Author: Sarah Brown

Whale watching in Kodiak has become one of the most reliable marine wildlife experiences in Alaska, especially from May through September, when humpback whales, orcas, and gray whales move through the Gulf of Alaska. Why Kodiak Island Is One of Alaska’s Best Whale Watching Destinations Kodiak Island sits along nutrient-rich waters where strong ocean upwelling brings krill, herring, and salmon close to the surface. This creates perfect conditions for the whales, including humpbacks that feed aggressively before migrating south. Updated NOAA 2025 data shows: These numbers make whale watching unusually consistent compared to many other coastal regions. Best Months for…

Kenai bear tours offer access to major viewing areas like Crescent Lake, Lake Clark, and the Kenai River, where brown bears gather during salmon season. Visitors can choose from fly-in, boat, and hiking tours, ranging from budget to premium. This guide explains locations, costs, peak months, expected wildlife, safety basics, operator types, and the overall Kenai, Alaska, bear-viewing experience. Where Bear Viewing in Kenai Actually Happens Many people think bear tours take place in the city of Kenai, but the best viewing spots are scattered across the peninsula and nearby parks. Your tour operator will usually take you to one…

FeatureDetailsScientific NameEumetopias jubatusMax SizeMales: Up to 11 ft, 2,400 lbs. Females: 9 ft, 800 lbsDietPollock, cod, salmon, squid, and crabAverage LifespanUp to 30 years in the wildSwimming SpeedUp to 25 mphDiving DepthCan dive as deep as 600 feetPopulationWestern DPS: 39,774 non-pups, 12,953 pups (2024) Eastern DPS: 70,000+Conservation StatusWestern DPS: Endangered, Eastern DPS: Delisted in 2013VocalizationLoud barks, growls, and roars, especially during breeding seasonHabitatCoastal waters of Alaska, Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea When you think of wild Alaska, one of the most iconic creatures you’ll encounter is the Steller’s Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus). These giant marine mammals have earned a place in…

In many parts of the world, time is measured by the clock: minutes, schedules, appointments, and alarms. But in Alaska, time has always had a different texture. The movement of the seasons, the length of daylight, the direction of the wind, the timing of migration and freeze-up, these hold more meaning than numbers on a watch face. Yet tools that help mark time still matter, sometimes passed down, sometimes chosen for their steadiness and reliability. Even something like choosing to shop Tissot watches at jomashop.com can be less about fashion and more about having a durable piece of equipment that…

Alaska is not dark for six months of the year, but the darkest period occurs from late November through late January, depending on where you are in the state. Only communities north of the Arctic Circle, such as Utqiagvik (Barrow), experience a period where the sun does not rise at all, lasting from mid-November to late January, according to the Earth Observatory at NASA. Everywhere else in Alaska still gets daily sunlight, but daylight hours become extremely short from November through January. Let’s explain exactly which months are the darkest, how daylight changes by region, and why certain parts of…

If you’ve ever traveled through Interior Alaska, you know some places feel different the moment you step into them. Alatna is one of those places. Here, you don’t just see Athabascan traditions, you feel them in the rhythm of daily life. You hear them in the way elders talk about the river, you taste them in the salmon smoked at summer camps, and you see them in the quiet pride of families who still live the way their grandparents taught them. When you stand on the banks of the Koyukuk and watch the river moving past, you start to understand…

There is no denying the attractions of Alaska’s stunning vistas, snow-capped peaks, vast forests, and expansive coastlines. The state’s unspoiled grandeur and rugged landscape have long been an inspiration, driven by a singular design philosophy that venerates nature and marries it with practicality. In Alaska, a kitchen is not simply a room to prepare a meal but also an opportunity to represent the land’s natural beauty and rawness. Like each dish, a well-designed Alaskan kitchen effortlessly combines elements of rustic and sustainable from counters to floorboards, resulting in an industrial-chic ode to the great state’s natural beauty. Incorporating Natural Materials…

Akutan defines Alaska’s wild spirit because it’s one of the few places where volcanoes, storms, and human resilience coexist in balance. Surrounded by the Bering Sea and crowned by an active volcano, this Aleutian island shows how life in Alaska remains raw, untamed, and deeply connected to nature. Located about 766 air miles southwest of Anchorage, Akutan captures the rugged independence that still defines Alaska’s farthest frontier. Akutan Volcano: The Fiery Core of Alaska’s Untamed Wilderness Standing 4,275 feet tall, Volcano is among Alaska’s most active peaks, with more than 20 eruptions recorded since 1790. Steam vents and low tremors…

Alakanuk, Alaska, a small Yup’ik village stretched along the distributary channels of the Yukon River Delta, stands on the front line of climate change. With fewer than 800 residents and land that barely rises above sea level, the community now faces yearly floods, accelerating erosion, and thawing permafrost that threaten homes, infrastructure, and traditional ways of life. Residents describe these changes not as distant projections but as daily realities. Many say the government response remains slow, even as storms grow stronger and land continues to disappear. Where Is Alakanuk and Why Is It So Vulnerable? Alakanuk sits about eight miles…

Alakanuk, Alaska, is a small village in the Yukon River Delta with roughly 750 residents, most of whom are Yup’ik Alaska Natives. Despite isolation and erosion challenges, the community has found a remarkable balance between traditional subsistence living and modern comforts like piped water, broadband, and renewable energy. Where Is Alakanuk, Alaska, Located? Geography and Climate Alakanuk lies at the east entrance of Alakanuk Pass, the southern channel of the Yukon River Delta, just 15 miles from the Bering Sea and 8 miles southwest of Emmonak.It’s considered the longest village on the lower Yukon, stretching nearly 3 miles along the…

Akutan is a small city on Akutan Island in the Aleutians East Borough, about 35 miles east of Unalaska (Dutch Harbor) and roughly 766 air miles southwest of Anchorage. Built mainly on boardwalks because of steep, wet terrain, Akutan supports one of Alaska’s busiest seafood-processing hubs and an active volcano monitored year-round by scientists. Where Is Akutan, Alaska, Located? Geography and Setting Akutan lies within the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian volcanic arc, part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.The island spans approximately 19 square miles of rugged volcanic ridges and coastal cliffs.Because the terrain is steep and…

During late November, Anchorage begins to glow in ways only winter can explain. Strings of lights appear overnight, the air smells faintly of spruce, and suddenly everyone seems to have a reason to be outside again. I remember my first walk through downtown during Heyi Days, families skating at Westchester Lagoon, steam rising from food carts, and laughter echoing through the cold. It felt less like an event and more like Anchorage itself had come alive. That’s what you can expect this year, too. From November 28 to December 31, 2025, Heyi Days turns the darkest stretch of Alaska’s calendar…