Visitor Information -- The Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, 100 E. Marine Way, Ste. 200, Kodiak, AK 99615 (tel. 800/789-4782 or 907/486-4782; fax 907/486-6545; www.kodiak.org), occupies part of the ferry terminal at Pier 1. Hours increase in the summer, but the center is open year-round Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.
The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 402 Center St. (tel. 888/592-6942 or 907/487-2626; www.kodiakwildliferefuge.org), is across from the ferry terminal at Mission Road. The center provides information on a 1.9-million-acre refuge, home of the famous Kodiak brown bear, that covers two-thirds of Kodiak Island. It exhibits a complete gray whale skeleton and three full-size replicas of Kodiak brown bears. Hours in summer are daily 9am to 5pm, the balance of the year Tuesday through Saturday only. There are nine remote public-use cabins around the refuge, reachable by chartered plane. Permits are $45 a night. Reserve up to 6 months ahead through www.recreation.gov.
Orientation -- The Kodiak Archipelago contains Kodiak, Shuyak, and Afognak islands and many other, smaller islands; the city of Kodiak is on a narrow point on the northeast side of Kodiak Island. There are five Native villages on other parts of the island and a sixth on a nearby island. The airport and the nation's largest Coast Guard base are several miles southwest of town on Rezanof Drive, which runs through town and comes out on the other side. The center of Kodiak is a hopeless tangle of steep, narrow streets -- you need the excellent map given away by the visitor center, but it's all walkable. The ferry dock is on Marine Way, and most of the in-town sights are right nearby. Several paved and gravel roads, totaling 100 miles, make wonderful exploring from Kodiak to deserted shorelines, gorgeous views, pastures, recreation areas, and salmon streams. The visitor guide contains a mile-by-mile guide to each drive.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
