Things to do & places to visit in Homer, Alaska, United States

Homer is a nature lover's nirvana where common sights can include moose grazing, a black bear crossing the road or porpoises playing in the surf. The charming seaside city, overlooking Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains, can be the starting point for a multitude of exciting adventures, including glacier skiing and viewing and guided kayak tours. Naturally splendid Kachemak State Park offers even more outdoor fun, with miles of excellent backcountry hiking trails. Explore nearby Halibut Cove, a unique fishing and artists' enclave where the roads are made of water. Or head to downtown Homer to sample delicious seafood, art galleries, museums and shops that sell locally made crafts. A trip to Homer would not be complete without casting a rod for salmon or halibut, the area's major catches. Head to the Homer Spit and try your luck from the shore or join a chartered fishing boat excursion. No matter which activities you choose, a weekend in Homer is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Homer city in Alaska, United States. Timezone: America/Anchorage, current date and time: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 19:29.

Top things to do (24)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Kachemak Bay State Park (203 reviews)
- Must-do easy hike to glacier lake
State Parks

This enormous state park, largely unexplored wilderness, includes glaciers, rivers and waterfalls and offers a 10-mile coastline strip that is excellent for fishing and kayaking. Wildlife sightings include puffins, eagles, sea otters, seals, porpoises and whales. See more..
5.0 Norman Lowell Gallery (186 reviews)
- Very Talented Soul
Temporarily closed - Closed until Apr 30, 2023 Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries • Art Museums

The Norman Lowell Art Gallery Foundation is a non-profit charitable Foundation which aims to preserve and share the Norman Lowell Gallery of Alaska free of charge to visitors around the world. The Norman Lowell Gallery sits atop a bluff in Anchor Point, AK, on the original homestead property of Norman Lowell and his family. The large permanent collection showcases the beauty of Alaska in works ranging from small sketches to massive oils, some of which are over 6 feet in height. Visitors to Alaska are welcomed to come spend as much time as they wish walking among the Permanent Collection, as well as walk the old homestead grounds and see the original cabin, gardens, and studio. A sales room is dedicated to high-quality prints of many of Lowell's works, as well as a number of originals. See more..
5.0 Ptarmigan Arts (138 reviews)
- Fun Browsing Local Artists Work
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Art Galleries

Ptarmigan Arts is Homer's only cooperative art gallery, owned and operated by local Alaskan artists. The gallery carries the artwork of established Homer artists as well as newcomers to the Homer art scene. Open year-round, Ptarmigan Arts offers unique, quality artwork and handcrafted items in a variety of media including ceramics, woodworking and turnings, fiber/wearable arts, glass, photography, paintings and etchings, stone lithographs, jewelry, sculpture, and Alaskan fine art prints and cards. Located in charming downtown Homer, the gallery is within walking distance to other galleries and a myriad of other shops, restaurants, and other local attractions. All major credit cards are accepted. Shipping is available and free gift wrapping is offered for purchases. See more..
5.0 Dean Homestead and Art Studios Tour and The Dean Gallery (77 reviews)
- Wow! Amazing, beautiful, engrossing
Spent 2-3 hours Art Galleries • Farms

Tour the Dean Homestead and Art Studios, for a heartfelt, handmade, and one-of-a-kind experience. Join Alaskan artists Ranja and Jeff Dean for this unique guided tour. Immerse yourself in our creative Alaskan lifestyle as you meander through a menagerie of art and animals, gardens, and architecture. Visit working art studios and see art in the making. The 2-hour educational tour ends with a visit to The Dean Gallery. It’s a glimpse into the lives of an Alaskan family as we share a lifetime of inspiration, dedication, and diverse creative output. Our hope is to bring a little magic to your day and inspire and encourage you in your own creativity. Can't make it on a tour? • The Dean Gallery has regular hours and is also open by appointment. It features artwork by Jeff, Ranja, & M’fanwy Dean, including heat-colored steel engravings, bronzes, intricately carved wood panels, & specialty prints on metal, wood, & paper. See more..
5.0 Art Shop Gallery (36 reviews)
- One of many galleries in town.
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Art Galleries

The Art Shop Gallery is Where Art Meets Life, here in beautiful Homer, Alaska. Here or on the web, we have a wide selection of art and other gifts, including prints, originals by Alaskan Artists like Byron Birdsall, Barbara Lavallee, Rie Munoz, Bruce Nelson, Katie Sevigny, Taz Tally, Ed Tussey, Jon Van Zyle, and Nancy Yaki. We are also very proud of our collection of bone and ivory carvings, including those by Native Alaskans, ornaments, pottery, and jewelry. The tea and coffee are always on! See more..
5.0 Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center (24 reviews)
- Great!
Sunday: Spent < 1 hour Visitor Centers

Free visitors guides & maps plus, travel guides, fishing, lodging, dining and tour information. Looking for something to do in Homer or the entire Kenai Peninsula? This is the spot to plan your trip. We have hosts waiting to help you find the perfect adventure in Homer, Alaska. See more..
5.0 Sealion Art & Gifts (4 reviews)
- A special store in Homer, AK, with great art
Art Galleries

