Intro - Tips and tricks to make your Larsen Bay visit more pleasant and comfortable
Larsen Bay, Alaska, is a beautiful seaside village on Kodiak Island. It’s dominated by mountains as green as emeralds, and on sunny days, blue skies decorated by billowy clouds with patterns that stretch for miles.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit Kodiak Island many times, and now that I have a son and grandsons there, I go at least a couple times per year. Each time I go, I pick up a tip or trick that makes the visit more pleasant and comfortable.
Become an Alaska Airlines member
First, get the Alaska Airlines credit card: https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/alaska-airlines-credit-card/ It makes going to Alaska very affordable by awarding miles for dollars spent, and when you spend $3,000 in the first 90 days, you qualify for a free companion fare (you just pay taxes and service fees). On our last trip, my round-trip ticket was about $1,500, and my husband’s was about $200. Often, we’ve got there and back just using miles.
Alaska Airlines, by the way, provides terrific service – in the same strata as Delta, i.e. the planes are clean and on time, the crew members are friendly and professional, etc. it’s far and above better than discount airlines, and it’s pretty much your only option between Anchorage and Kodiak.
Many visitors spend a day or more in Kodiak before heading out to a village. There are harbors and museums to visit, and last-minute supplies to pick up. Our favorite hotel is the Kodiak Best Western. Food there is pretty good, and they have a free hot breakfast. https://bit.ly/4iR6jC0
But if you don’t want to pay a taxi to go into town https://www.kodiakcitycab.com the Quality Inn https://bit.ly/4iOubpN at the airport will allow you to walk to your hotel from the Kodiak airport and walk back the next morning to Island Air where you will board a small plane to Larsen Bay. Nick will pick you up there and take you and your luggage to the lodge.
As far as gear to bring, everyone needs a pair of rubber boots that go about to their knees. Alaskans seem to prefer Grundens, but my Fleet Farm boots have worked just fine for many years. Since much of Kodiak is technically a rain forest, having a rubber jacket (and even rubber – or other waterproof - pants) will allow you to undertake more outdoors activities when it’s misting or raining. A bug net to keep gnats away on still days off the water isn’t a bad idea, either. Nick does have a selection of boots, jackets and rubber pants – he also has DWL hats and sweatshirts for reasonable prices, but to be most comfortable, bring your own if you can.
To get from Kodiak to Larsen Bay, you’ll need a reservation on Island Air https://www.flyadq.com which is right across the parking lot from the city air terminal. Island Air operates small planes that deliver people, cargo and mail to Kodiak Island villages (most don’t have grocery or other types of stores). Passengers are charged by the pound for themselves, their luggage, and their groceries and beverages (if they bring them).
This leg of the journey cost about $200 per way for each of us. That may sound like a lot, but the trip from Kodiak to the village and back is an experience in and of itself. Island Air’s experienced pilots navigate the emerald green mountains, which are surrounded by crystal blue waters for about a half an hour. Passengers have even been known to see goats on the mountain tops and whales in the water.
If you bring a gun, after you check in with TSA, put the gun in your checked luggage. (We lost a handgun at the Minneapolis airport on our first trip with a firearm. Pay the extra $10 or so for a gun case that locks on both sides.)
For years, we carried food from Costco and other grocery outlets in our luggage and duffle bags. This year, my husband convinced me to order groceries from the Kodiak grocery SafeWay – they arrived in a day or two via Island Air. DWL will serve you three square meals a day, but you are responsible for snacks, alcoholic beverages and any drinks other than coffee, tea and juice.
Larsen Bay is a wet village, which means alcohol can be consumed in lodges and homes, but there are no bars or restaurants. Some Alaskan villages are dry, which means alcohol cannot be brought in or consumed anywhere.
Beyond fishing, hunting and eating, and occasional bear watching, activities on the Island are pretty tame: beach combing, hiking, visiting the local green house, etc.
The DWL lodge in the village of Larsen Bay has reliable Internet, TV, running water and electricity.
Nick’s boat, the Kita, accommodates up to six fisherman and/or fisherwomen. It’s fast, comfortable and its captain knows where the fish are hiding in Uyak Bay.
Nick hopes you’ll give them a call at (907) 639-1117 to book your next stay. He’s happy to answer any questions you may have.
And if you are a returning visitor and have tips or tricks of your own, we’d love to hear from you. duce your brand