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Summer months bring many visitors to Kodiak Island. While many come for the world-class bear viewing and fishing, others visit for a chance to view gray whales or a look at historic World War II bunkers. Pam Foreman, executive director of the Kodiak Island Convention and Visitor s Bureau, said the opportunities for fun in Kodiak are endless.

"Things that Alaskans like to do, as well as visitors," she said. Travel to Kodiak is possible either by plane from Anchorage or a daylong ferry trip departing from Homer. The town is Alaska's largest fishing port and the main industry of the town is commercial fishing, with nearly 700 vessels docked in the Kodiak small harbor or in the larger harbor on Near Island.

With a thriving fisheries system inevitably comes coastal research. The Kodiak Fisheries Research Center is a must-see facility committed to preservation and enhancement of North Pacific marine ecosystems and resources. The facility is free to the public and open Monday through Friday.

"It is a great place for the family," Foreman said.

The 3,500-gallon freestanding aquarium is a focal point of the center. A touch tank allows visitors to handle a variety of crab, sea stars, shrimp, clams, urchins, sea cucumbers and more that are native to the region.

"It is a perfect rainy day activity," Foreman added.

She also suggests visitors travel to the smaller villages along the road system. She explained that the town of Chiniak, southeast of Kodiak, has a winery and great fishing. Many people set up camp on the beach to view a majestic sunrise.

There also are small lodges on the outside of the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge that give another view of life on the island with fishing and hiking opportunities as abundant as the massive brown bears.

"Do it all at one location," she said.

Hank Pennington, an outdoor columnist for the Kodiak Daily Mirror, said that Kodiak has more than 1,000 miles of coastline and less than 100 miles of road, making the island perfect for outdoor explorers. "For outdoor enthusiasts, Kodiak is a dream come true," he said. Pennington said a great way to start enjoying Kodiak is by fishing. From May to October the waters of Kodiak are packed with several species of salmon. The prime time to catch red salmon is in late May; king salmon season is in June; pink salmon come later in July and August; and the salmon season concludes in September and October with the final run of silver salmon. There are various fishing charters, float trips, fish camps and wilderness lodges on the island to assist visitors with fishing success.

He said lake fishing for Dolly Varden is a great way to get out and enjoy a quieter side of the island.

"Almost nobody does it, so you have the area to yourself," he said. He said halibut fishing on the island is a must. He added that with the abundance of halibut, most halibut charter trips switch to catching salmon to make use of the day.

"It turns into a mixed bag very quickly," he said.

Pennington, a commercial photographer, said the abundance of bald eagles, bears and birds creates a haven for those with a camera. Eagles nest during May, so a keen eye and a pair of binoculars are great to find the wonders that are often overlooked.

"Kodiak has sensational opportunities for photographers," he said. May is a great time to see the Kodiak brown bear, but rarely on the road system. Remote lodges offer multiday bear viewing trips, and special-use cabins are available by reservation through the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge office and through Alaska State Parks. May also is a great time to see and hear foxes. During breeding, female foxes call out for mates. Pennington said the unmistakable call can be heard from a long distance.

"The sound is between a cat and a Chihuahua dog," he said with a laugh.

He said that the male foxes roam about the area in a lovesick state and they often come very close to stopped vehicles.

"Those present a wonderful photo opportunity also," he said.

The native animals living on Kodiak include Kodiak brown bears, red foxes, short-tailed weasels, little brown bats, tundra voles and river otters.

June's warm weather helps smaller animals hide in the tall grass, but a hike to the high country generally offers a glimpse of Sitka black-tailed deer, brought to the island in 1924, and mountain goat, introduced in 1952. There are about 70,000 deer and 400 goats now roaming mountainous terrain.

The Kodiak Islands Archipelago is a large group of islands approximately 30 miles from the coast of Alaska and is about the same size as Connecticut. Gray whales travel past the island on their migration to Baja, Mexico, said Stacey Studebaker, a retired biology teacher and 25-year resident. Because they feed in shallow water, the massive mammals are often within feet of the shore.

"Kodiak Island is one of the best places to view Pacific gray whales," she said.

She said the cliffs at Cape Chiniak and Narrow Cape are the areas to hike to in April and May for the best chances of gray whale viewing. "Eat lunch, bundle up and bring binoculars," she said, adding that humpbacks can also be viewed farther offshore during summer months. To celebrate the whales, Kodiak Whale Fest is held in mid-April. The migration celebration started 10 years ago and has since grown with school events, a Web site and out-of-town speakers.

"We are celebrating whales in general but mainly gray whales," she said.

History buffs will find Kodiak a treasure waiting to be found. Kodiak has the largest U.S. Coast Guard base in the nation, both in square miles and number of personnel stationed on the island. The facility served as a U.S. naval base during World War II and is open to the public.

The Kodiak Military History Museum is one of four museums on the island devoted to the preservation of the area's many cultures, including Alutiiq, Russian and maritime.

Joe Stevens, co-founder of the museum, said the site is inside Fort Abercrombie and is a national historic landmark.

The facility is open during the summer months, and each year the town's fifth-graders get to visit the bunker.

"Our bunker is the finest exhibit," he said.

He said the children's favorite items are the rotary telephones, teletypes and crank phones.

"We go out of our way to show them a good time," Stevens said. Stevens has met many veterans who returned to Kodiak to see where they were stationed during World War II. He has had the privilege of recording veterans' accounts to add to the rich history of the base. "The more we know about our history, the more we can avoid repeating it."

Freelance writer Sara J. Hardan-Smith lives in Nikiski.

Editor's picks

- Get there: First, you have to decide to put Kodiak on your itinerary. It's not like you'll simply stumble upon the island. You have to plan to include the Emerald Isle, and you should.

- Take a drive: Kodiak has a surprising number of roads for such an isolated place. One of the best is Chiniak Highway, which includes 42 miles of oceanside driving overlooking Chiniak Bay. There are lots of places to stop and picnic or do a little fishing. Birders also love the road for its many places to spot shorebirds and inland birds. Also consider Anton Larsen Bay Road, Pasagshak Road and Monashka Bay Road.

- Get to the fort: Fort Abercrombie State Historic Park is a World War II outpost. The 183-acre park has many remnants from the war era and also has campsites and hiking trails.