Top 5 Places to Visit on a Rainy Day in Kodiak

Rainy days won’t get you down in Kodiak, where fishing, hiking, kayaking, boating, and all the outdoor activities keep rolling. But some days you need a break from the drizzle or just want to explore inside a bit.

Kodiak has you covered there, too, with museums, shops, bakeries, and plenty to do. Here are just a few of our favorites for a rainy day in Kodiak – whether you’re with kids, planning a date day, or just spending time with friends and family.

1. Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
+1 (907) 487 2626
[email protected]
402 Center St, Kodiak, AK 99615
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kodiak

Rain is no deterrent for outdoor adventures in Kodiak, Alaska, especially in the gorgeous and sprawling Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. This haven for the wild covers almost 2 million acres, including more than ⅔ of Kodiak Island, all of Ban Island and Uganik Island, and part of Afognak Island. 

Its ranging landscape provides a home for a variety of wildlife, with Kodiak brown bears, salmon, little brown bats, tundra voles, river otters, red foxes, ermine, migratory birds, and 250+ species of fish finding their habitat among rocky coastlines, glacial valleys, towering mountains, and misty fjords. 

A visit here means time spent fishing, hiking, birdwatching, snapping once-in-a-lifetime wildlife and landscape photographs, camping, kayaking, and more. You can bundle up and enjoy any time of year, but a visit here isn’t complete without a stop downtown at the companion Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. 

Take a break from the rain and spot the 36-foot gray whale skeleton, sit in on an interpretive talk by a ranger, watch a film about the refuge, explore ecosystem exhibits, and find great gifts in their shop, Alaska Geographic. 

2. Kodiak History Museum
+1 (907) 486 5920
[email protected]
101 E Marine Way Kodiak, AK 99615
https://kodiakhistorymuseum.org

When you need a respite from the rain, spend an afternoon in the Kodiak History Museum. With a blend of culture, history, nature, and art, the museum is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the local life. The museum is located in the Russian-American Magazin, a National Historic Landmark building.

The mix of temporary and permanent exhibits covers everything from Alutiiq lands, Russian colonies, and the Governor’s Mansion to Alaska’s role in WWII, basketry, and local artwork. 

3. Alutiiq Museum
+ 844-425-8844
[email protected]
215 Mission Road
Kodiak, AK 99615

Along with the permanent exhibits, the Alutiiq Museum welcomes all people to join in their demonstrations by local artists, workshops, tours, plant walks, and lectures. You may learn to bead or weave, get to know local talent, or enjoy a walk to the Alutiiq Ancestors’ Memorial downtown park. 

In all, the museum houses about 260,000 items in its collections, underscoring the rich cultural and archaeological history of the area and its peoples. Here you’ll find audio recordings, natural history specimens, artwork, photographs, pottery, weavings, and much more.