Arriving in Homer is like opening one of those pop-up greeting cards – an unexpected thrill. Three miles before Homer, the Sterling Highway provides a few teasers that whet a visitor's appetite but never fully prepare them for the charming, colorful town that lies ahead. As the road makes a final turn east along the bluffs overlooking Kachemak Bay, Homer unfolds completely. It's a truly incredible panorama of mountains, white peaks, glaciers and the famous Homer Spit, a long strip of land that stretches into that beautiful deep blue bay.

Downtown Homer is strung along Pioneer Avenue on a sloping hill between high bluffs to the north and Kachemak Bay to the south. It's little wonder that many Alaskans choose to vacation in Homer: the scenery is inspiring and the climate exceptionally mild. This community of 5,390 residents is protected from the severe northern cold by the Kenai Mountains to the north and east. Winter temperatures rarely drop much below zero degrees, while summer temperatures rarely rise above 70 degrees. As a visitor, this is a town that tempts you to stay for a while. Between the excellent museum, restaurants and art galleries, great scenery and interesting side trips to the other side of Kachemak Bay, you could easily spend a week – or a lifetime – here.