Wonderful art by local Alaskan artists. Bought a special print of a brown bear with various local flora and fauna hidden inside the face of the bear. Very special. See more..
4.5 Homer Spit (1.815 reviews)
- Must see if you’re into bears at all. One and a half hour float plane ride in four or five hours with the Bears and one
Spent 1-2 hours Biking Trails • Beaches

Brooks Falls. Must see if you’re into bears at all. One and a half hour float plane ride in four or five hours with the Bears and one and a half hour float plane ride back. It was amazing watching the Bears catch the spawning salmon See more..
4.5 Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center (622 reviews)
- Excellent exhibits and it's free!
Visitor Centers • Natural History Museums

The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve. Built in 2003 as a resource for the community and visitors to Homer, Alaska, the building houses interpretive and interactive exhibits and displays describing the important work and research of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve.Located at 95 Sterling Highway, there are opportunities to enjoy the exhibit hall, informative videos, regular educational programming, and Ranger/Naturalist-led walks and presentations.The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is your window to the largest seabird refuge in the world, with all of the natural wonders of Kachemak Bay right outside its doors! See more..
4.5 Pratt Museum (397 reviews)
- A Must See!
Speciality Museums

This boutique size, award-winning regional museum is home to exhibits, programs, events - as well as an historic homestead cabin and forest trails - that explore learning and stewardship in science, art and culture of the Kachemak Bay region. In 1982, the Pratt was accredited by the American Association of Museums, becoming Alaska’s first private museum to receive this national honor. Today it continues to be recognized as a leading cultural and educational institution in Alaska. See more..
4.5 Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (335 reviews)
- Inspiration Ridge Guided Tour
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Educational sites • History Museums

This environmental education center offers natural history day tours for all ages that range from the boreal forest of the 104 acre Wynn Nature Center on the north side of Kachemak Bay to the south There, in Peterson Bay guests explore tidepools, a rainforest and an archaeology site. Kayaking and overnight Yurt stays may also be added.The experienced hiker can also choose from guided hikes of varying difficulty.At the Homer Harbor, discover the world beneath your feet on a Creatures of the Dock Tour!!Where else can you see a seastar and a moose all in one day... personal, hands-on experience for all! See more..
4.5 Seldovia Bay Ferry (177 reviews)
- Amazing crew and experience!
Ferries

My family rode the ferry for our trip to Seldovia in August 2022. I’ve been to Seldovia many times in the past, but had always been to and from Homer on private boats. We were really impressed with how great the crew treated us and how efficient the overall operation of the ferry was. I will definitely use them in the future and would highly recommend this service to anyone traveling to Seldovia. A big thank you to all the crew for taking care of us! See more..
4.5 Bishop's Beach Park (171 reviews)
- The Sandy Beach
Parks

If you're visiting Alaska, you'll notice the beaches are rocky. This little cove area is a gem because you'll actually experience SAND. It's not as windy as down on the spit. You can sit on the beach and soak up some sun. A fun place to let the kids run around while you enjoy the beach. See more..
4.5 Bear Creek Winery (158 reviews)
- Well worth it
Wineries & Vineyards

What a fun way to spend an hour or so - sipping tasty, local wines in a pretty setting. We learned a lot about different wines and found we actually loved some of the fruit wines (some are mixed with grapes). It was an inexpensive wine tasting and the cost went toward a bottle of wine. The gift shop was also a fun place to browse. See more..
4.5 Homer Brewing Company (119 reviews)
- Great Brews of Alaska
Breweries

Production micro brewery providing "Fresh Traditional Country Ales" To Go and limited consumption on premise. Retail area with beer gear. Friendly and informed staff. On tap in Homer. See more..
4.5 Seafarer's Memorial (68 reviews)
- Beautiful Place
Spent < 1 hour Monuments & Statues

It was a humbling experience to stand here and think of the magnitude of the ocean. The plaques state the names of those lost and the vessel they were in. I was blown away to see kayaks listed on there, not just large ships etc. There are concrete benches right behind the memorial to sit and take in the ocean view and watch the sun set. See more..
4.5 Grace Ridge Brewery (44 reviews)
- Grace Ridge Brewery is a great venue after a long day of fishing !
Sunday: 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM Spent < 1 hour Breweries

Nano brewery serving good beer. We have 6 beers on tap for your drinking enjoyment. All welcome to join our tasting room and out door seating. We are family friendly and dog friendly in the outdoor patio. See more..
4.5 Homer Public Library (42 reviews)
- Don't miss this little library
Sunday: Spent 1-2 hours Libraries
The Homer Public Library serves the diverse needs of our community members by providing access to information, promoting literacy, and facilitating lifelong learning. We foster education, personal well-being, cultural creativity, community engagement, and economic development. Our resources are offered without charge to people of all ages and abilities within our service area. See more..
4.5 Bunnell Street Arts Center (36 reviews)
- Nice Art from very different artists.
Spent < 1 hour Art Museums

