***More up-to-date and detailed town profiles and specific employment information about one of our favorite towns (Homer) can be found at AlaskaJobFinder.com.***

Unfortunately, our licensing agreement with AlaskaJobFinder doesn't allow us to use the most current version of their Alaska employment information. Please use this town profile only for general information, as some of the information may be outdated.

Many consider Homer the most beautiful town in Alaska. Located at the western extreme of North America's road system, Homer looks out across Kachemak Bay onto a spectacular panorama of snow-capped peaks. With only about twenty-four inches of annual precipitation and a relatively mild climate, the town is a favorite destination for Alaskans and tourists alike. It's also one of a handful of fishing towns in Alaska that also makes its living off tourism, art, and entertainment.

Best known for the radio show, "The End of the Road," a national hit in the eighties, Homer draws tourists from around the country as well as weekend vacationers from Anchorage, just a few hours away. The city prides itself on a thriving arts scene. The Pratt Museum has beautiful Indian and Eskimo artifacts, and lots of local artwork in its gallery. The Pier One Theater features local performers and plays during the summer. Rows of galleries, coffeeshops, and restaurants line city streets. An arts fair, a wooden boat festival, outdoor concerts, and the rambunctious nightlife keep everyone occupied in summer. Jewel, the pop music star, hails from Homer.

The town has made a name for itself by way of its enormous halibut catch, and civilians, too, can participate in the fun when it comes time for the annual Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, where a tagged fish can fetch over $40,000. A seafood processing plant, hundreds of fishing boats, and tourist shops support Homer's economy.

Kachemak Bay State Park, seven miles across the water, is a popular destination for outdoorspeople. Hikers and boaters can explore the park and either camp or stay at the public-use cabin.

Small boat tours leave the harbor regularly for the park as well as for the quaint fishing villages of Halibut Cove and Seldovia.

Seasonal fisheries employment is located around the Homer Spit, a 5-mile natural land barrier that juts into Kachemak Bay. The Spit is home to much of the town's fishing fleet, dozens of hopeful job hunters, and many small businesses patronized by tourists and workers. It's also a popular place to camp, and nightly fish barbecues put on by processing plant workers are a popular social activity.

Homer Information

Population: 4,000

Location: On Kachemak Bay at the western tip of the North American road network

Annual precipitation: 28 inches

July average: Temperature 52.8 F; precipitation 1.47 inches

Inexpensive lodging: The Heritage Hotel, 147 E Pioneer Avenue, (907) 235-7787; downtown location; $69.50/single, $79.50. Ocean Shores Motel, 3500 Crittendon Drive, (907) 235-7775; offers ocean view rooms ranging from $65 to $130. Seaside Farm, Mile 5 East End Road, (907) 235-7850, is a backpacker hostel and farm; it is unique among Homer accommodations. It offers campsites, bunks, and small rustic cabins, too. It is affordable and has easy waterfront access. Campsites are $6/night, hostel beds cost $15 and cabins are $40 to $50/night; call for weekly and monthly rates.

Camping: Most processing plant workers camp on the 4.5-mile-long spit May 1 - Sept. 30. Beach camping costs $3/night or $30 for fourteen days, but they are often lax about collecting money. Water and restrooms also are available. Seward Fisheries lets workers camp near the facility for free. Camping is also available at Ocean View RV Park, located next to Ocean Shores Motel, with tent camp sites at $22/night or $132/week with access to showers and cable. Showers are available at Homer Spit Campground for $2.50, Land's End RV Park for $3, or the Harbor Master's office.

Ferry terminal: Located at the end of the spit, it offers service to Seldovia, Kodiak, Cordova, Seward, and Valdez; also service three times a year to Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands.

Chamber of Commerce: 135 Sterling Highway, Homer, AK 99603; (907) 235-7740

Hospital: South Peninsula Hospital, (907) 235-8101

***More up-to-date and detailed town profiles and specific employment information about Region 2 towns including Homer can be found at Alaska Job Finder. Unfortunately, our licensing agreement with AlaskaJobFinder doesn't allow us to use the most current version of their Alaska Job information. Please use this town profile only for general information, as some of the information may be outdated.

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