Closing the loop, we are back from a fantastic trip. We absolutely LOVED Homer. The views of the mountains/glaciers set against Kachemak Bay are unbelievably gorgeous. Think the Tetons on steroids. And the drive from Anchorage to Homer, through the Kenai Peninsula, is pretty amazing.
We also really liked Talkeetna, which is the gateway to Denali along the Susitna River. Unfortunately, our time in that vicinity was pretty overcast, so the Mountain wasn’t out. We did get to see it, with binoculars, from a park in Anchorage, though.
Also, the drive from Wasilla to Matanuska Glacier is really fun. We saw two moose there.
Last, but not least, Alaskans know how to brew! The beer and coffee were uniformly excellent.