Homer, Alaska - Named One Of America’s Happiest Seaside Towns

My opinion is Spring, that is when the land is most coloriful with blooming flowers: lupin, and the evasive dandylion. Late Summer is nice too, when the hills and meddows are literally covered with blooming magenta fireweed.

If you fish, check with the city to find out the best time for halibut fishing, trout and salmon, Nothing is tastier than Alaska fresh fish!

The art gallery and studio scene is just as impressive.
Its been a minute since I was there, but for fast good food: Cosmic Kitchen, Cups is fun, explore all the cafes and restaurants, gourmet chiefs are aplenty there.

I was hired in 1975 by the KPBSD as an art teacher. Soon I heard a lot about Homer and that early fall with blooming fireweed our family made our first trip to the “hamlet.” We loved the visit and as we were driving out, up Baycrest Hill, I viewed the panoramic view in the rearview mirror and thought to myself, someday I will move us here. In 1980 I was hired as Homer’s Pottery/Art teacher. It was a wonderful 15 years.

I remember the drive down there from your home in Anchorage. The Beluga whales we saw as we drove Close to the water, the mountain goats on the hills/mountains on the other side and Homer itself where we boarded a cruise boat to travel up the fiords and to the site of the glaciers and their calving activity. I also remember the flight we took with you From Moose Pass over the ice fields and through the valleys seeing bears and eagles from above. I have wonderful memories of my stay in Alaska. I love you both for those experiences. ❤️❤️

Hi Gary! Remember the Homer Jazz Ensemble? My husband, Steve, put together the band at the Porpoise Room and played drums. Those were some fun times back when you were mayor and the place was full of young, adventurous, long haired hippies! Hope you are good…We left in 1987 for ten years, then returned.

They actually take them down every year and donate them

That’s way cool. I knew it was a base for monitoring but never herd any stories about it. Growing up as a kid born in 84 we always used to party on the foundation of the old base.

Ah Homer! Land of the homeroids!

Homer is where we plan to vacation next summer or fall. To the locals….. what season would you suggest to first timers, to plan a vacation? Cant wait to go!!

Brother Isaiah coined that term Cosmic Hamlet by the sea, in his writings in Homer News. He was one of the original barefooters,
who lived at the head of bay, and didn’t wear shoes. I think they built some log buildings, including Alaska Wild Berry bldg, if still there… they had a branch in california, called Fountain of the World,
used to take dates there to see ex bikers perform biblical plays up in canyon near Chatsworth until it got dynamited. . but back to Brother Isaiah he was a very enlightened man and and positive. Had been a fighter pilot in WW2 and sometimes reflected on his near death experiences from that time in Homer News. He is the one who said, “Cosmic Hamlet by the Sea.” I lived there for about 8 or 9 years, and it is a very special place, all of kachemak bay, and Alaska for that matter. did 15 years in Alaska. Worked hard, made some mistakes, but enjoyed my time. subsistence net for salmon, picked coal, enjoyed all the creative events there. Miss it.
Love many people there, and think of them. Including Brother Isaiah. He was the Cosmic one for Homer, used to hang out at the Sterling Cafe at the coffee table with many other colorful homeroids. lol Best, Jay
.

If God had a place to retire, it would be here. Love our Homer friends and time spent there ???

Thank you Nina, for highlighting the values we have! Standing up for those values has built a beautiful community. We can’t have people thinking that a place like Homer exists without great values, vission and community action.

It’s a beautiful place to live. If you dont have to work 2 jobs to be here. The police pick and choose who they will protect. The lawmen are gossip mongers. The locals are great.

Have been lucky enough to call this beautiful place home for the past 40 years. Can’t imagine living anywhere else! ?

Those who have a longer memory of the origin of the phrase, " cosmic city by the sea" will know that the “cosmic” part of the appellation was penned by Brother Asaiah Bates.

Gary Williams

Lived in Anchor Point from 1995-2006 and think you represented Homer quite nicely! Beautiful pictures!

I lived in Homer in the mid to late 70’s. 40 years ago sitting in the “Parfait Shop” listening to “Long Cool Woman” on the Juke Box makes me homesick. Population was about 2000, Salty Dog Saloon was always popular. Maybe 2 stop signs, dirt/gravel roads. East end and brown bears! Snow machines and dirt bikes. Remembering the Cannery at the end of the Spit. And of course the USCG Cutter “Sedge”. I’m going back some day! Good people good memories ❤️

Amazingly beautiful place, and not just because of the scenery. The people are top notch and so hospitable and nice. Fortunate enough to have caught a halibut and saw humpbacks breaching oh so close to our boat in Kachemak Bay. This is a little paradise.❤️

Homer is special because its residents have worked hard to protect its wild, scenic qualities, its quiet beauty across the Bay in the fjords; and have pushed back against big development like oil and gas drilling in the Bay, clear cut logging in the State Park across the Bay, navy home-porting, coalbed methane development, jet skis in the Bay, trans- shipment of PCBs, and more. We are pushing back against the Pebble Mine because it is the “wrong mine in the wrong place” and it could have serious impacts to Cook Inlet as well as Homer. This place is unique because the community has chosen to avoid the boom and bust development that has ruined so many other places. I love Homer, “a place of quiet beauty,” that I am proud of because it has chosen to embrace the natural qualities that so many people who live here and who visit here have touted as the qualities that make Homer such a great place to live or visit. Homer truly is an incredible seaside town.

Best school system. Blue Ribbon and Silver schools.

I love Homer and all of our resident’s. The culture in our community is made up of many great organizations all providing incredible services.

Homer is definitely my second choice as a home in Alaska second only to Kenai. Fish there every summer and looking for our first trip back soon. This was a nice story and great pictures. Thanks for the memories.

You’re kidding, right?

I am thinking about accepting a teaching job in Homer, Alaska. Any thoughts/advice?

Google images of the inside of Salty Dawg. The whole place is filled with $1 bills. They’ve been there so long they’ve turned yellow…

While in Homer check out the 125 mile Kachemak Bay Water Trail, a water route from the Homer Spit around the bay to Seldovia. Forty three sites to camp, hike, relax, view the wildlife and enjoy Kachemak Bay State Park.
Search Kachemak Bay Water Trail and Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park.