Emma & Stetson
Things To Do
Fishing Charter
Homer has a decades-long history of charter fishing, so you’ll find lots of options to charter a boat for halibut, salmon, rockfish, lingcod, and even shark, depending on season and weather. Guided charter fishing trips are a great option for experienced anglers and novices seeking thrilling saltwater action. Experienced captains and crew, comfortable vessels, and top-of-the-line equipment will give you the best possible opportunity to take home your limit. Your charter captain can recommend local seafood processors that can deep-freeze your catch and ship it directly to your home to enjoy throughout the year. Duration: From half day, to full day Cost: ~$195-$300 +
Kayak Rentals
Picture paddling through craggy rock arches, bald eagles flying overhead, and silently watching sea otters napping in kelp beds, with snow-capped mountains always in the background. Options for half-day, full-day, overnight, and multi-day kayak tours, all of which can be easily booked online. All kayak tours begin with a short water taxi to Yukon Island, famed for its abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery. Day trips range from 4 - 9 hours and cost between $125-$225, depending on the tour. If you're not looking for a tour, you can rent a single kayak for $40/day or a double for $60/day and explore Kachemak Bay on your own!
Kachemak Bay State Park
Accessible only by boat or airplane, this park features outstanding scenic backdrops in a remote wilderness. There are a lot of water taxis that run from Homer and average about $75/pp round trip. Alan's Water Taxi: 907-235-5680 Bay Excursions Water Taxi and Tours: 907-235-7525 Mako's Water Taxi: 907-235-9055 Seldovia Bay Ferry LLC: 907-235-3299 Ashore Water Taxi: 907-235-2341 Check out the brochure and map on the linked website for information on popular activities and hikes in the State Park.
Water Taxi Wildlife & Scenic Cruise
Experience the amazing nature and wildlife of coastal Alaska on this scenic cruise. You can see sea otters, puffins, eagles, sea ducks, shorebirds, seals, whales (sometimes), and sea lions. Choose from one-hour or two-hour options and embark on your Kachemak Bay Cruise. Don’t forget to bring a camera to take pictures of all the beautiful sights! Cost: $50/pp for 1 hour, $75/pp for 2 hours
Trails End Horse Adventures
Take a ride on a horse along the Homer beaches for a dream come true. The experience is truly magical as the views of the bay and the wide empty beaches all combine to make an unforgettable horseback riding experience. 4 hour ride at the Head of Kachemak Bay for $125/pp.
Helicopter Flightseeing
Touring Alaska by helicopter gets you to unimaginably wild and remote places. Select an Ice Safari to land on a glacier surrounded by snow-capped mountains, or explore the steaming summit of an island volcano on a Fire Safari. In either case, the views are unparalleled and the experience is surreal. Duration: 2-8 hours Cost: $450-$875/pp
Alaska Bear Adventures
When you want to experience Alaska’s wildlife, there’s nothing more amazing than spending time among Alaska’s famed coastal brown bears in their own habitat. Family-owned Alaska Bear Adventures flies you from Homer to undeveloped areas, for an unforgettable connection with wild Alaska. The shortest trip gives you 1.5 hours in the air and 1+ hours with the bears. Cost: $595/pp
Eagle River
Eagle River is the town that Stetson's family lives in! To explore Eagle River, we recommend checking out the Eagle River Nature Center, which offers trails for both the beginner and advanced hiker, with pristine mountain views, glacier rivers and streams, and abundant Alaskan wildlife. All trails can be accessed from the Nature Center’s trailhead located behind the log cabin building and they are open year-round. A couple other hikes to consider are Mt. Baldy, Mt. Magnificent, and Eagle & Symphony Lakes. While you're here, you might as well try Stetson's all-time favorite restaurants: Garcia's Cantina & Cafe (the Chicken Mini Chimis are a must-have), & Pizza Man (quench your thirst with one of their schooners)! Distance from Anchorage: 30 min Distance from Homer: 4.5 hours
Hiking
Hiking is one of the best ways to experience the beauty of Alaska! Check out AllTrails to find hikes to explore as you drive from Anchorage to Homer. Please be mindful that you are in bear country just about everywhere you go in Alaska! Consider bringing bear spray or a gun for protection, choose highly trafficked areas and always stay on marked trails.
Anchorage
Everyone will be flying into Anchorage, so why not take some time to explore the city? Anchorage is the gateway to Alaska adventure- the city combines wild Alaska beauty, convenient urban comforts, mesmerizing outdoor spaces, and captivating arts and culture. Find sparkling glaciers, abundant wildlife, vast parks and trails, and dazzling northern lights. Restaurants/Breweries: 49th State Brewery, Moose's Tooth Pub & Pizzeria, Midnight Sun Brewing Co, Williwaw Social, Glacier Brewhouse, The Pioneer Coffee/Breakfast: That Feeling Co., The Rustic Goat, Boheme Coffee Lounge For a good time: The Great Alaskan Bush Co.
