Page 224 - Vacation Country Travel Guide
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Kodiak
photo by:
Jon Kumamoto
www.facebook.com/jon.kumamoto
Magazin and later as Erskine House, Alaska’s oldest Research Center Aquarium and Touch Tank.
building now houses the Baranov Museum and is Annual events include the Brown Bear Festival in
on the National Register of Historic Places. The March, Whale Festival in April, King Salmon Derby
Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Cathedral April through May, and Crab Festival in May.
serves as the oldest Russian parish in the New
World, dating from 1794. The present day church, Bear Viewing on Kodiak Owner Susan Johnson, of the Best
built in 1945, is marked by its beautiful blue onion Kodiak bears are a unique subspecies of the brown Western Kodiak Inn, stands in the lobby in
domes and is the third church to occupy this site. or grizzly bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi). They live front of a display showing one of the area’s
The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center exclusively on the islands in the Kodiak Archipelago bears. There are bears, and then there are
in downtown Kodiak offers trip planning resources and have been isolated from other bears for about Kodiak Kings. Weighing in at a whopping
and orientation film on the 3000 square mile 12,000 years. They are the largest in the world, with 1600 pounds and standing over five feet tall
sanctuary. Visitors also enjoy the Kodiak Fisheries big males weighing up to 1500 pounds and standing at the shoulders, they are the largest bears
in the world. Kodiaks are actually a sub-
species of brown bears and they live only
on the islands in the Kodiak Archipelago.
The population of these bears is extremely
healthy and robust due to the rich variety of
food sources, from high protein grass to fish,
clams, elk, deer and berries. These bears do
not have to compete for their meal. Bears,
unless with cubs, are solitary creatures but
will congregate together during the fish run
in July through September. During these
interactions, they have developed a unique
and elaborate language that helps them
communicate and avoid hostile interactions
with each other.
The Best Western Kodiak Inn is located in
downtown Kodiak, overlooking the beautiful
St. Paul Harbor. They offer pillow-top beds,
free Wi-Fi access, microwaves, refrigerators,
free breakfast and more! The staff is friendly
and knowledgeable about the area and will
make sure your stay in Kodiak is memorable.
They serve a full breakfast and dinner where
Alaska King Crab is on the menu every day.
Box lunches are available to take with you
on your outdoor adventure. There is also a
full-service lounge serving Alaska beers
and wine. The Chart Room, on the second
floor, provides spectacular views of marine
life, including killer whales and Stellar sea
lions. After enjoying a day in the outdoors,
you can come home to the Best Western
Kodiak Inn and relax, knowing that they take
care of all your needs.
For more information, please visit:
kodiakinn.com
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