Leaving Soldotna, we embarked on the journey south down the Kenai Peninsula, taking in the breathtaking views of the Cook Inlet and the Alaska Range. The weather was a bit unpredictable, but we were determined to make the most of our trip.
As we approached Homer, we were greeted with an awe-inspiring view of the Homer Spit and Kachemak Bay. Homer is a picturesque town located on the southern shore of the Kenai Peninsula, known for its rich history and culture. The city was originally settled by the Dena’ina people, who have lived in the area for thousands of years. In the early 1900s, Homer became a popular destination for commercial fishing and canning. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, known for its beautiful beaches, excellent seafood, and unique art scene.
After arriving at the Heritage RV Park on the Homer Spit, we ventured into the village at the end of the spit for a delicious seafood dinner. The night was filled with the sound of rain, and unfortunately, it continued to pour all the next day. We had planned to fly to Brooks Falls to see the famous brown bears, but all flights were cancelled due to the weather. We rebooked our flight with Adventure Airways for the following day and crossed our fingers for better weather. Click on thumbnail to view image
Drive to Homer
Brooks Falls Bear Watching
As luck would have it, the weather cleared and we were able to fly with another couple to the famous Brooks Falls in the Katmai National Park. Katmai National Park is located on the Alaska Peninsula and is known for its rugged wilderness and abundant wildlife, including bears, wolves, moose, and wolverines. The park is also home to the Brooks River, where one of the largest concentrations of brown bears in the world gather to catch spawning salmon.
After a 1 1/2 hour flight, we were the third seaplane to arrive at Brooks Falls. We were all anxious to see the bears and we weren’t disappointed. The salmon were jumping over the falls on the Brooks River and the bears were waiting. We watched in awe as mothers taught their cubs how to fish. It was truly spectacular, a photographers dream. We spoke to people from all over the world who had come to share in this spectacular sight. After leaving the falls, we walked to the Brooks Falls Lodge. On the narrow road, we had to make way for a hungry looking Grizzly amble by within 10 feet of us. It was an exhilarating rush but we were definitely a little nervous. Click on thumbnail to view image
When it was time to fly back, we noticed that there were at least 30 float planes tied up, a testament to how popular this attraction is. This was truly an unforgettable experience, and one that we would highly recommend to anyone visiting Alaska. The natural beauty and wildlife that we saw at Brooks Falls were truly breathtaking.
Halibut Fishing Charter
On our last day in Homer, we went halibut fishing with several others in our tour group. Halibut fishing in Kachemak Bay has a long history, and it is considered one of the best places in the world to catch these large flat fish. The halibut in Kachemak Bay can grow up to several hundred pounds and are known for their delicious white meat. We chartered a full day trip with Inlet Charters a 30 year old family business.
After a brief lesson on halibut fishing, we all put our lines in. Patty caught one of the first fish, and we all cheered. We changed locations several times throughout the day, which allowed us to see a lot of the scenic coastline including the Mt Redoubt volcano. By the end of the day, we had all caught our limit and were ready to head home. Click on thumbnail to view image
The boat crew filleted all our fish for us and when we got back, we had them cleaned and packaged in vacuum sealed bags, ready for the freezer. We caught our limit which netted us 16 pounds of fresh halibut – not a bad day! We returned home with memories and photos that we would cherish for a lifetime and a freezer full of delicious fish.