Everyone Needs To Visit Alaska's Emerald Island At Least Once
By Courtney|Published August 11, 2016
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Courtney
Author
Living and loving life in Alaska, Courtney enjoys living a happy life based on simple principles; work hard, be kind, stay humble. She is an avid dog lover with hobbies that include running, fly fishing, hiking & snowboarding.
Before you read any further, we need to warn you about something; Kodiak is easy to get addicted to. We say that you need to visit at least once, but this island is filled with everything under the (midnight) sun that makes your wild, adventurous, last-frontier-loving heart skip a beat. From world class fishing and hunting to breathtaking scenery and an immense amount of history, there is literally something for everyone to love on this island.
As the second largest island in the entire United States with a population of less than 15,000 people spread throughout roughly 3,595 square miles, Kodiak offers the perfect balance of seclusion and accessibility. If you’re looking for the perfect getaway inside the 49th state, look no further. After reading this, we are sure that you’ll fall head over heels in love with this epic island paradise. (If you aren’t already.) “A place that lives only in your imagination, until you arrive!”
Mill Bay Beach is a popular hot spot on the island where you can be assured stunning views form sun-up to sun-down. Some other great towns or "villages" include Old Harbor, Larsen Bay, Port Lions and Ouzinkie.
Kodiak has some of the most incredible hiking opportunities in all of Alaska. Hike the boardwalk on Lake Gertrude Trail for a day of fun in the forest.
Here you can enjoy stunning island views that promise to take your breath away each and every time. What is unique about this area is that it is home to a huge antenna farm which provides Kodiak with most of its communication sources to the outside world.
As if you couldn't already tell by the above harbor photo, commercial fishing is a huge industry on the island. King crab are native here and salmon and halibut are two other delicious forms of wild, Alaska seafood that are caught in plentiful amounts in the waters surrounding the island.
But if you love to fish, be prepared to give up your best fishing spots a time or two when you visit the island. The huge Kodiak brown bears (which are native to the island) are some of the biggest in the world. They can reach weights between 300 and 600 pounds. They are massive!
People flock to the island to enjoy camping in the backcountry along with some of the best hunting opportunities in the world. But when you're here, being 'bear aware' is always essential.
There is also a really cool power station pill box that has started to literally fade into the nature surrounding it as you can tell by the moss and grass nearly completely covering it. Many come to this area with RVs and tents to camp and enjoy one of the state parks.
If the pictures didn’t quite hook you, we know that this video will light your heart on fire and make you want to Discover Kodiak, STAT!
