Planning a trip to Dutch Harbor and Unalaska
Visitor Information -- The Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor Convention and Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 545, Unalaska, AK 99685 (tel. 877/581-2612 or 907/581-2612; www.unalaska.info), is at 5th Street and Broadway.
A visitor center for the Aleutian WWII National Historic Area (tel. 907/581-9944; www.nps.gov/aleu) occupies a war-era building at the airport but is open only short hours. The historic area encompasses World War II ruins on the island that stand on Native-owned lands. The National Park Service helped fund the improvements and interprets the history; however, to hike to the main area of ruins, on Ulatka Head, you will need to buy a permit from the Ounalashka Corporation., which you can get here or at the corporate offices. Admission to the center is $5, and it's open Thursday through Saturday 11am to 5pm.
Fast Facts
Bank -- Key Bank is attached to Alaska Ship Supply and has an ATM, as does the Safeway grocery store.
Hospital -- Iliuliuk Family and Health Services (tel. 907/581-1202) is a clinic.
Internet Access -- Free at the public library (tel. 907/581-5060).
Police -- Unalaska Department of Public Safety (tel. 907/581-1233) is just above the bridge on the Unalaska side.
Taxes -- Sales tax is 3%; the total tax on rooms is 8%.
Getting Around
The main historic part of town is a tiny street grid on a narrow peninsula facing Iliuliuk Bay. The Bridge to the Other Side (as everyone knows it) leads to Amaknak Island, the site of the airport, the Grand Aleutian Hotel, the fishing industrial area of Dutch Harbor, and the World War II ruins on Ulatka Head. Traveling down the road in the other direction leads a little way up into the mountains, a starting point for some hikes.
Van taxis are the main way of getting around town for the hordes of fishermen, and the best way for most visitors. One company is Blue Checker Taxi (tel. 907/581-2186). You can rent a car from BC Vehicle Rentals (tel. 907/581-6777) or North Port Car Rentals (tel. 907/581-3880), both at the airport; however, there's little need for a rented vehicle other than access to remote hiking trails.
Getting There
Alaska Airlines (tel. 800/252-7522; www.alaskaair.com) serves Dutch Harbor with turboprops operated by Pen Air. The use of the smaller planes allows flights to land on the nearby Alaska Peninsula and wait for the weather to clear when a squall passes over the Dutch Harbor airport. The flight from Anchorage takes 3 hours, and a ticket is $1,000 or more round-trip. You can save substantially if you combine that flight leg with your round-trip ticket to Alaska, making Dutch Harbor your final destination and Anchorage a stopover. Combining this excursion on your larger ticket also means the airline will rearrange your other fights without charge if you get stuck by weather at the Dutch Harbor airport, a common occurrence.
The Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Tustumena (tel. 800/642-0066; www.ferryalaska.com) makes a 4-day trip from Homer to Dutch Harbor just a handful of times a year, from April to October, stopping in Kodiak and the villages along the way. The one-way passenger fare is about $351, and a two-berth outside (with windows) cabin with shared facilities is $311 more. Travelers who have done this open-sea adventure have given us glowing reports of incomparable scenery and wonderful encounters with the people of the villages along the way, best of all if camping on the solarium deck (with duct tape to hold down the tent). Since the ship is in the open ocean, seasickness is a real concern. Unless you want to spend only 7 hours in Unalaska and then make the long return trip, you'll need to fly back.
