Planning a trip to Kodiak
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.
Fast Facts
Banks -- Several banks downtown have ATMs, including Key Bank and Wells Fargo on the mall at the waterfront.
Hospital -- Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center is at 1915 E. Rezanof Dr. (tel. 907/486-3281).
Internet Access -- At A. Holmes Johnson Memorial Library, 319 Lower Mill Bay Rd. (tel. 907/486-8686).
Police -- Contact the Kodiak Police Department at tel. 907/486-8000.
Post Office -- Next to the library, at 419 Lower Mill Bay Rd.
Taxes -- Sales tax is 6% within city limits, and the room tax is 5% everywhere on the island; rooms are thus taxed 11% in Kodiak city, 5% elsewhere.
Special Events
Russian Orthodox Christmas, January 7, includes the evening Starring Ceremony. A choir follows a parishioner carrying a star to sing at the homes of church members. Whale Fest Kodiak (tel. 907/539-2266; www.whalefestkodiak.com), over 2 weeks in late April and early May, marks the arrival of the entire population of gray whales as they migrate, as well as the presence of killer and humpback whales near Kodiak. The festival includes whale-watching excursions, natural history events, and community activities.
The 5-day Kodiak Crab Festival (tel. 907/486-5557), over Memorial Day weekend (late May), is a big event, including a parade, a king crab feed, a carnival, many fun community events, the solemn blessing of the fleet, and a memorial service for fishermen and mariners lost at sea.
On Labor Day weekend (early Sept), the Kodiak State Fair and Rodeo has all kinds of small-town contests, music, and family entertainment, including bull riding, barrel racing, and a horse show. Call the visitor bureau for information.
The bureau also maintains an extensive community calendar online at www.kodiak.org.
Getting Around
Several companies rent cars, including Budget (tel. 800/527-0700 or 907/487-2220; www.budget.com), which has offices at the airport and downtown. Avis is at the Kodiak airport (tel. 800/331-1212 or 907/487-2264; www.avis.com). Airport and ferry shuttles, as well as city tours beginning at $25 per person (reservations required), are available from Kodiak Lodging and Reservations (tel. 907/539-5346; kodiak-guides@iserv.net).
Getting There
It's a 1-hour flight from Anchorage to Kodiak on Alaska Airlines (tel. 800/252-7522; www.alaskaair.com). A round-trip ticket from Anchorage costs around $400. ERA Aviation (tel. 800/866-8394, ext. 8386; www.flyera.com) also serves the route with prop aircraft, which may save a little money. A cab from A&B Taxi (tel. 907/486-4343) or Big Bear Taxi and Charters (tel. 907/942-4141) costs about $20 from the airport downtown.
The ferries Tustumena and Kennicott, of the Alaska Marine Highway System (tel. 800/642-0066 or 907/486-3800; www.ferryalaska.com), serve Kodiak from Homer, the closest port with a road. The run takes 10 hours, but it is truly memorable. The vessels leave land behind and thread through the strange and exposed Barren Islands, often seeing whales and porpoises on the way. The ocean can be quite rough, and when it is, lots of passengers get seasick. A cabin is a good idea for an overnight run. Without a cabin, the adult passenger fare from Homer is $74. Fares for children 6 to 12 are half price on all ferries, free for 5 and under. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staffs the ferry with a naturalist on runs to Kodiak.
