Alaska 2026

Back to Alaska after two (long) years (Previous visits linked here.)

Here's some description of where we went and what we did. There's a link to the slideshow at the bottom.

We stayed at the same lodge near Homer — Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge which highlights how wonderful it is.

If you like to hike, tide pool, kayak, view fantastical mountains, take a flight to view bears (we didn't this time), fish (we didn't but others did), eat scrumptiously, and be treated as family, this is the place.

Since our relocation to the west coast, getting to ANC (Anchorage) is a non-stop from SFO away!

Getting from Anchorage to Homer is a mild challenge. We've done commercial airline (RAVN went bankrupt and has been replaced by Aleutian Airlines which has a very poor reputation) and bus. This time we booked Kachemak Air Service with Jimmy Christensen flying a Robertson STOL (Short Take Off and Landing) as designed and manufactured by James Robertson - Valerie's Dad. It's a float plane so we took a taxi from ANC to Spenard Lake where Jimmy picked us up and landed in Beluga Lake, Homer.

If the weather is good, you get some nice views.



A Google Earth view of Homer, the spit, Kachemak Bay and China Poot Bay where the lodge is located.


If in Homer, make sure you check out
Homer Book Store
and
Homer Jeans

Before we even left Homer, we had a memorable encounter.


Then on to the Lodge.


Green is vegetation and the gray is sandbars which appear at low tide and disappear at high tide. Boaters have to always be aware of the tides.

Diane and Michael McBride built the lodge and their kids, Shannon McBride-Morin and Morgan McBride, now own and run it. Diane is at the Lodge regularly and we reminisced about old times.


The lodge has 4 cabins and 1 apartment attached to the dining room. That's it.

Here's an overview taken when Jimmy did a flyby with us in 2024.


And our cabin.





What makes the entire experience is the staff. Mostly/entirely young and mostly from the Homer area, they really know, love and enjoy sharing the Alaskan wilderness. They each do it all - guiding, cleaning, serving meals, ensuring guest safety, etc.

And the kind of folks who stay at the lodge are the kind of folks who are interested and interesting. So fun to be with.

Meals are a highlight, even for non-foodies like us. They have their own vegetable garden; all breads, sauces and sides are house made; bacon and fish are house smoked.

Breakfast is a great start to the day:

Dinner begins with hors d'oeuvres at 6pm either outside on the dock or in the solarium if the weather is not cooperative. Then we learn the night's menu which is followed by a served dinner.


And apple tart with Candy Cap Mushroom ice cream (which was actually delicious).



What did we do?