HOMER SPIT ALASKA

Things to do and see in the extraordinary Homer Spit, Alaska (updated 2023)

Looking for a place for a unique vacation?  Try the Homer Spit in Alaska.   What the hell is a spit, you might ask.   That’s a good question!  There is not too much difference between a spit and a peninsula in appearance.  A peninsula is land that is surrounded by water but connected to the mainland at one end.  The American state of Florida is mostly a peninsula.   The Mexican state of Baja California is another. 

A spit is basically the same but is usually much smaller. The main difference is in the way it is created.  A spit is formed when currents bring sediment into a bay or lake.  Then, when the current changes direction, the sediment is dropped, creating a spit.   A peninsula, on the other hand, is created with the water level falls or the land rises due to tectonic activity or over millions of years due to the separation of landmasses.

The town of Homer on the mainland is actually on the Kenai Peninsula, so in this case, we have a spit at the tip of a peninsula.

Fishing

Homer Spit, 218 miles southwest of Anchorage, stretches 4.5 miles out from the town of Homer, into Kachemak Bay.  It is known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World (it is also great for salmon fishing).  The harbour may contain as many as 1,500 fishing and pleasure boats during summer.   So it is a great place to go for fishing.  But if you are not into fishing, there are plenty of other things to do.

Restaurants and Art Galleries

On the first day, you will want to walk along the spit to get acquainted with the facilities.  There are restaurants of all types, from seafood to gourmet sandwich shops.   Shopping for art and carvings is popular (not just on the spit but in Homer town on the mainland).

 Eagle Counting

While walking the spit, count the Bald Eagles.  They are everywhere and relatively tame.  I had already counted three of them by the time I reached the campground.  How many can you see in one day?

Bird Watching

Besides eagles, many other species of birds can be found on the Homer Spit.  Check under the bridges at the tip of the spit for Black-legged Kittiwakes.  Check the little birds along the shore for Ruddy Turnstones and Surfbirds.  I also saw Glaucous-winged Gulls (above), which look much like the common Herring Gull, except they have grey wingtips instead of black.  You never know what you might see.

Mountains and Glaciers

On the other side of the bay is Kachemak Bay State Wilderness Park, a hiker’s paradise of mountains and glaciers. There are water taxis available to take you there.

Gull Island

Many water taxis and tour boats can take you to various places around the bay.  Gull Island is a mountain of nesting Gloucaus-winged and Herring Gulls.  It is quite a sight.

You might see Puffins, Common Murres, and other coastal birds on a typical boat ride.

Seldovia

One of the favourite tours from Homer Spit is a boat ride to the little town of Seldovia, on the other side of the bay.   There are no roads to Seldovia, so there is no other way to get there.   Formerly a native village, today, Dena’ina Indians and Alutiq natives comprise about one-quarter of the population.

In 1788, when Alaska was part of Russia, a Russian fur trading post was established there.  Be sure to see St Nicholas, an old Russian Orthodox church built in 1820.

Today, it is a quaint little village with many interesting shops and restaurants along its seafront boardwalk.   It makes for an excellent day trip from Homer Spit.   On the way there, you might be lucky to spot some Sea Otters floating on their backs, with their seafood lunch on their tummy.

Grizzly Bears

There are daily tours from Homer to Katmai National Park by seaplane.   Although this is a great trip, it is rather expensive.  If you are driving to Alaska, you will no doubt see several Grizzlies along the way.

Camping

There are various forms of accommodations on Homer Spit and in Homer town.  I prefer camping to being inside a building.   A big campground is on the left as you drive down the spit.  You can’t miss it, but you might miss the smaller one on the right side. I like this little campground because it is cheaper than the other and you can camp right on the shore.  You may not be able to get in there if you have a very long vehicle.

Relax

Homer Spit is not Las Vegas or Cancun.   The weather is often cloudy, and it is not a party town.  It is an extraordinary place to relax and enjoy the nature of Alaska.  I spent several days there and thoroughly enjoyed it.