Weekend in Homer, Alaska

For Father’s Day weekend we headed to a little coastal town, Homer, in Alaska to celebrate. It’s a four hour drive from our house so we took off Friday and Monday to really get away. It’s truly spectacular to see such beautiful mountains and glaciers on the horizon of the sea. I always feel at home by the ocean and being in this little fishing town seemed especially fitting for Father’s Day. Nate went halibut fishing on Sunday for Father’s Day, which is a win/win for everyone! He gets to go fishing for the day and I get a freezer full of fresh halibut. I’m sure my dad was rooting him on and perhaps had a hand in giving us such fabulous weather. The weather was beautiful and pretty much as good as it gets here! It was definitely what Alaskan summer dreams are made of. His twin brother’s family joined as well and we all enjoyed a relaxing weekend playing on the beach.

For those of you who asked on Instagram, here is a link to the condo we rented (the picture above was taken from the deck!). We absolutely love staying here (second year in a row) because it is right on the Homer Spit. The location makes it so convenient to walk to all of the fun shops and restaurants plus there is beach access right off the deck. Loading/unloading the kids (especially when there are four!) in and out of the car can be such a hassle so walking places is essential + makes for many treasure hunting opportunities. Also being able to play on the beach easily came in so handy when the babies napped. The “big” kids could play outside and make all sorts of racket without constant shushing. We had a campfire each night, too. My favorite part of a campfire is being able to enjoy it, roast a marshmallow, and then go inside to a cozy bed rather than a sleeping bag in a tent:) The condo fit our two families perfectly: the babies slept in the closets of their parents’ room and the big kids shared a bed. (And, yes, they actually slept!) Each of the couples had their own full bathroom and the kitchen was stocked better than any other rental I’ve stayed in. I highly recommend staying here!

My favorite places to eat in Homer are The Little Mermaid (best fish tacos!) and Boardwalk Fish and Chips. There are a few ice cream options to choose from and we love Carmen’s Gelato the best. We have yet to make it over to Halibut Cove and eat at The Saltry, which is definitely next on my list if we can sneak out for dinner without the girls. Next trip! We didn’t go out for breakfast at all because it’s so hard to get out and back in time for Magnolia’s morning nap. Instead, I made my infamous kolache ahead of time for leisurely breakfasts while we were there which allowed us to spend the mornings relaxing on the beach in our cozies. However, if you are looking for breakfast spots, Two Sisters is a must (get the sticky bun) and La Baleine Café is delicious!