Seward, AK
Ididaride Dog Mushing Tour Chosen as one of Alaska's top 20 attractions, a must do for all Alaska visitors.
Your Seward Dog Mushing adventure begins with a two-mile dog sled ride. Feel the power, excitement, and energy of sled dogs as they are harnessed to the comfortable wheeled dog sled. Upon returning to the kennel you'll tour the Seavey's family kennel facilities, laugh as a guest is dressed up as an Iditarod musher, and cuddle adorable husky puppies. Your guides are all Iditarod racers, and offer a delightfully humorous, behind-the-scenes look at the Seavey family's training for the most demanding dog mushing race on earth, the Iditarod.
The Real Alaska Tour
Seward, Alaska This Seward tour package features all the attractions that truly make Alaska the Greatland. First, your guide shows you the sights of Seward. Learn why Seward was known as "the Gateway to Alaska" and "Mile 0" of the Iditarod Trail. See first-hand the effects of the 1964 Earthquake. Then, head out to Exit Glacier and enjoy a short walk along the nature trail that takes you to the face of the glacial ice. Watch for mountain goats, moose and bears. A hearty lunch will be served before you travel to the Seavey homestead and experience IdidaRide's Sled Dog tour. At the end your driver will return you to your hotel, cruise ship or the Alaska Railroad depot. All local transportation and lunch are included in this package.
Homer, Alaska (HOME-er)
Recommend Activities and Tours • Lodging • Recommend Reading
Current Population: 5,454 (2006) Borough Located In:Kenai Peninsula Borough Taxes: 4.5% Sales (City); 3% (Borough)
Location and Climate Homer is located on the north shore of Kachemak Bay on the southwestern edge of the Kenai Peninsula. The Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile long bar of gravel, extends from the Homer shoreline. It is 227 road miles south of Anchorage, at the southern-most point of the Sterling Highway. The community lies at approximately 59.642500° North Latitude and -151.548330° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 19, T006S, R013W, Seward Meridian.) Homer is located in the Homer Recording District. The area encompasses 10.6 sq. miles of land and 14.9 sq. miles of water. Homer lies in the maritime climate zone. During the winter, temperatures range from 14 to 27; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 24 inches, including 55 inches of snow.
History, Culture and Demographics The Homer area has been home to Kenaitze Indians for thousands of years. In 1895 the U.S. Geological Survey arrived to study coal and gold resources. Prospectors bound for Hope and Sunrise disembarked at the Homer Spit. The community was named for Homer Pennock, a gold mining company promoter, who arrived in 1896 and built living quarters for his crew of 50 on the Spit. Their plans were to mine the beach sands along Cook Inlet, from Homer to Ninilchik. The Homer post office opened shortly thereafter. In 1899, Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a town and dock on the Spit, a coal mine at Homer's Bluff Point, and a 7-mile-long railroad which carried the coal to the end of Homer Spit. Various coal mining operations continued until World War I, and settlers continued to trickle into the area, some to homestead in the 1930s and 40s, others to work in the canneries built to process Cook Inlet fish. Coal provided fuel for homes, and there is still an estimated 400 million tons of coal deposits in the vicinity of Homer. The City government was incorporated in March 1964. After the Good Friday earthquake in 1964, the Homer Spit sunk approximately 4 to 6 feet, and several buildings had to be relocated.
The population of the community consists of 6.2% Alaska Native or part Native. While commercial fishing has long been the mainstay of the Homer economy, tourism has become increasingly important. Homer is known as an arts community and is also a gateway community in relation to more remote destinations such as Kachemak Bay State Park and Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Activities and events such as the Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby and Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival draw many participants. During the 2000 U.S. Census, total housing units numbered 1,873, and vacant housing units numbered 274. Vacant housing units used only seasonally numbered 129. U.S. Census data for Year 2000 showed 1,849 residents as employed. The unemployment rate at that time was 8.95 percent, although 38.49 percent of all adults were not in the work force. The median household income was $42,821, per capita income was $21,823, and 9.3 percent of residents were living below the poverty level.
Economy and Transportation Homer is primarily a fishing, fish processing, trade and service center, and enjoys a considerable seasonal visitor industry. It has also become a popular retirement community. Approximately 10 cruise ships dock each summer. During summer months, the population swells with students and others seeking cannery or fishery employment. Sport fishing for halibut and salmon contribute significantly to the economy. 541 area residents hold commercial fishing permits. The fish dock is equipped with cold storage facilities, ice manufacturing and a vacuum fish-loading system. Gates Construction processes wood chips from spruce bark beetle-killed timber at its Homer Spit facility and exports the chips to Pacific Rim pulp and paper companies. The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is popular for tourism and also serves as the headquarters for the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The National Park Service maintains a regional office. Government and health care are major employers.
Homer is accessible by the Sterling Highway to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Canada and the lower 48 states. It is often referred to as "The End of the Road," because it lies at the terminus of the Sterling Highway. The State owns and operates the Homer Airport, with a 6,700' long by 150' wide asphalt runway and float plane basin, and a seaplane base at Beluga Lake. The City is served by several scheduled and chartered aircraft services. There are four additional private landing strips in the vicinity. The Alaska Marine Highway and local ferry services provide water transportation. The deep-water dock can accommodate 30-foot drafts and 340-foot vessels. There is a cruise ship dock, a boat harbor with moorage for 920 vessels, and a 5-lane boat launch ramp.
Homer Visitor Information and Recommend Activities and Tours
Homer
Lodging, Hotels and Bed & Breakfast
Recommend Reading
Backcountry Safaris P.O. Box 231121 • Anchorage, Alaska USA 99523 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159
Backcountry Safaris is a member of the following trade and travel organizations:
Three national parks, Denali, Katmai and Kenai Fjords. Brown bears, whales, wildlife, calving tidewater glaciers, Mt. McKinley, fall colors, hot springs and much more. (more…)
Alaska- just the name conjures up visions of the wild, wonderful creatures of the North Country, brown bears… wolves… Dall sheep… caribou… moose… (more…)
Winter Adventure It's all about fun!
Drive your own snowmobile
Alaska Snowmobiling Snowmobile in the best possible place. The Chugach Mountains will surround you as you navigate your own snowmachine through trails, open fields of powder, beaver ponds, frozen waterfalls.
Alaska
Rafting
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Kongakut River – 10-day Arctic National Wildlife Refuge rafting safari.
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Denali Park Nenana RIver – 2-4 hour rafting trips.
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Chulitna River – 4-day denali raft adventure.
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Lake Creek – 7-day whitewater rafting and fishing adventure.
Homer is located on the north shore of Kachemak Bay on the southwestern edge of the Kenai Peninsula. The Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile long bar of gravel, extends from the Homer shoreline. It is 227 road miles south of Anchorage, at the southern-most point of the Sterling Highway. The community lies at approximately 59.642500° North Latitude and -151.548330° (West) Longitude. (Sec. 19, T006S, R013W, Seward Meridian.) Homer is located in the Homer Recording District. The area encompasses 10.6 sq. miles of land and 14.9 sq. miles of water. Homer lies in the maritime climate zone. During the winter, temperatures range from 14 to 27; summer temperatures vary from 45 to 65. Average annual precipitation is 24 inches, including 55 inches of snow.