Flat Top Mountain
A classic when it comes to Anchorage hiking/sight seeing. Flat Top Mountain is a 3.3 mile heavily trafficked loop trail that features beautiful wild flowers with a 1,430 elevation gain. At the top you'll be overlooking Anchorage and the beautiful Chugach Mountains. Distance from Anchorage: 30 min Distance from Homer: 4 hours
ATV Excursion
True Alaskan backcountry riding awaits just a few miles south of Anchorage. From the alpine meadows of this wilderness area, there are frequent sightings of both brown and black bear, moose, mountain goat, and Dall sheep. Adventurers have an opportunity to hike down to a spectacular waterfall fed by Bird Glacier and offering excellent salmon viewing, sneak peeks of Turnagain Arm, and snow-capped mountains in the distance. The unrivaled scenery, excellent wildlife viewing, and moderate terrain make this adventure suitable for all experience levels. Duration: 3 hours Cost: $220/pp
Denali National Park and Preserve
You haven’t fully experienced Alaska unless you’ve been to Denali National Park. Its boundaries encompass an impressive six million acres — the size of the state of Massachusetts. Home to Denali, North America’s highest peak towers an unbelievable 20,310 feet in the sky. The Park hosts an array of wildlife from moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bears to gray wolves and red foxes. If you're dying to visit Denali National Park, consider taking the Alaska Rail Tours from Anchorage to Denali, where all of your logistics and accommodation will be taken care of! Distance from Anchorage: 4.5 hours Distance from Homer: 8 hours
Alaska Rail Tours
Travel the historic Alaska Railroad route and gaze upon magnificent vistas of rivers, plains, and the majestic Alaska Range. Step out on the observation platform for fresh air or head to the dining car for an optional meal. A great way to visit Denali National Park, rail tour includes train ride to and from the National Park and a night's stay at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge - the closest and most comfortable place to stay when visiting the park. The entrance to Denali National Park is located only a mile from the lodge. Travel to/from the hotel is not included in the tour, however the hotel provides a shuttle service hourly from 7am - 7pm between the lodge and the Denali National Park Visitors Center, the Wilderness Access Center and Horseshoe Lake for $5 roundtrip per person. You can also book excursions in the park through the hotel - like river rafting, sight seeing, and flight or helicopter tours.
Alyeska
A great pitstop on your drive to Homer! Located in Girdwood, Alyeska Resort is your gateway to the Chugach Mountains, offering a peek into the vastness and wild nature of this breathtaking mountain range. They offer a tram ride to the top of the mountain for $35 where you can see for miles in all directions and can hike to take in the breathtaking views. At the top, you will also find a bar, gift shop, and Seven Glaciers Restaurant. Tip: You will receive a complimentary tram ride if you make a reservation in advance to the Seven Glaciers Restaurant. You can also look for people who just came down from the tram ride and see if they will give you their tram ticket - it will work again! And you will avoid paying the $35 tram fee. Distance from Anchorage: 1 hour Distance from Homer: 3.5 hours
Cooper Landing
Cooper Landing is a great stopping place halfway between Anchorage and Homer. The small town sits at the intersection of the Kenai and Russian Rivers, which makes it an especially fertile fishing spot. If you're wanting to stretch your legs on a nice hike, visit the Russian River falls, where you can see salmon leaping out of the water! Refuel with some lunch and local beer at the Cooper Landing Brewery located just off the highway (be aware the brewery is Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Distance from Anchorage: 2 hours Distance from Homer: 2 hours
Seward
Seward is a breathtaking land shaped by glaciers, nestled between mountains and the ocean. Adventurous travelers journey to Seward to hike stunning trails, experience abundant wildlife, paddle and fish vibrant waters, and to explore our historic community. This is the ancestral homeland of the Alutiiq, or Sugpiaq, people, who have called the rocky coasts and glacial bays home since time immemorial. Things to do/places to visit in Seward: Major Marine Tours, hiking, fishing charters Distance from Anchorage: 2.5 hours Distance from Homer: 3.5 hours p.s. this is where we will be celebrating the 4th of July. If you're in town, come join us! Check out places to stay at Miller's Landing.
Major Marine Tours
Major Marine Tours offers a variety of tour packages and lengths, from an 8.5 hour tour that takes you to the remote, untouched Northwestern Fjord in Kenai Fjords National Park to view glaciers, whales and wildlife ($230/pp)- to a 3.5 hour wildlife tour where you can see whales, otters, puffins and more! ($94/pp)
Whittier
Whittier is a small seaside town that has a lot to offer explorers. Getting to Whittier is part of the adventure! Travel along the scenic Seward Highway, which is designated a National Scenic Byway and then make your way through North America’s longest rail and vehicle tunnel in the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. The tunnel operates on a schedule to allow one way traffic access to Whittier. Coming into Whittier the tunnel opens on the half hour (7:30, 8:30, 9:30 and so on) and on the hour going out. Things to do/ places to visit in Whittier: Glacier Jet Ski Tours, The Inn at Whittier, Phillips Cruises and Tours, Portage Pass Trail hike Distance from Anchorage: 1.5 hours Distance from Homer: 3.5 hours
Glacier Jet Ski tours
A once-in-a-lifetime Alaska glacier viewing adventure. Experience the untamed beauty of Prince William Sound’s Blackstone Bay! You will get your own jet ski, lead by an experienced guide to show you the way- you’ll find yourself propelled into an indescribable world filled with towering glaciers, thundering waterfalls, and magical blue icebergs! Tour length: 4-4 1/2 hours total trip time Departs – Daily at 9 am and 2 pm Gear: Jet Skis, Drysuits, and all other necessary equipment provided! Wear good under layers, what you wear underneath your drysuit is going to keep you warm. Cost: $340/pp
Phillips Cruises
Philips Cruises & Tours offers a 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier - See it all in one day! Cruise in comfort on high-speed catamarans to see dynamic glaciers and wildlife up close in College Fjord and Blackstone Bay. Watch for adorable sea otters and harbor seals, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, mountain goats, black bears and migratory birds. Explore ice-filled bays, narrow passages, and deep-water fjords carved by glaciers and surrounded by the pristine wilderness of the Chugach National Forest. 5.5 hours for $159/pp