Tips on exploring Unalaska on my own

August 12, 2007 9:39 AM

My husband is traveling to Dutch Harbor (Unalaska), Alaska for business, in November, and I'll be going along. What should I look for, explore, do...?

I'll have plenty of time to myself for a few days, and I'm fascinated with the isolation of that area, and the eagles, and the short days. What other things of interest might I see there?

This is Deadliest Catch territory, so I'll be seeing a lot of fishing and crabbing boats, I know. But I'm wondering if any MeFites have been there, and what you liked or disliked. I probably won't have a vehicle to use, so whatever is within walking distance of the Grand Aleutian is of greatest interest. I do plan to see the Russian Orthodox church.

posted by TochterAusElysium to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Dutch-Harbor-Alaska.cfm
posted by JayRwv at 10:11 AM on August 12, 2007

Hey, I used to live there! Some of what follows may be outdated becauses it was 4 years ago...

There are taxis, which you can and should take to get around. it will be very wet and cold (bring the highest rubber boots you have), and you won't want to be walking around too much. You can walk to some places, though.

Check out the Museum of the Aleutians (where I used to work), it's a great small museum and a great way to start your visit to the island. You will learn about the ancient history and the more recent history of the place, and you can ask for all sorts of trip advice from the people who work there. They probably will have closed down any archaeological digs they had going for the winter, but you can ask if you can visit the sites or get a tour. The people there are pretty accomodating and don't get too many tourism visitors when it isn't birding or sportfishing season.

It will be too late to go berry-picking or hiking (unless you are really hardcore), but you should try to see a little of the island. If the weather is not too bad, take a ride around the island and look at the little salt-box houses and the hills.
Visit the "forest" of 20 scrawny planted trees that aren't doing so well.
For the best bald eagle viewing, get a taxi to drive you out to the dump. They aren't seen as very majestic creatures up there, more like irritating seagulls or pigeons, because they are so numerous and so in love with trash and the dead salmon from salmon runs.

There are not many restaurants or bars, but Peking restaurant is a fun place (chinese and very fresh sushi) that occasionally hosts karaoke.
Amelia's (inconsistently open) has really good omelettes and comfort food.
Tino's (now 3 Amigos) has passable Mexican.

The bar at the Grand Aleutian is nice, as is the restaurant. That was always where I would go when I wanted to forget how much mud I had all over me that day.
The Unisea sports bar is ok if you want to hang out with the guys from the Deadliest Catch, they also usually have a dj there. The place smells like fish not only because of the clientele but also because it is in the giant on-island cannery compound. It's pretty safe but you will get stared at as a woman and an outsider.

As a woman on the island, you'll find that you'll get a lot of attention (esp if you go into bars). Most likely people will just look at you, because you look fancy (where are your rubber overalls?) and because you're new, but some people can be uncomfortable with the 40-1 male/female ratio.

If you are feeling very daring, go out to the beach on a Sunday night for the bonfire and "dip your balls in the Bering Sea." (VERY COLD) You are supposed to go skinny-dipping on the Bering side of the island and then dry off in front of the fire. The temperature differential is so great that steam comes off your body. Can be invigorating, or a Very Bad Idea. In November, I'd say the latter.

Oh, and watch Flash Unalaska, the local news. It has interesting takes on what happens on the island, and you can see which ships come in and which are leaving. Going to see ships leaving port can be pretty.

Feel free to email me with any other questions!
posted by rmless at 7:02 PM on August 12, 2007

Wow - that's a great answer, rmless - many many thanks!!
posted by TochterAusElysium at 7:26 AM on August 13, 2007

glad I could help!
posted by rmless at 8:33 AM on August 13, 2007

I grew up there! Haven't been back in ten years, but my dad still works there a good part of the year, so I have it on good authority that it hasn't changed drastically. :)

I would highly recommend a trip up Bunker Hill. If it's cold (as November tends to be), you can drive all the way to the top. If it's nicer, you could always park at the base and hike up the road--or off it. The view is fantastic, and you can get up close and personal with some World War II relics (the bunker itself, and I believe there are also the remains of a couple gun turrets nearby).

There isn't really a whole lot to do in Dutch Harbor, especially when the weather's bad, but rmless has great advice.

(One small correction: Unisea is not technically a cannery. They process fish, but most of it gets frozen, not canned. And yes. It reeks.)
posted by gwyn at 7:37 PM on August 13, 2007