Cabins and guest houses provide the perfect option for families looking for a place to call their own, and Homer has a multitude of choices; find them on the chamber website, www.homeralaska.org, or visit Homer Cabins & Cottages Network (907/235-0191 or 888/364-0191, www.cabinsinhomer.com), with two-dozen rental cabins in the Homer area.

Near the end of Homer Spit, Sea Lion Cove (907/235-3400 summer or 907/235-8767, www.sealiongallery.com, mid-May–mid-Sept., $135–145 d) is operated by artist Gary Lion, whose gallery is downstairs. The two rooms are right in the heart of the summertime fishing action. Each has a kitchenette, a TV, a phone, and a shared deck delivering full-on bay vistas.

Alaska by the Sea (907/235-2716 or 877/374-2716, www.alaskabythesea.com) rents seven cottages, cabins, and homes, including several near Bishops Beach ($150–200 d), a small in-town cabin ($120 d), and a large house that sleeps 12 ($400).

A fine shore-side place, Homer Inn & Spa (907/235-2501 or 800/294-7823, www.homerinn.com), has a beachside hot tub, day spa facilities (including side-by-side massage), and plush king-size beds. Three mini-suites are $159–199 d, and a separate villa ($229 d) is perfect for families. A hot breakfast is brought to your room each morning.

Situated atop a high bluff on the west side as the highway drops into Homer, Alaska Adventure Cabins (907/223-6681, www.alaskaadventurecabins.com, $245–345 for up to 4 people) has a fun mélange of lodging: three gorgeous cabins, a large guesthouse, a restored Alaska Railroad caboose, and a landlocked boat called the Double Eagle that began life as a Gulf Coast shrimper. Each unit contains a full kitchen, a private bath, Wi-Fi, and a large deck with all-encompassing views of volcanoes, glaciers, Kachemak Bay, and the Homer Spit.