A Week in Alaska

Our trip to Alaska began with a bit of dreary weather. Landing in Anchorage in the clouds I had a feeling we may be in for a few days of sprinkles. In Anchorage we ventured out in not quite the right clothes up to Flattop to pursue a hike (I don’t recommend wearing cotton pants on a hike…). We stepped out of the car to whipping winds and as a 2nd option hiked the Wolverine trail not too far from Flattop and ended up thoroughly soaked. But, with a few battles of whiffle ball in the backyard (rain free but not bug free) and a walk on the Coastal Trail we enjoyed Anchorage’s beauty before heading on to the Kenai Peninsula. The drive to Homer is a magnificent 4 hour scenic view through the pass toward Seward (on the Seward Highway) then following AK-1 west through Soldotna, then on to Homer. The first section of the drive on the Seward Highway to the ‘cut-off’ towards Homer and through Cooper Landing is incredibly beautiful. The route from Anchorage to Seward is deemed as a National Scenic Byway…not to be missed.

Once in Homer we headed out to the Homer Spit with a brief stop for photos at the Salty Dawg Saloon. This is a landmark pub that’s been there since I remember going to Homer in the 70’s. I’ve had one drink there over the years and that was when a family friend took me in there as a child and I ordered a Shirley Temple.

We have family and friends with a beautiful boat in the Homer Harbor and we were able to go out with our friends one day for a morning tour of Halibut Cove. The photo below is the Saltry Restaurant…yum…take the Danny J boat over for a lovely day in the Cove for some great eating, walking the boardwalk and shopping the galleries.  Beyond Halibut Cove and just past Gull Island we watched another’s friend seine fishing set and then cruised off for an afternoon of halibut fishing near the head of Kachemak Bay.  Being in Kachemak Bay on a sunny day is like heaven on earth. We got some sun in the afternoon while Homer was socked in so we were feeling lucky and brought in over 10 halibut but kept 7 to share between 2 families.  That’s a lot of halibut. My daughter was quite a fisherwoman pulling in 3 largish fish, one up to her shoulders (and that’s not a fish tale).

The next morning, the day we left Homer, was GORGEOUS, as displayed by the photo I took below from Island Watch B&B. The Island Watch has beautiful properties and gardens to admire up West Hill Road.

Before leaving town we headed to Two Sister’s Bakery to buy a few loaves of bread. We’d been there for lunch already and can vouch for the great soups, sandwiches and caramel rolls….in fact my husband and daughter shared another caramel roll on our way out. The bakery is conveniently located right at the entrance of Bishops Beach. Buy some lunch a have a picnic while viewing the mountains across the bay.

We headed to Soldotna then to visit my extended family and we dined our last day in Soldotna at the Fine Thyme Cafe in River City Books. This is a great stop for coffee and some reading material and gifts if you are cruising through Soldotna.

The last few days in Alaska were fantastic and our ride back on the Seward Highway through the pass was splendid. We spent the days with family and a bike ride on the Coastal Trail again to Westchester Lagoon but it ended there due to a flat tire. Luckily the kids enjoyed the park in lieu of a long bike ride.

And on Saturday in Anchorage we took in a 3 v 3 hockey tournament! Yes, hockey is king in Alaska, and we got to see the cousins skate skate skate….and it was great to see them at 9 and 12 on skates again and get all bundled up in July.