The Alaskan Camping Spot With Jaw-Dropping Ocean And Mountain Scenery

While the contiguous United States is blessed with natural wonders on a scale that's difficult to convey, Alaska takes it to a whole new level. The country's largest and wildest state is full of must-see places, along with untouched wilderness and spaces so vast they'll rip the breath from your lungs. A journey through Alaska is a visit to a world where nature reigns supreme, and while the choices for outdoor bliss are seemingly infinite, the town of Homer makes a great base for explorations.

Situated along the scenic shores of Kachemak Bay on the Kenai Peninsula — the site of an underrated national park — this community of just over 6,000 people is known as the "Halibut Capital of the World" due to the hefty size and great numbers of these flatfish found in local waters. It is also a prime location for wildlife watching and boasts an artsy downtown with galleries, shops, cafes, bars, and some top-notch eateries.

While Homer hosts a number of hotels, lodges, and resorts for accommodations, another option for outdoorsy travelers is camping. Nestled at the end of Homer Spit — a narrow finger of land stretching out into Kachemak Bay — is the Homer Spit Campground. This private facility hosts both RVs and tents. While the amenities may be bare bones, the views of the water and surrounding mountains are breathtaking, so much so that it came in third in Travel & Leisure's "The 15 Best Beach Camping Spots in the U.S."

The Homer Spit juts out 4.5 miles from the mainland and is home to a marina and a host of small businesses, including the previously named Homer Spit Campground, which has been in operation for over 40 years. Open from early May to early September, the campground has over 122 spaces for tents, RVs, truck campers, and vans. Hookup options range from full (including electric, water, and sewage) to none, which means the campground can accommodate families in large RVs, as well as solo backpackers sleeping in tents. In addition to campsites, the complex includes bathrooms and showers, along with water fill and dump stations.

What makes this campground special is its location, where nature is the shining star of the show. The beach looks out across the cerulean waters of Kachemak Bay onto the rugged, snow-capped ridges and peaks standing vigil on the other side. This is a stark, windswept place where you'll taste the scent of kelp in the air while soaking in all the unspoiled grandeur that Alaska has to offer.

Homer Spit is especially known for its large populations of bald eagles, who congregate there due to the plentiful food sources from both nature and human beings (who often feed on scraps from seafood processing). It's also a terrific place to spot other avian species, which are celebrated for five days each May at the Kachemak Shorebird Festival.

One of the best ways to experience Homer Spit is simply by walking its shores, though it's also possible to soak things in from the water on a day cruise, a guided sea kayaking tour, or from the back of a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). You can also head out in pursuit of trophy salmon and halibut on a chartered fishing trip. If you'd prefer to try your luck without leaving land, wet a line at The Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon (or sometimes just The Fishing Hole) — a lagoon stocked with both coho and chinook salmon — or cast from the beach in front of Land's End Resort at the tip of the spit.

The area around Homer also offers some of the best opportunities in the state for viewing Alaskan brown bears. These majestic creatures congregate along the shores and streams of nearby Katmai National Park and Preserve and Lake Clark National Preserve from June through September. An array of outfitters offer various excursions for those keen to cross seeing in these bears in their natural habitat off of their bucket lists.

The town of Homer is also a cool and surprisingly artsy place to poke around. Stop by the Pratt Museum to learn about the region's natural history, and head to the Bunnell Street Art Center or the Art Shop Gallery to appreciate the impact of Homer's gorgeous natural surroundings on visual art. When you've worked up an appetite, dive into some hearty pastas and pizzas at Fat Olive's Restaurant, or sample local fare at the Kannery, which, along with fresh, expertly-prepared dishes, specializes in craft cocktails.