The Kachemak Bay area offers an abundance of activities year-round. You can choose from high-energy adventures such as extreme skiing to more casual, relaxing pastimes like wildlife viewing. The multitude of opportunities is astounding and will make your own Alaskan Experience a memory worth reliving year after year.
Fishing is among the most popular activities. Homer is known as the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World" and for good reason. The plentiful great Pacific Halibut often weigh over 100 pounds and sometimes as much as 300 lbs! The salmon and freshwater fishing opportunities are also extraordinary and lure world-class anglers from all over. From the beginning of May through the end of September, five species of salmon run the waters of Kachemak Bay and nearby rivers. The thrill of winding in a 50 lb. King is often the highlight of the day. A huge fleet of professional charter companies is ready to take you on the fishing trip of a lifetime.
Kachemak Bay State Park is one of the largest coastal parks in the U.S. with over 200 miles of pristine coastline, steep fjords, inlets, and islands. It encompasses portions of the Kenai Mountain Range and Harding Icefield, a trackless inland ocean of 3 million-year-old ice. This geologically diverse park includes hiking trails that lead to glaciers, lakes, mountain peaks, and alpine meadows. It is a fascinating array of ecosystems where wildlife abounds and unspoiled wilderness remains.
Taking to the skies provides an exhilarating way to see the area. You can choose from flightseeing, photography, glacier, and brown bear tours. Air taxis enable you to explore remote lakes or a secluded mountaintop for the day. Or take to a water taxi and visit the charming villages across the bay.
Sea kayaking, beachcombing, and clamming provide excellent chances for viewing marine life. Whales, seals, sea lions, and sea otters often feed close to shore. Spend the afternoon mountain biking, hiking or berry picking and you might catch a glimpse of a moose or bear.
The Homer Spit is an amazing natural jetty that extends over 4 miles into Kachemak Bay. Upon its shores you will find various gift shops and restaurants along with the famous "Fishing Hole" next to the Homer Small Boat Harbor. Shore anglers will enjoy the manmade lagoon, which is chock-full of salmon.
The magnificent scenery here is an inspiration for artists. Works of all mediums are displayed in Homer's many art galleries and gift shops. The Pratt Museum features Native Alaskan artifacts, historical displays, and marine life exhibits. The Alaska Maritime Refuge Center offers natural displays, a small theater, guided bird walks, and children's programs.
Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the surprisingly mild climate during the winter months. Snowmachiners, mushers, cross-country skiers, and skijorers can explore remote areas that are hard to access during the summer. The lakes are always a great place to spend the day - the kids can ice skate or snowshoe while you fish for trout. If ice fishing isn't your thing, you will be pleased to know that Homer has a very productive winter king salmon fishery and charters run year-round.
Fall is not only a beautiful time of year to visit but a great time for hunting as well. Big game such as moose, bear, mountain goats, and caribou are yours for the taking along with some of the best duck hunting you will ever experience. Guides are available or you may prefer to venture out on your own. Take pleasure in leisure time and go steelhead fishing and horseback riding or pick up the pace and enjoy riding ATVs on the beach and in the backcountry.
In the spring we welcome the northern migration of shorebirds with an annual festival. As many as 100,000 feathered friends will visit Kachemak Bay, recently dedicated as part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. This event draws bird watchers from all over the country along with those who have something else in mind - salmon! The first run of the year coincides with the presence of shorebirds and certainly adds to the excitement.
ALASKAN EXPERIENCE RESORT
RESORT
& UNIT AMENITIES
LOCATION