20 Unique Things To Do In Homer, Alaska

1. Visit The Alaska Islands And Ocean Visitor Center

The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center offers a dynamic entrance to the huge marine and coastal ecosystems that make up Alaska's maritime refuges. This state-of-the-art facility puts visitors right in the middle of the enormous natural and cultural history of the region with its very latest exhibits and vibrant, engaging educational programs.

Guided tours inside which the visitors can scan a broad variety of wildlife ranging from seabirds to large marine mammals that call the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska their home. The center further underlines the crucial work of conservation being undertaken in an attempt to sustain these fragile habitats.

2. Take A Halibut Fishing Charter

Get ready to experience an unforgettable Homer, Alaska fishing charter, one that these thrill-seeking fishermen have been anticipating would occur with the capture of enormous halibut. Dubbed the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World," Homer gives way to some of the finest fishing opportunities across the state.

These charters have all the gear for you, along with an expert guide on board to point you toward catching those trophy-sized halibuts over 100 pounds. With the stunning backdrop of Alaska's rugged coastline and abundant wildlife enhancing the experience, it doesn't feel like any ordinary fishing trip but an expedition into the real wild heart of Alaska.

3. Visit The Salty Dawg Saloon

The Salty Dawg Saloon is a long-standing and extremely recognizable bar right at the very end of Homer Spit, Homer, Alaska, imbued with action and history. This is kind of a rustic pub with an older type of homeliness, where the walls are attractively decorated by colorful memorabilia, dollar bills, and other eclectic sorts of decoration provided by patrons over the years.

Known for its friendly atmosphere and laid-back vibe, Salty Dawg has a selection of local beers and craft cocktails to pair with hearty pub fare, making it a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. Its perch gives one view of Kachemak Bay and the surrounding landscape, giving an added dimension to the evening's experience.

4. Watch Bald Eagles At Beluga Slough

Beluga Slough is a quiet, ecologically diverse tidal wetland that offers visitors the experience of getting up close and personal with the best of coastal wildlife and habitats.

This place has been most noted for its numerous birdwatching opportunities, especially during migration periods when many species of shorebirds, waterfowl, and even Sandhill cranes visit.

Slough is an integral ecosystem running from fish and invertebrates to moose and small mammals. It has a large network of trails and boardwalks for access, accompanied by educational signage explaining the local flora and fauna.

5. Go Sea Kayaking In Kachemak Bay

Kachemak Bay is composed of rugged mountains, glaciers, and big stretches of forests that offer a dramatic backdrop for the outdoors. Its very productive waters are full of marine life, featuring sea otters, whales, seals, and lots of fish, making the place a haven for wildlife viewing, fishing, and kayaking.

Within Kachemak Bay is Alaska's very first state park, the Kachemak Bay State Park, with mile upon mile of hiking trails, camping spots, and the ability to visit remote beaches. This bay's special intertidal zones and estuaries have developed as a place for birders, with views of bald eagles, puffins, and many migratory birds.

6. Visit The Pratt Museum

The Pratt Museum is a regional cultural and natural history museum that offers in-depth exposure to the very rich heritage of Kachemak Bay. The museum contains various exhibits treating its natural environment, indigenous cultures, maritime history, and contemporary art.

Interactive exhibits include everything from a live feed to the Gull Island seabird rookery and a recreated Alaskan homestead cabin. Additional outdoor exhibits include a native plant garden and nature trails that further link the visitors with the local ecosystem.

The Pratt Museum also hosts rotating art exhibitions, educational programs, and special events that help celebrate Homer's unique culture and that of outlying areas.

7. Tour The Kilcher Homestead

Kilcher Homestead speaks much to the courage of early Alaskan settlers. A Swiss immigrant, Yule Kilcher settled this in the 1940s along with his family on more than 600 acres in the Alaskan wilderness. Today, it is still a real homestead operated by the Kilcher family, who have opened it up to public tours and education.

