Halibut Cove

Halibut Cove, an absurdly quaint village of 30 year-round residents, is the kind of place you'll wish you grew up in. In the early 1920s the cove supported 42 herring salteries and had a population of over 1000. Today it's home to the noted Saltry restaurant, a handful of art galleries, a warren of boardwalks - but no roads.

The Danny J travels to the cove twice daily. It departs Homer at 12:00, swings past Gull Island and arrives at 13:30. There, you have 2½ hours to explore and have lunch. The ferry returns to the Spit by 17:00 and then makes an evening run to the cove for dinner, returning to Homer at 22:00. The noon tour is dearer than the evening trip. Book through Central Charters (907 235 7847), which has an office on the Spit.