Visitors (and/or locals) can travel aboard the Homer Trolley to visit highlights in Old Town, downtown and the Spit from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. while enjoying narrative by their Homer sourdough driver, Berkly Davis. The tours start this Friday (June 14) and run through the summer.
Passengers can hop off and on as many times as they wish to visit the Pratt Museum, downtown art galleries and restaurants, Old Town (more art and fine dining and a short stroll to Bishop's Beach), Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, Farmer's Market (Wednesdays and Saturdays), a Bald Eagle's nest and Spit attractions (art shops and dining as well as opportunities to book sea excursions.) and more. Just viewing the street art on Pioneer (great mural wall in front of Nomar for example) is a pleasure. The driver, lifetime resident Berkly Davis (Monte's brother) makes it a fun, interesting and lively tour, relating history and colorful stories about the local residents and events.
Even locals who have been here for years discover more Homer delights by playing tourist for a day taking the Trolley tour.
The trolly tour got it's start in 2010 when 14-year-old Alex Knudtson developed the idea for a Homer trolly tour while he was on a Magical Mystery Tour in Liverpool, England. Friends of the Homer Library were conducting a city-wide business idea contest and Alex was one of three winners for a cash prize which went toward starting the trolley tour.
He assists his mother Sally Oberstein, owner of Generous Adventures Travel Auctions, on winter guided tours in other parts of the world. "I consider these to be my school field trips," he says. "You learn a lot more about ancient civilizations by going to the Great Pyramids, the Coliseum and Machu Picchu than by reading a book. His mother home schools him.
Alex designed the route and wrote the script for the tour.
He was raised here and, thanks in part to his local knowledge and tours abroad, knows the ingredients of an entertaining, exciting and educational tour.
"It is our goal to connect visitors with our community and our Online Directory, a free directory for all Homer businesses," Oberstein said. She noted that their website has been busy since Alaska at a Glance travel writer Howard Hilan mentioned it in multiple publications. He said, "The best way to see this picturesque town is by taking the 'Hop-on, hop-off trolley.
Tickets are available from the driver upon boarding the trolley or can be purchased at Oceanview RV Park, the Driftwood Inn, Central Charters or Land's End Resort.
