Kodiak

The main town on Alaska's Kodiak Island, famed for the Kodiak bear—the world's largest brown bear—salmon sportfishing and Russian-American heritage sites.

Kodiak is the main town on Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska and one of the most important fishing ports in the United States. The island, the second largest in the US, is known as the "Emerald Isle" and is famous for the Kodiak bear, the largest brown bear on Earth. In the late 18th century the Russians founded the first capital of Russian America here, leaving behind an Orthodox church and the Russian-American Company warehouse; the island's Indigenous Alutiiq people have lived here for about 7,500 years. The best season is June–September, with temperatures around 10–18°C; July–September, when the salmon run, is prime bear-viewing time, while the rest of the year is cold, wet and windy. Sightseeing falls into three groups: a walking tour of downtown, taking in the history museum, the Alutiiq Museum, the Orthodox church, the refuge visitor center and the harbor; trails around town such as Fort Abercrombie, Pillar Mountain, Near Island, Termination Point and Barometer Mountain; and a rental-car drive south along the Chiniak Highway to Pasagshak. The highlights are floatplane trips into Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge to watch bears, and sportfishing for salmon and halibut. Getting there: about a 1-hour flight from Anchorage, or roughly 10 hours on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Homer. Public transport in town is limited, so renting a car is recommended. Plan to stay 3–4 days; book bear-viewing tours months in advance and allow time for weather delays, and stay bear-aware on all outdoor activities.

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