Homer has many good B&Bs. The Homer Chamber of Commerce (www.homeralaska.org) has links to many of them, as well as an updated availability calendar that shows rooms at many B&Bs and lodges.

In addition to the places I've listed in detail, the Sea Lion Cove, above the Sea Lion Gallery on Homer Spit (www.sealiongallery.com/cove; tel. 907/235-3400 in summer, or 235-8767 in winter), has two spacious units with limited cooking facilities, private phones, Wi-Fi, and a deck right over the beach where you can hear the waves roll in at night. They rent for $135 and $145 a night.

Up the hill on the other side of town, A Memorable Experience Bed and Breakfast (www.amemorableexperience.com; tel. 800/720-9275, ext. 7374, or 907/235-7374) offers huge rooms and a large cottage with spectacular views and an expansive garden setting. The owners also run the Fresh Sourdough Express restaurant. Prices range from $145 to $200 per night.

You'll find good, simple lodgings and excellent value downtown at the Pioneer Inn, 244 W. Pioneer Ave. (www.pioneerinnhomerak.com; tel. 800/782-9655 or 907/235-5670). Big, apartment-style units start at $119 in summer with up to four people in a room. Rooms with two twins or a queen-size bed start at $99 in summer. A house that sleeps up to nine goes for $275 a night.

Camping & Hostels

The most popular place to camp in Homer is out on the spit, amid the sand and pebbles. It can be windy and crowded, but waking up on a bright, pebbled beach makes up for much. The city charges $8 for tents, $15 for RVs, payable at the Camp Fee Office (tel. 907/235-1583, summer only) in a small log cabin on the spit across the road from the fishing hole (RVers should read the next paragraph for another option on the spit). The city also operates the more protected Hornaday Campground near the hospital: From Pioneer Avenue, take Bartlett Street uphill; turn left on Fairview and right on Campground Road. Both camping areas are managed by Homer Public Works (www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/recreation; tel. 907/235-3170).

If RV hookups are a priority, you can stay on the Homer Spit -- for a price. Heritage RV Park is on the spit right next to the fishing hole (www. alaskaheritagervpark.com; tel. 800/380-7787 or 907/226-4500) and has all the usual amenities. Sites with full hookups, including Wi-Fi, telephone with voicemail, and satellite TV, rent for $78 a night. There are plenty of places to go off the spit and get RV hookups more affordably, including the Driftwood Inn, above, and Oceanview RV Park, 455 Sterling Hwy. (www.oceanview-rv.com; tel. 907/235-3951), with 100 spaces near downtown overlooking the water and a trail to the beach. Rates are $37 to $45 a night for full hookups at peak season, including cable TV ($25 for tent camping). Campers also get halibut charter discounts.

Find conveniently located hostel rooms at Homer Hostel, 304 W. Pioneer Ave. (www.homerhostel.com; tel. 907/235-1463), charging $25 a night for beds in dorms with four to six bunks each, or $65 double for private rooms (tax included). It's a nice old house with a shared full kitchen, but common areas are small. They also rent bikes and have a grill on the porch guests can use.

Lodgings Across the Bay

These places to stay all are based across Kachemak Bay from Homer, each in its own remote cove, bay, or village, and each in its own market niche, from family lodgings to luxurious accommodations. If you want to stay at a wilderness lodge, you can't just show up and get a room. Besides getting to the lodge by boat, you also need to reserve a place well in advance, although there's always a chance of something being open if you call a day or two ahead. I regret I can't include more that are also deserving -- and there are many -- which you can find listed with links at www.homeralaska.org. Here are some standouts to consider: The Otter Cove Resort (www.ottercoveresort.com; tel. 800/426-6212 or 907/235-6212), overlooking Eldridge Passage from attractive, affordable cabins and a shower house, and nearby hiking and sea kayaking; A Stillpoint In Halibut Cove, home of the Center for Creative Renewal (www.stillpointlodge.com; tel. 907/296-2283), an all-inclusive remote lodge experience, with hiking and kayaking guides, massage, and home-grown organic food, offering retreats and workshops for groups as well as visits for individuals -- all in a building that's an astonishing work of art itself, full of exquisite stone, dramatic spaces, and even an indoor creek and waterfall; and, in Seldovia, Alaska Dancing Eagles Cabin Rental (www.dancingeagles.com; tel. 907/234-7627 in summer, or 360-6363 in winter) a picturesque house and cabin on the town's historic boardwalk overlooking calm water and, usually, a sea otter.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.