Famous Homer landmark just one of many attractions to Peninsula town

08/02/05

CASEY RESSLER/Valley Life editor

Homer has been a destination for halibut anglers for years, but the sleepy little town has so much more to offer Alaskans. It has all the amenities of a first-class city, such as local, state and federal government offices, a senior citizen center, a college and a hospital.

Homer has 4,000 residents and another 8,000 beyond the city limits, which is a much-larger population than some might expect from such a small town.

The Homer Spit is a must-see - it is a narrow finger of land jutting nearly five miles into Kachemak Bay. It is the home of the harbor and more than 700 charger and commercial boat operators all year. That number balloons to 1,500 during the summer months.

The Spit is also home to The Fishin' Hole, a lagoon where salmon return every summer. At high and low tides, you can find hundreds of people standing side-by-side hoping to land a lunker.

The Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby is a big reason a lot of people come to Homer during the summer. The chance to haul in a 300-pound halibut and win more than $40,000 is a huge draw. Each summer, people buy derby tickets hoping to land a monster - but even tiny fish are worth big bucks in Homer. There are a number of tagged fish that have values in the thousands

With all that fishing, it is no surprise that the economy of Homer relies on sportfishing and commercial fishing. A growing tourism industry is helping bolster the economy as well.

Many tourists come to Homer because of the abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Moose, bear and birds such as eagles and puffins can be seen around town, and a boat tour offers visitors the chance to see otters, seals and even killer whales.

Homer is also a top destination for school groups and youth groups because of the chance to have fun through educational programs. With the marine environment comes the opportunity to learn in a fun atmosphere. Every spring, several school groups from the Valley make a field trip to Homer to study the aquaculture.

Across Kachemak Bay is Kachemak Bay State Park, which has more than 30 miles of trails and 375,000 acres of wilderness. There are ample opportunities for backcountry hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, lake and stream fishing and cabin rentals throughout the park.