adamhochman

Hello,
I am planning a trip to Alaska for this July. As of now I have booked a hotel in Seward for 4 nights/4 days. Is this too long to spend in Seward? I'm also thinking about spending some time in Homer. Is Homer too far for a day trip? Should I split the 4 days up and spend 2 in Homer and 2 in Seward?
My wife and I like a good mix of activities (hiking, tours) with walking around town, so I think there's stuff in both towns that we'd like. Thanks
Adam

repete

definitely split 'em. it's too far for a day trip and both have unique, worthwile attractions.

birder

I think 95% of people would tell you to split your time between the two cities. They both have a lot to offer, and if you are looking to see a lot of Alaska, it would be worth your while.

However, we just finalized our itinerary and we are spending 4 days in Seward and won't be going to Homer. There are a couple of reasons for this, the most important being that in the past, we have always regretted having to drive too much. Since we're doing Denali as well, we decided to just see Seward and we'll get Homer on the next visit.

Another reason, though, is that there's a lot to do around Seward - at least the stuff that we like. We didn't want to breeze in and breeze out and only get a superficial feel for the place -- especially because we'll be spending one full day on the Northwest Fjords boat tour. That means we'd have had less than a day in Seward.

We're going to go sea kayaking, and do the Caines Head coastal hike, which we hear is GORGEOUS. (Here's a web site to it: http://www.millerslandingak.com/hiking_caines.htm ) We'll do the Sea Life Center and maybe just relax in our cabin. There's Exit Glacier, the dog sledding tours, etc., as well.

BTW, we found the most beautiful cabin -- I haven't seen any reviews of it on this site or or tripadvisor.com - so there is some risk that it won't be as nice as it seems, but we decided to take that risk. To us, a gorgeous cabin directly on the water, with eagles flying by, is a treat by itself. Here's the link to the cabin (we're staying in the Gateway, if you look at it, you'll see what I mean by gorgeous): http://www.alaska-cabins-seward.com/

I do feel a pang of regret for not going to Homer, but I would have felt even more regret rushing in and rushing out of Seward. Our experience from previous trips tells us that, for us, enjoying one place thoroughly is much more relaxing than rushing all over the place.

z

Bravo birder! You are so right that enjoying one place thoroughly is much more relaxing than rushing all over the place. Staying longer in one place is the best well known secret to falling in love with Alaska. I would definietly stay in one place

Postal

We spent two nights in Seward and two in Homer and felt it was the right mix. We also spent two at Cooper Landing, between the two, to fish.

repete

Yes, if you are lucky enough to make frequent trips to AK, then it might make sense to skip Homer this trip. But for many folks seeking advice these questions are are for the first (and possibly only) trips . . . or at least the only one in the foreseeable future.

If that's the case for Adam, then he'd be very wise to split the time. I kept a boat in Seward and weekended there for years, but Homer is a special place.

I don't know how much time Birder or Z have spent in AK -- or if they've even been to both Homer and Seward.

Both towns have their unique charms and for 2 1/2-3 hour driving time during those long Alaska days, you'll see a lot more of the state.

And the OP does state that he's interested in both towns -- and for good reason.

Also, it's an easy and mostly interesting drive. Yes, you do go through some boggy areas near Sterling, but you also get some fablous views of Kenai Lake and the Kenai River, plus great coastal views of the volcanos across Cook Inlet.

Plus, if heaven forbid, the weather is lousy you don't want to be stuck in either place for four days -- trust me, I've done it in both towns.

BTW, is a ``best well known secret'' like jumbo shrimp?

birder

One clarification: we actually won't be staying in just one place during our trip. We'll have 3 days in Denali, 1 in Anchorage, and 4 in Seward. If we were only doing the Kenai, we would split it between Homer and Seward. But with all the driving we are already doing, we decided to stay put in Seward. Actually we probably will do a day trip but it won't be all the way to Homer!

I know many many people take 2 days in Seward and 2 in Homer, and are very happy with their choices. I just wanted to share what we are doing and why. We may end up regretting it, who knows? We'll have to wait for my trip report in August to find out!

repete

Message: Here's a sample split of the four days:

Day 1 -- Long Kenai Fjords tour, dinner at Rays, stroll downtown Seward and small boat harbor area

Day 2 -- Head to Exit Glacier and hike to the Harding Icefield. Pack a lunch and plenty of water. There's a steep hike to the icefield that has great wildlife potential.
http://www.akhs.atfreeweb.com/Hikes/...ngIcefield.htm

If it looks too much, you could just visit Exit Glacier in the morning and kayak in the afternoon. Chill out around town in the evening.

Day 3 -- Start early the trip to Homer. Take your time around Kenai Lake and stop at Guins (sp) for a nothing-fancy-but-hearty breakfast. Poke around Homer, have a drink at the Salty Dawg and look for eagles along the beach. At 5 p.m., catch the DannyJ to Halibut Cove and eat at the Saltry (you might want to stay overnight there).

