Travel Insider Interview: Monte Davis, Executive Director, Homer Chamber of Commerce
Raised with seven siblings in Austin, Minnesota – the place famous as the home of SPAM — Monte Davis headed to Alaska in 1970 as part of a singing group with his father, brothers and sisters.
In 1976 Monte met JoAnn Davis, a fellow entertainer and his future wife. They began a professional relationship as songwriters and entertainers.
The JoAnn & Monte duo traveled extensively while performing at cabarets, festivals and fairs, releasing 11 albums and being voted Alaska’s number one entertainers. 
In addition to his music business, Monte worked in tourism-related positions with the Alaska Travel Industry Association and Holland America Line’s On Stage Alaska program. He was also formerly CEO and co-owner of The Alaska Travel Experts, a travel agency focused on Alaska cruises and tours.
In May, 2011, Monte was named Executive Director of the Homer Chamber of Commerce.
A long-time friend, fellow fisherman and traveler, we wanted to Monte to share some of his passion for Alaska and travel expertise.
The Jones: What inspires you to travel?
Monte: Scenery, people, food, golf, fishing, friends and relatives and business! I love to travel whether it’s just up the road for a conference or (hopefully) on a cruise to a new and exciting destination.
Have you always enjoyed travel? What contributed to your love of travel?
Monte: I have traveled almost continuously for most of the last 40 years for my various businesses. As a singer/songwriter for 35 years, then 8.5 years as an OnStage Alaska representative for Holland America Line, I have literally been to all 50 states (most of them twice) as well as every province in Canada except Prince Edward Island.
What is your favorite destination?
Monte: The next one!
Why? Those of us who get to travel a lot know that you had better enjoy the trip. We know the little tricks to get through security quickly, the airports to eat in and not eat in, plus the joy of knowing that wherever you are headed can have its own unique offerings if you are lucky enough to take advantage of them.
What destination has surprised you the most, either good or bad?
Monte: Niagara Falls on the Canadian side”; I honestly thought it was going to be cheesy – it was anything but! Romantic, inexpensive, with a couple of really good restaurants that I can’t remember the names of for the life of me”;Maybe it was the martinis too!
Why do you think that travel is important?
Monte: It is humbling in that you are not the expert who knows all about the local scenes; it often allows a certain anonymity that your hometown no longer affords; it teaches us that there is another perspective and things are never as cut and dried as we might allow ourselves to want them to be”;
Why should travelers visit Homer, Alaska?
Monte: I was lucky enough to visit Homer regularly for 35 years before I took the position as Executive Director of the Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. In that time, Homer has grown from being a small, sleepy commercial fishing town to a true all-around visitor destination.
We offer unbelievable scenery, access to wilderness right out our front door via water taxis for kayak trips, hiking and biking trips, fishing for halibut or salmon and we are quickly becoming known as the bear viewing capital of Alaska! We are becoming recognized as a foodie destination as well with an amazing amount of world class restaurants.
Homer has a thriving artist community and a number of wonderful galleries that show off their wares as well as a world class small museum and The Islands and Oceans Visitor Center which hosts educational and informational forums throughout the year.
The beauty of all of this is that it has been done without losing any of the charm of that small, sleepy fishing village I first visited years ago!
Visitors to the Homer Chamber of Commerce can view a 77.2 pound prize-winning ling cod.
The question really is what traveler would not want to come to Homer? When it is so hot that they can’t breathe in the Lower 48 we’re enjoying temperatures in the mid-60’s, gazing across the bay at the glaciers and the mountains while eating an amazing meal of some kind of seafood that was caught that day on a bed of organic locally grown vegetables”;
What do you love most about Alaska?
Monte: Sensory overload! Alaska has the highest mountains (literally), the cleanest water and air, the feeling of adventure and excitement that comes with being in “The Last Frontier”. There is a freshness of Spirit here that defies words and must be experienced”;
Here it is possible to take a hike not far off the beaten path and potentially be the first human to actually place their foot on a piece of ground”; While I respect the ancient places and old New England towns with their 500 years of history, this freshness of Spirit (I don’t know how else to put it) is something I hope everyone from 1 to 100 years of age gets to experience!
What do first-time visitors to Alaska need to know before they go?
Monte: Don’t let someone tell you there is a “best time to come”! When you can spend the most time is the right time! Every season has its offerings and I truly believe you cannot mess this up. Pack and dress in layers because it is Alaska and it will be colder here than where you are from but most importantly you don’t want weather to dictate whether or not you go on a whale watching trip or fishing or whatever. Come prepared for it all and you’ll leave a happy camper!
From your travels, do you have a practice or insight that makes your travel experiences more enjoyable?
Monte: Relax and know that @#$% happens”; It’s a lot more fun if you are enjoying right there, right now rather than “looking forward to”;” My wife and I always ask each other “What time is it? – Right now! – Where are we? – Right here!” Most times that’s a good answer!