Homer Alaska is a small town on the south end of the Kenai Peninsula in southcentral Alaska.  It is 220 miles (350 km) south of Anchorage.  The scenic drive from Anchorage to Homer takes you along Turnagain Arm, where you might see the white Beluga Whales.  The trip also takes you along the shores of Cook Inlet where you can see snow covered Mount Iliamna and Mt Reboubt across the inlet.  These are inactive volcanoes (usually!) and rise more than 10000 feet (3000 meters) above the sea.  The town of Homer is home to about 5000 residents, with about 5000 more living in the surrounding communities.  Within walking distance from the hostel there are many cafes, art galleries, and restaurants to check out and the award winning Pratt Museum is right around the corner.  There is also lots of nightlife and visits from local and faraway bands.  And, the Salty Dawg Saloon at the end of the spit.  Homer is located on the shore of Kachemak Bay and is a gateway to the Kachemak Bay State Park where there are numerous hiking and kayaking opportunities.  One of the most popular hikes is a day or overnight trip to Grewingk Glacier lake, which is filled with icebergs from the massive Grewingk Glacier.  There are also opportunities for bearviewing trips across Cook Inlet by floatplane, whale watching trips, fishing from shore or boat, flightseeing to the Harding Icefield,  ultra light flights to see the grandeur from above, boat trips to the villages of Halibut Cove and Seldovia.  And plenty of Homerites and visitors to meet (extra special!)