’s first state park, totaling more than 400,000 acres of mountain peaks, pristine glaciers, deep forests, and rugged coastline.

If one day isn’t enough, camping permits let you extend your adventure.

Paddle a kayak next to curious sea otters in protected coves

Try sea kayaking in Kachemak Bay where you can get up close with marine creatures.

Some lodges provide kayaks with accommodation facilities, while others offer rental services with delivery by water taxi.

Besides kayaking and paddleboarding, you can enjoy kite surfing and spearfishing. Local outfitters provide guided trips for all skill levels.

You’ll often find curious sea otters approaching your kayak, while harbor seals frequently pop up to check you out.

Spot thousands of puffins and seabirds nesting on Gull Island

Bird lovers shouldn’t miss Gull Island, a seabird sanctuary in Kachemak Bay that hosts approximately 16,000 nesting seabirds.

At high tide, the ferry gets so close that you can look into the nests. Most water taxis and tour boats include this remarkable island on their routes.

Tufted puffins, black-legged kittiwakes, common murres, and glaucous-winged gulls create a spectacular wildlife display.

Find colorful sea stars and anemones at Bishop’s Beach tidepools

Kachemak Bay has (the second biggest tide changes globally) nearly 30 vertical feet difference between the lowest and highest tides.

The abundant tidepools at Bishop’s Beach contain colorful anemones, sea stars, jellyfish, and mussels clustered on rocks.

Located just two blocks from Old Town, this place gives you options to sit and enjoy some beachcombing while wading through tidepools.

Check out the nearby Beluga Slough boardwalk trail for birdwatching or look for blackened areas from Homer’s ancient coal bed.

The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center sits nearby, where you can combine your beach visit with educational exhibits.

Browse art the Alaska’s Norman Lowell Gallery

Between Homer and Anchor Point, you’ll discover an impressive 10,000-square-foot art destination perched on bluffs above the Anchor River.

The Norman Lowell Gallery sits on the artist’s original homestead property and ranks as one of the largest single-artist galleries in the country.

Lowell designed the space himself. Inside, five rooms showcase about 400 scenes (nearly half of his entire artwork) from all regions of Alaska.

You can also explore the log home Lowell built for his family in the 1980s. The gallery welcomes visitors from spring to mid-September annually.

Join a guided walking tour through the working Homer Harbor

For 25 years, volunteers have conducted Homer Harbor History Tours through the Pratt Museum, running Thursdays and Fridays at 3 pm during summer months.

Watch fishermen unload and process their catches as guides share personal stories and historical anecdotes about the community.

Tours begin at a kiosk made from an old boat wheelhouse, located outside the well-known Salty Dog Saloon on the Spit.

For a different perspective, the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies offers “Creatures of the Dock” tours exploring marine life around the harbor.

Wander through multiple art galleries in Pioneer Avenue’s creative district

Homer earned its reputation as an artists’ haven and it’s inspired a multitude of artists working in various styles.

Pioneer Avenue and the Old Town district host the highest concentration of galleries.

Ptarmigan Arts operates as the only cooperative gallery in town, owned and operated by local Alaskan artists (both new and old).

The SeaLion Gallery displays works from local artists across various mediums including paintings, sculpture, and jewelry.

Ride the 45-minute Fast Ferry to historic Seldovia village

Seldovia is a historic village that remains accessible only by boat or plane.

With approximately 270 year-round residents, this Alaskan community prides itself on avoiding commercial development.

The Seldovia Museum offers insights into the town’s Russian origins and Native Alaskan influences with wooden boardwalks that line the waterfront.

For outdoor enthusiasts, hiking trails including Rocky Ridge Trail and Otter Bahn Trail provide scenic views of surrounding mountains and bays.

Most ferry services include a stop at Gull Island Seabird Rookery during the crossing.

Taste fresh-caught seafood at Homer’s acclaimed local restaurants

Seafood dominates most menus, with halibut and salmon as the stars.

Visit Coal Point Seafood Company’s Fresh Seafood Market to enjoy just-caught fish at their seafood bar (old and running).

The town’s oysters are best enjoyed fresh at the Broken Oar Oyster Bar with a glass of wine while overlooking the glacial mountains.

For something different, Swell Taco offers unique Mexican fare, conveniently located on the main boardwalk of Homer Spit.

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