City Information on the Kenai Peninsula Alaska - Homer, Seward, Soldotna and More......

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Activities - Homer, Alaska.

The activities available in and around Homer are numerous and varied.
No matter what your difficulty level you will find plenty to do here. Of
course Homer is known as the Halibut Capital of the world and not
without justification. There is also hiking, biking, kayaking, sightseeing,
golfing, horseback riding and visiting the many shops featuring local art
to name a few of the other interests.

For the fishing enthusiasts there are the local fishing derbies with their
lures of catching the big one that will also net you a nice prize. Homer
Jackpot Halibut Derby runs from May 1 to Labor Day and pays out
monthly prizes as well as the final jackpot which varies according to how
many tickets are sold. Ninilchik and Seldovia also have their equivalents
of the derby also with different categories and purses.

King salmon derbies can be found in Homer, Ninilchik, Anchor River ,
Anchor Point , and Deep Creek. Homer's derby is held every March with
a handsome pay out to the winner. This year's derby winner received
$79,000. Anchor Point has a sea run king derby that ends the first part of
August.

Clamming on the east side of Cook Inlet beaches is open year round
although it would take some sturdy individuals to brave our beaches in
the cold months of winter. Refer to the local tide tables and head for the
beaches of Ninilchik, Clam Gulch, Whiskey Gulch and of course, Homer
on the minus tides. Clamming requires an Alaska fishing license and the
limit is 60 clams. Believe me, by the time you have located the little
tell-tale dimples in the sand and dug for all your worth after these fast
digging Razor clams, you will have earned every one of them. I have
tried the clam guns available in the stores all over Alaska and found that
they are not made for those of us with challenged backs. The clam gun is
basically a 3 to 4 inch cylinder with a hole in the cap piece and a
handle. The idea is to place the clam gun over the dimple and push it in
the sand quickly. When it's in deep enough you place your thumb over
the hole and pull it back up, using the suction it creates to retrieve the
clam. There is a lot of suction created here and as I said it is very hard
on the back. I prefer the traditional clam shovel to start the hole then
dropping down and digging with the hands after the clam. Use caution
because they come by the name razor clams naturally. This sounds like
a lot of work for a mess of clams, and it is, but it is actually a load of fun
for the whole family.

Mountain bikers will find trails around Homer and also across the other
side of Kachemak Bay around Seldovia. There are water taxis operating
to ferry you to Seldovia.

Hiking is another activity that is in abundance in the area and can be
found in every difficulty level. Homestead Trail is a 6 mile trail in the hills
above Homer. It is considered moderate in difficulty and suitable for
family outings. The beaches offer excellent hiking as well, however
check the tide tables and weather conditions before traveling on any of
the beaches along Cook Inlet.

Kachemak Bay State Park is a 300,000 acres park along the south side of
Kachemak Bay. Several trails are located within the park. Maps of the
different trails can be found at the Homer Chamber of Commerce Visitor
Information Center. Southern District Ranger Station has been moved
across the Bay.

There is a Kayak fest scheduled for May 28th - June 6th with events
suited for beginners through experienced paddlers. There are several
areas along the southern side of Kachemak Bay for kayakers to explore.
Gull Island, China Poot Bay, Sadie Cove, and Halibut Cove are all
examples of the fjord like settings you will encounter. These trips are not
recommended for the novice sea kayaker. The rip tides and quickly
changing weather conditions that can be encountered can make
kayaking fairly tricky.

Bird watching is another popular activity in and around Homer. Each
year in May the Chamber of Commerce sponsors the annual Kachemak
Bay Shorebird Festival. This year's festival was held May 6-9, 2004 and
marked the 12th year of fun activities for the whole family.

The new Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center is now open with free
admission. This is a stop well worth your time to make. The exhibits in
here are fabulous, entertaining and very educational. They are open
Monday through Saturday from 10am to 5 pm and are located at Mile 95
Sterling Highway.

For the die-hard shopper, there are several small shops situated on
raised boardwalks along the Homer Spit. These little shops cater to the
many tourists who visit Homer. There are also some pretty interesting
shops in downtown Homer. Take the day and combine a nice, easy
going walk with indulging in your favorite sport.

Whatever you choose to do in Homer you will find that you can't pack it
all into one day. So relax, pitch a tent, park your motor home, or check
out one of the local bed & breakfasts and stay awhile.

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