With all this hometown beauty to explore, it's no surprise that sometimes we travel close to home rather than jetting off to the next adventure. One of my go-to places for an Alaskan getaway is the town of Homer, AK.
Located approximately four hours from Anchorage, Homer is often referred to as "the end of the road" as it sits on the shores of Kachemak Bay and has a narrow gravel bar, known as the Homer Spit, that extends out into the bay. With a year round population of just over 5,000 people, summer brings tourists and lots of fishing, as well as sightseeing, camping and even some shopping!
The drive to Homer is very picturesque and has lots of potential stops along the way. You can stop in at the town of Girdwood, home to Alyeska Ski resort, have a snack at the Bake Shop and take a tram ride up the mountain. Or get up close and personal with bear and moose at the nearby Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, You can also drive just next door to Portage Glacier and take a tour.
We are usually so eager to get to Homer we rarely stop anywhere while enroute. When we crest that final small hill into town, and I can see the bay stretching out before me, all my everyday worries just disappear.
We like to stay right on the beach on the Homer Spit, which has great camping. There's also the Land's End Resort if camping isn't your thing. We "camp" in our truck, which has a nice full-size bed and canopy, making for easy (as in none) unpacking and packing up. Really, it's more like glamping. 'cause that's how we roll.
We don't do much when we're there. Build a fire, eat s'mores, walk on the beach, sit and stare at the ocean for hours, watch sea otters play, what more could you want?
We like to walk over to Finn's Pizza for dinner, which serves amazing wood-fired pizzas and is right on the beach! If you're looking to belly up to the bar, the Salty Dawg, a Homer landmark, is a must-see for tourists and locals alike. Pin a dollar bill on the wall with your name on it to commemorate your visit!
There is an overabundance of fishing charters available for anyone who wants to try for that trophy halibut, or you can take a water taxi to nearby Halibut Cove, a popular little artists colony with some lovely galleries and a nice place to lunch. And if you're looking for shopping, the boardwalks on the Spit have several charming little gift shops with beautiful handmade art pieces and Alaska-made clothing.
But really, Homer is one of my favorite places simply because it allows for an endless amount of goofing off! Walking on the beach, playing in tide pools, picking up shells and sea glass, that's my happy place.
B and I have been coming to Homer for years, and we cherish our time here (insert that cheesy love-selfie...yep, every time, get used to it!)
To be able to take a fairly short drive and be in a completely different environment, well, that's one of the things that makes Alaska so sought-after. People save their whole lives to come and see these things that we take for granted.
Spending time in Homer not only feeds my soul and my artist's spirit, it reminds me of what a gift living in Alaska can sometimes be (don't ask me that come January, though!) and gives me time to reflect on the things that really matter.
So if you're looking for a friendly little town to hang out, try spending some time at the end of the road in Homer. Where some roads end, real life begins.
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