Bunnell Street Arts Center's mission is to nurture and support innovative art of exceptional quality in all media: solo and group exhibits, concerts, screenings, workshops, Artist in Schools, Artist in Residence. A nonprofit with a national reputation for excellence presenting a delightful selection of handmade items for sale. See more..
4.5 Homer Farmers Market (26 reviews)
- Vibrant Local Gathering
Farmers Markets

What's there not to love about this farmer's market? We visited on Wednesday and returned on Saturday. There were more vendors on Sat. Lots of people walking around, eating the local foods and browsing the crafts and colorful flowers. We enjoyed the halibut tacos, fried green tomato sliders, donuts and Russian potato pies and fruit pies. And don't miss the birch syrup. A very different flavor from maple syrup, less sweet, more bold. The owner of this business explained the production process which is very time consuming and allowed us to sample. We bought 2 bottles and they are a delicious memory of our vacation. See more..
4.5 Carl E. Wynn Nature Center (22 reviews)
- We saw A MOOSE.
Forests

It was pouring rain and we decided to do a hike here. Ryan was there to get us set-up and give us the trail maps. He knows a lot about the history of the land and what grows there. He recommended the moose viewing platform and WE SAW OUR FIRST MOOSE THERE! It was majestic. For that brief moment, we were in awe of that giant beast running around. The trails and plants are all labeled and easy to read. We loved learning about all of the plants and their qualities. Our advice is to do the two for $15 where you get to experience this amazing system of trails AND get to do the Creatures of the Dock tour. Both are quality experiences. See more..
4.5 Skyline Drive Overlook (16 reviews)
- Well worth a drive
Scenic Drives

We enjoyed the views to and from this overlook as well as the overlook itself. I got some nice shots of the Spit. See more..
4.5 Diamond Creek Trail (13 reviews)
- Wonderful
Hiking Trails

We loved this hike. We took the longer route which starts close to the main road, and meanders on flat ground for a ways before descending to the beach. You will want to have rubber boots, the mud is "fun." On the stoney beach we saw a few bald eagles, and a whale carcass. The walk back out is moderately steep but nothing extreme. Once we ascended to the flatter terrain, we walked on the gravel road back to our car. That road is passable with a sedan, a few large potholes to navigate See more..
4.5 Homer Clayworks (9 reviews)
- Best shop for ceramics in Homer
Spent < 1 hour Art Galleries
Lovely shop on the Spit with beautiful ceramics. The best selection in the city. Opportunity to take home a special piece and support local artists and community. See more..
4.5 Coal Point Park (5 reviews)
- Amazing ocean views
Spent < 1 hour Parks

Enjiyntge harbor traffic- watching eagles and listening to the ocean- birds of view of the harbor and activitues See more..
4.0 Hallo Bay Lodge Bear VIewing (87 reviews)
- Disappointment with Hallo Bay tour company in Homer
National Parks

We offer Half Day and Overnight Bear and Wildlife Viewing Trips out to Katmai National Park from May through September. We have been guiding trips to Katmai for 26 years, and we have a perfect safety record with our experience with the bears. Hallo Bay Bear Camp is a fully sustainable wilderness camp designed to be a trend setting model of responsibility and low impact to this environment. Our guests observe the bears in their natural habitat where there are no viewing platforms or man-made trails. We limit our groups in size because it is our experience that small groups are much less impacting than large groups of people on any wilderness outing. The smaller group size intimidates wildlife less and leaves a much less impacting footprint on the habitat. See more..
4.0 Kilcher Homestead Living Museum (70 reviews)
- WOW!! Better than on TV!!
Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums

We had the pleasure of touring with Sunrise Kilcher (sister & historian) of the Kilcher Homestead… who did an amazing, heartfelt guided.She’s an incredible credit to her family for being such a great representative / ambassador for the Kilcher family. The views were spectacular! Narrated beautifully!! I have no doubt that others contemplating doing the Kilcher Homestead tour, will NOT be disappointed and will love it as much as we did. Thank you Sunrise – you ROCK!! See more..
4.0 Homer Sapians (9 reviews)
- The Sign Draws You In
Art Galleries

Had to stop just because of the name an sign out front. Great little shop with some fun and funky items for sale. Hard to pass by. See more..
3.5 The Fishing Hole (11 reviews)
- Big Hole and Big fun
Bodies of Water

Really this is just a big hole in the Spit where salmon stranded by the tide swim around and try to avoid getting caught. But it is a lesson in people watching to see the joy and excitement when one is hooked. It is also worth watching a seal come in and pursue a fish. Great for just watching fish and fisherman. See more..
3.0 Switchback Trail (5 reviews)
- Beautiful View
Hiking Trails

Not that long of a hike only 7 miles. and it is beautiful once you make it to the top!!! gotta hike it when your in anchor point! See more..