Seward and Homer

Alaska 2005 Trip

Seward and Homer

I had originally planned to spend two nights in Seward, but I wasn't going to have enough time to go to the state fair, so I ended up spending less then 24 hours in Seward. I visited Seward on my first trip, so it wasn't the end of the world. I stayed at the Ballaine House B&B, which is a nice place and is close to the downtown area. The owner Marlee is very friendly and helpful.

In Homer, I stayed in a private room at the Homer Hostel, the bathroom was pretty grungy and I wouldn't stay there again. It's too bad, because the location is great, there is a natural food store down the street, it is near the Pratt Museum and you can walk to the gallery area on Pioneer Avenue and walk to the beach. I didn't explore Pioneer Avenue very much; I did go to two galleries - Ptarmigan and Fireweed and I saw a lot of stuff I would have liked to buy. Pioneer Avenue turns into East End Road, which heads out of town towards the head of Kachemak Bay. I didn't have a car when I was in Homer, but one of the other women staying at the hostel did, and we drove out there one evening. The views from East End Road are spectacular. The picture below was taken when we pulled off the road next to an auto repair shop, I don't know how much work I'd get done if I had a view like that at work.

I loved Two Sisters Bakery and went there most mornings for coffee and their really good sticky buns. My first good look at a bald eagle was in a tree behind the bakery, as I sat drinking my coffee. I also ate at Fat Olives and had a good lunch there.

The "Homer Spit" is a narrow piece of land sticking out into Kachemak Bay. It used to be larger and higher but sank during the 1964 earthquake. Boat trips depart from there and gift stores line the spit, which like most places, includes both nice stuff and touristy junk.

I took two boat trips while in Homer, one to Halibut Cove and one to Seldovia. Halibut Cove only has a handful of people that live there all year, and it has a couple of galleries and a restaurant. The also have a "boat-thru" coffee shop on the water. Seldovia used to be the dominant town in the area but was really damaged by 1964 earthquake and is now a quiet little town.

Pictures from Halibut Cove, Seldovia, Seward and Homer.

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