Sightseeing by Bike in Homer,AK
The Five Best Attractions to See and Do by Bike in Homer, Alaska
Oct 16, 2008
One of the best things about Alaska is its size: the humbling scope of nature on a grand scale, untamed for miles. But America’s fiftieth state happens to be three times the size of Texas, making distance one of the most difficult things about traveling in Alaska. Getting around can be a blur of bus tours, hours in rental cars, and sitting sedentary on trains. It's easy to get cabin fever after a few days of this, but getting out of the car and onto a bike at one of the many places in Homer that will rent one is an easy way to refresh the travel-weary spirit.
Homer is a small but cultured town on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula and there are limitless opportunities to enjoy regional seafood, local brews, and art - all reasonably close to each other. Some well-maintained bike paths offer a safer option than riding on main roads to get around. Here are just five of the best activities to pursue on a bike in Homer:
Eat Breakfast at the Two Sisters Bakery
Start the morning with a brisk ride downhill to Two Sisters Bakery for coffee and breakfast. The view from the bakery encompasses Katchemak Bay, the Homer spit (a thin strip of land that extends into the bay), and the glaciers to the west - an invigorating way to start the day. The Two Sisters Bakery is known for homemade bread, cakes, and morning sticky buns dripping with cinnamon topping that compliment the inspiring views.
Fish with the Locals at the Homer Fishing Hole
The ride down to the Spit is on a wide bike path that leads straight to one of the local fishing spots, where poles are available to rent nearby. Just watching the silver salmon jump out of the range of every fisherman’s line is entertaining in itself. A gray seal also frequents the area for his own fishing and maybe some people watching too.
Eat seafood on the Homer Spit
King Crab ranks as one of the most sought-after culinary treasures of the ocean and there are several seafood outlets where it is available to buy, in addition to countless restaurants that serve the long-legged crustacean. The Katchemak Bay Seafood Co-op on the Spit sells King Crab, huge oysters and other shellfish that are pulled out of the nearby waters. Halibut is also pulled daily from the cold depths of the surrounding bay, and there area few taco stands along the road that serve outstanding Halibut tacos.
Alaskan Art in Homer's Galleries
Back on Homer’s mainland, the art galleriesare worth a visit. The low-key galleries near Main Street are easily accessible within the span of a few blocks, and they showcase a good variety of traditional Alaskan arts and crafts and modern art produced by local artists for sale.
Local Alaskan Beer and Wine
Homer has a number of options for libations at the end of a day of bike touring. The most famous watering hole in Homer is the Salty Dawg, an eccentric little pub on the Spit, with low-slung beams, a dark atmosphere and dollar bills pinned to the ceiling. There are other pubs in the main part of town, like Alice’s Champagne Palace, that showcase live music several nights of the week and feature locally brewed beer on tap. Homer also boasts of a Meadery that has all the types of honey wines imaginable and a Winery that specializes in wines produced from locally-grown fruit like rhubarb, raspberry, and blueberry.
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