Day 4 -- Visit Pratt Museum and do a guided or self-guided hike at the Center for Alaska Coastal Studies. They have some great tidal area walks.

http://www.akcoastalstudies.org/Tours&SummerHMPG.htm

BudgetQueen

I would too would recommending spliting between Homer and Seward. I find it interesting the recommendation for 4 days there when they haven't even been there yet??? I go to Seward every trip and 4 days is too long in that small area. Many activites can be done in one day. For clairfication your cabin will not the pristine "look" you may think. Lowell Point is frankly the ugliest area of Seward. A lot of junk all over, a big fishing area certainly and nice "beach" access, but a busy area in the summer in this crowded space- dead end. Quite a drive to get there- sometimes rock slides and no guard rails on the ocean side (no risk- just a statement about the nice scenery), unpaved road, one lane bridge and plenty of old abandoned boats etc.

BudgetQueen

Also it's 180 miles Seward - Homer, so more like close to 4 hours. I have never made it in less than 3 1/2, and that is without stopping, it's not all 55 mph and you can come up on a lot of slow moving vehicles.

z

Budget Queen I find your posts sometimes ignoring other posters as you consider your self the expert for Alaska. well, I been to Alaska at least 27 times so my suggestions comes from my personal experiences. At least I don't advertise here for MICA guiding company. You do!

repete

Apparently, I've had more luck on the Seward-Homer stretch -- and I usually grabbed a cone at the Soldotna DQ.

I guess it might be a good place to interject that it's an Alaska law that if you're not at the speed limit and you're slowing down five or more vehicles you're required to pull over.

birder

Just a clarification: I'm not recommending that anyone do anything. If you read my posts, you'll see that. I'm just saying that we decided to stay in Seward for four days, based on the fact that in the past we have felt exhausted from lots of driving. I also said that in the end we might end up regretting it. We are lucky that we have lots of FF miles (which we were easily able to use on this trip) and we believe we'll definitely be back and in fact we have a good chance of moving to Alaska. I agree with repete - if this was someone's potentially only trip to Alaska, they likely would want to split the trip.

While I am going against the "orthodoxy" on this point (staying in Seward so long), I am following it in many other ways: first bus into Denali, NW Fjords trip (the long one), etc. I really appreciate these boards and I've gotten great advice on my trip so far.

dfrostnh

I've recommended splitting the time between Seward and Homer but I tend to get into high energy travel mode. On some vacations my husband has negotiated no rushing around every other day. (His idea of vacation is one week in the same place doing nothing more exciting than jigsaw puzzles.) A good point is made that maybe time should be spent to savor a place. We did not go to the Seward Historical Museum which does a presentation on the earthquake. We didn't go to Exit Glacier. OTH we visited places like Captain Cook State Park and talked to net fisherman (Kalifornsky Beach?) in the Kenai/Soldotna area that no one seems to mention. I loved the exhibit at the Kenai visitors center.
Depending on your lodging's policies, if you've had enough of Seward after 3 days, maybe you can leave a day early. Have a great trip.

BudgetQueen

OK Z- go ahead you are free to be the expert. I can AND do recommend many of my favorite venders in Alaska. And you haven't???? For your information- I live in New York. and have NO BENEFIT from my recommendations. I had an EXCELLENT trip with MICA guides- and will continue to recommend them as well as taking the Shuttle to at lease Fish Creek in Denali Park, The Northwest Fjord trip with Kenai Fjords, Coastal helicopter and Orca Enterprises in Juneau. Etc Etc ETc. So what?

BudgetQueen

Are you "Bob" who has emailed me???
No you started "it" when you claimed I was advertizing for MICA. My opinion only- they offered me a great tour at a very reasonable price. That may be of interest to others.

z

OK Budget Queen. I am sorry I did not mean to start this. Please accept my appolgy. I know you are helpful to some new and future visitors to Alaska. I just want you to realize there are other posters, like myself, who also love Alaska but may have different opnion than yours. All I am asking is for you to aknowledge these differences and not putting them down or assuming I never been to Alaska and I have no idea what I am talking about. Been there many times, every summer, for the last 16 years, we spent there at least 4-6 weeks, have cabins in Council and in Valdez. I can go on and on with my connections to my beloved state.
No, I am not Bob and I never e-mailed you.

Connie

Remember, it'll take part of a day just to get to Seward. Don't count on that day for too much activity.

Deborah

I have a question for those people that have done the 4 hour or so drive to Homer. Would it be a waste to do just fly down and do a day trip or is there too much to do in one day? I know some of these Alaskan towns are really small as this is my 4th trip up. I don't really want to spend a lot of time driving either. I will be doing Seward as well, so it would cut down 1/2 of the driving to only have to drive one place. If it's worth the drive, I will do it and stay 2 nights.
Thanks.

repete

You can have a great time and get a feel for Homer in one day. If the logistics of flying in and the expenses are a comfortable fit, then do it. Will you see it all? Nope, but it will give you enough of an idea to determine if it's what you're looking for on future visits.

While it might not fit your schedule, there's also a morning bus from Homer to Seward that could help others looking at combining the two towns.