Homer
On the bank of Kachemak Bay you will find the City of Homer which is a quaint town with a population of 5,364 people located on the Kenai Peninsula. Homer is easily accessible by land, air or sea. It is only an hour and a half drive away from the City of Kenai and the City of Soldotna. Anchor Point is only located 20 minutes away from Homer and Ninilchik is a 45 minute drive. Homer offers breathtaking views of glaciers, mountains and wildlife. The City of Homer has a wide variety of activities and accommodations. It really has it all! Whether you want to go fishing, kayaking, bear viewing, shopping, dining or sightseeing, Homer is the place for you!
Homer did not win the Ultimate Fishing Town USA contest, but it was among the Top 10 Fishing Towns. It is quite the honor for the City of Homer to even be in the Top Ten when you consider that population base that the winning towns have (the top two are in New York State)! Homer lives up to its reputation as The Halibut Capital of the World with the Homer Halibut Jackpot Derby and salmon fishing at the “Fishing Hole” out on the spit.
The City of Homer has a surprising variety of activities to offer people. From fresh and saltwater fishing to charters and wilderness lodges, there is something for everyone. Homer also has art festivals, sport fishing adventures, hiking and sightseeing, just to name a few things to do there. There is also an assortment of eating and lodging options that can cater to anyone’s needs.
For those people with a more adventurous side, Homer has many trails, fishing spots and charters at your disposal. There are several trails to follow up a mountainside for a stunning view of glaciers and wildlife. Or you could take a sea-kayak trip across the beautiful Kachemak Bay. Homer is all yours to get that one of a kind Alaskan experience. For those who want a more relaxed experience, you can browse around town and see all of the different shops Homer has to offer. Whatever it is that you are looking for, there are an endless number of things to do and Homer is the place for you!
The Homer Spit is a must see when you are in Homer. The road on the Homer Spit is the longest road into the ocean in the world. There are times when it is a tug of war between the humans and the elements as violent storms try to break the Homer Spit off from the mainland but man brings in more tools and equipment to reinforce it. The Homer Spit has many different uses and activities that you can do. There is a boardwalk full of shops to visit while there, the fishing down at the Spit is amazing, there are ferries and cruises you can take and there is also the famous Salty Dawg Saloon.
In 1897 the Salty Dawg Saloon started out as one of the first cabins built after Homer became a town site. The cabin has served as many different things; the first post office, a railroad station, a grocery store, and a coal mining office for 20 years. In 1909 a second building was constructed and served as a school house, post office and grocery store, at one time it even housed three adults and eleven children. In 1957 the two buildings were joined and the Salty Dawg Saloon was opened.
There are many different schools to choose from for your child, all of which are in the Kenai Peninusla Borough School District. Nikolaevsk School is a public school located just north of Homer and serves grades K-12. It received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 5 out of 10. Chapman School is another public school located just north of Homer also for grades K-8. Chapman School received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 3 out of 10. Paul Banks Elementary School is a public school that offers classes for grades K-2. There is no GreatSchools Rating for Paul Banks Elementary. Voznesenka Elementary School is a public school that serves grades PK-12 in Homer. It received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 5 out of 10. McNeil Canyon Elementary School is another public school that offers classes for grades K-6. It received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 8 out of 10. Fireweed Academy is a charter school in Homer that serves grades 3-6. Fireweed Academy received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 7 out of 10. Homer Middle School is the only public middle school in the City of Homer that serves graded 7-8. Homer Middle received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10. Homer Flex School is a public high school located in Homer for grades 9-12. It received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 4 out of 10. Homer High School is a public school that serves grades 9-12. Homer High received a distinguished GreatSchools Rating of 9 out of 10.