Visitors can view authentic log cabins, gain insight into subsistence farming and sustainable life, and listen to stories of experiences and challenges the Kilcher family faced while taming the land.

With its long history and magnificent natural environment, the Kilcher Homestead is truly special in providing insight into Alaska's frontier heritage and the indomitable spirit of self-sufficiency.

8. Visit Lake Clark National Park And Preserve

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in Homer is a remote, breathtaking wilderness offering the ultimate Alaska experience. This park has an array of landscapes of amazing variety, including soaring volcanoes, crystal-clear lakes, deep forests, and a pristine sea coast.

Right in the middle of it all is Lake Clark itself, a huge, turquoise-colored gem encircled by peaks covered with snow. This park is accessible only by small plane, which adds to the appeal of being a secret retreat for the real adventurer.

Activities one can enjoy in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve range from hiking and kayaking to fishing in its clear waters. It's also a habitat of brown bears, moose, wolves, and scores of bird species.

9. Hike To Grewingk Glacier

Grewingk Glacier is the most stupendous of nature's wonders. It is reachable through a scenic hike from Homer Spit, and it exposes one to incredible ice fields, great mountains, and tranquil lakes that characterize Kachemak Bay State Park.

Popular as moderate, the trail to Grewingk Glacier allows hikers an in-depth experience of glacial ice, with the tranquil Grewingk Glacier Lake sitting right in front of it. 

Homer weather must be planned for. The weather in this part fluctuates a lot, from one day to another. The ideal time for hiking is summer, with milder temperatures and a longer length of the day, the perfect place to taste and explore the astonishing sterling glacial landscape.

10. Experience The Homer Farmers Market

The Homer Farmers Market is an incredibly lively community hub, bringing together the best of what's locally grown, handcrafted, and food-wise prepared. Running weekly throughout summer, it features a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, and homemade goods supplied by local vendors.

Further boosting the atmosphere are the local musicians and food vendors that give a taste of Homer's culinary scene. If visitors or locals would like more, other nearby restaurants in Homer add to what the market has with fresh ingredients in their dishes.

It is a sweet blend of culture and cuisine that Homer Farmers Market offers, making it a must-see for locals and travelers alike.

11. Discover The Brooks Falls

Brooks Falls is one of the more impressive natural sights around and is known for very dramatic bear viewing. It is located in Alaska's Katmai National Park, about 300 miles from Homer. Brooks Falls in Homer is one of the top places in the park during the peak summer season where one can witness brown bears fishing for salmon.

This is a unique opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts and nature photographers, only accessible by floatplane from the town of Homer. These viewing platforms also offer great vantage points to see the bears at work but out of their way, at a safe distance to both parties and with minimal potential for disturbance.

12. Visit The Homer Brewing Company

Homer Brewing Company, is known for its craft beers and warm home-style atmosphere. This brewery periodically brings its focused portfolio of hand-crafted beers, brewed from choice ingredients, to taste. The Tasting Room has welcomed all to step inside its cozy insides to taste many brews while admiring the fabulous scenery of Kachemak Bay and the surrounding countryside.

Homer Brewing Company believes strongly in community involvement through many events that it either holds alone or participates in every year, in addition to partnering with other local businesses on projects. The place is for real craft beer lovers or if you just want to kick back with a locally brewed pint.

13. Take A Flightseeing Tour

This will be truly breathtaking scenery from an airplane view: a flightseeing tour over Homer, Alaska. Such guided tours show a perspective way up high of dramatic scenery extending around Kachemak Bay, surrounding glaciers, and a rugged coastline.

Take in expansive beauty on the Kenai Peninsula with famous attractions like the Grewingk Glacier and the volcanic peaks of the Aleutian Range.

Knowledgeable pilots provide informative commentary and point out sights along the way. Whether it's stunning photo opportunities or serene bird's-eye views of Alaska's wilderness, this flightseeing tour offers one the possibility to capture on film the grandeur and splendor of Homer's extra-special natural beauty remarkably.

