Located on Kachemak Bay on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, Homer’s reputation as a fantastic destination for kayaking, wildlife viewing, hiking, and fishing is well earned. Aside from its varied outdoor opportunities, Homer is also popular for the many shops, seafood restaurants, and art galleries that line the busy Homer Spit strip, as well as its lovely coastal views and beautiful gardens, which are often blooming with peonies.
This small city, known as the eco and adventure tourism capital of Alaska and the halibut fishing capital of the world, is one of our new Alaska Cruisetour stops for 2024. Visit Homer before or after embarking on one of our 7-night Northbound or Southbound Glacier cruise itineraries, by extending your vacation with a Cruisetour that visits Homer and other exciting destinations in Alaska’s expansive interior.
Explore the scenic coast of Homer while paddling along the picturesque Kachemak Bay Water Trail. Experience the breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife viewing opportunities along the 125-mile route. In between spotting seals and sea otters, stop at historical sites and points of interest throughout your journey, including Chugachik Island, Peterson Bay, and Halibut Cove.
Learn more about the unique marine animals of the Last Frontier during a visit to the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center. At this state-of-the-art museum, you can enjoy interactive exhibitions or go on one of the daily guided walks led by a naturalist to a nearby beach, where you might see moose, whales, and several species of birds along the way.
Homer Spit is brimming with shops, restaurants, and cafes for you to peruse during an afternoon stroll. You can also cast a line and try to catch the region’s famous halibut, go beachcombing, look for eagles flying overhead, or admire the majestic Kenai Mountains that surround you.
Enjoy seasonal produce and other treats at Homer Farmers Market, where local farmers and gardeners share their latest harvest while live music entertains the crowds. Enjoy fresh seafood, baked goods, fish tacos, wild berries, and beautiful bouquets picked right from the City of Peonies.
While all of our Alaska Cruisetours include a number of entertaining land excursions, you can choose to explore our Cruisetour destinations even further by booking an optional land excursion during your stay in Homer. We offer a number of optional land excursions for all types of travelers, including active excursions and more relaxing, guided walks.
La Baleine
Fresh organic food, local ingredients, and free coffee during breakfast are just some of the reasons why locals and tourists love La Baleine Cafe. Order one of their bowls packed with seasonal greens and local salmon, or enjoy the indulgent Baleine breakfast skillet, which features reindeer sausage from the Indian Valley.
Two Sisters
BakeryLocated in Homer’s Old Town just down the road from Bishop’s Beach, Two Sisters Bakery is a quaint cafe and bakery with a daily-changing menu that includes handmade pastries, cupcakes, and a variety of salads, soups, and sandwiches. Make sure to try their famous cinnamon rolls during your visit.
Fat Olives
At Fat Olive’s, a Homer staple of over 15 years, the menu changes seasonally, highlighting the freshest seafood and produce of the month. In the summer, enjoy a bounty of scallops, mussels, and Kachemak Bay oysters, along with delicious pizzas and local brews.
Homer was originally the home of Pacific Eskimos and Tanaina Indians until the early 19th century, when gold prospectors flocked to the area. The city takes its name after Homer Pennock, a gold-mining prospector who built a number of living quarters for his crew of workers. While gold mining was never successful in Homer, coal mining did take off in the area and continued until the end of World War II, when fishing took over as the main source of commercial activity.
In 1964, Homer endured the massive Good Friday Earthquake, a 9.2-magnitude earthquake that devastated most of the city and submerged a number of buildings and several feet of Homer’s Spit into the water. After rebuilding, Homer Spit became the unofficial heart of the city. The town’s economy continues to be driven by fishing, both commercial and sport, along with its burgeoning tourism industry.
Visit Homer on a Cruisetour in combination with one of our northbound or southbound glacier itineraries. You'll spend two nights in this charming town, giving you even more time to explore the surrounding wilderness. You’ll travel to Homer on a deluxe motor coach with spacious seating and unrivaled views of the Alaskan landscape around you.
Deluxe transportation and transfers from one land excursion to the next are included within your Cruisetour package. Transportation during optional land excursions is not included.
Some of the best shopping in Homer is found in the stores located on Homer Spit, where you’ll find Alaskan souvenirs such as Ulu knives and hand-carved mini totem poles, fishing gear, clothing, local art, and gift shops.
Alaska’s currency is the United States dollar (USD). Tipping is common in Alaska, especially in restaurants, bars, and taxis. Expect to tip 15% to 20% of the total amount of your restaurant or bar bill or taxi fare.
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