14. Explore The Homer Spit

Homer Spit reaches out almost 4.5 miles into beautiful Kachemak Bay and is the single most distinctive feature of Homer, Alaska. This thin strip of land, created by glaciers thousands of years ago, beelines with activity and is a must-see for any tourist. The Spit is bustling with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and fishing charters, appealing to a wide range of interests.

The Spit serves as a launch point for many of the adventures, from wildlife tours to kayaking and ferry rides to outlying islands. Its rich history as a fishing community still resonates in this quaint harbor, full of boats, and its air thick with the salty tang of the sea.

15. Explore Kachemak Bay State Park

Kachemak Bay State Park represents an untouched natural sanctuary of diversified landscapes and chances for active outdoor recreation. The park was born in 1970 as a massive 400,000-acre preserve of hard country: mountains, glaciers, fords, and forests.

Most of Kachemak Bay State Park is accessible only by boat or seaplane, thus giving every visitor a great opportunity to explore this scenic beauty.

The park contains many trails, one of the most popular being the Grewingk Glacier Trail, which takes one to overlooks of breathtaking glacial views. Wildlife lovers can enjoy the sea otters and seals, with their multitude of birds, and the dramatic coastlines with picturesque bays that present great scenarios.

16. Watch For Whales

Whale watching in Homer is an exhilarating experience in the mere presence of large marine mammals in their habitat. Guided boat tours afford opportunities for observing a variety of whale species, which include varieties such as humpback whales, orcas, and gray whales, while they migrate through the nutrient-rich waters of Kachemak Bay.

The tours very often include knowledgeable naturalists aboard the boat who discuss whale behavior, feeding patterns, and conservation work. Other possible encounters with wildlife you may experience are sea otters, seals, and seabirds.

17. Visit The Norman Lowell Gallery

The Norman Lowell Gallery represents a rather famous venue for the observation of outstanding landscapes and wildlife from the Alaskan Wilderness through the optics of the famous painter Norman Lowell.

This gallery was created in memory of Lowell, including various collections of the said painter, who provided a very detailed expression of the greatness and serenity of Alaska's natural beauty.

It is here that scenes of rugged mountains, serene lakes, and majestic wildlife are rendered with Lowell's signature precision and artistry. It also gives insight into the life and creative process of the artist and is thus a must-see for all art lovers or anyone charmed by Alaska's scenic beauty.

18. Tour The Homer Clayworks

Homer Clayworks is a ceramic studio and gallery rejoicing in the art of pottery. The unique studio and gallery were founded by local artists who present an extensive collection of handcrafted ceramics from functional items such as mugs and bowls to decorative objects like sculptures and tiles.

It also includes other regional artists to showcase their work, reflecting the very strong artistic community existing within Homer. It has changing displays of pottery, workshops, and pieces for sale some of them truly unique.

Homer Clayworks became an artistic hub for artists and art lovers alike, reflecting the community's commitment to nurture local talent and appreciate the craft of ceramics.

19. Attend the Shorebird Festival

Shorebird Festival is an annual event, painted with the bright celebration of migratory birds and the life that those birds bring to the local ecosystem. This event is scheduled each May and identifies participants as bird watchers and lovers, naturalists, and family members from all districts joining in it.

It's an opportunity for the public to view rare and migratory birds up close, learn through expert ornithologists, and attend workshops and crafts. More than just a venue for promoting awareness about the significance of bird conservation, the Shorebird Festival always manages to evoke an atmosphere of community and gratefulness for the diverse and plentiful avian communities in Alaska.

20. Explore The Old Town Art Scene

The Old Town art scene is a product that fills the air of every historic district in the United States with new colors. The ambiance, from traditional architecture to small charming streets, warms up with the mix of different local galleries, artists' studios, and eclectic shops expressing unique pieces of art and craft.

One is bound to find all sorts of objects of art, from paintings and sculptures to homemade jewelry, all inspired by local culture and heritage. Art walks, gallery openings, and street festivals are offered nearly every weekend, making for excellent chances to meet some of the artists and just enjoy the atmosphere.