Kodiak, AK

united states

Kodiak sits on an island in the Gulf of Alaska, reachable only by plane or ferry since no roads connect it to mainland Alaska. The Alaska Marine Highway runs ferries from Homer (9-10 hours) and Seward. Most visitors fly into Kodiak Airport, about 5 miles from downtown. Local drives include the 42-mile Chiniak Highway along the coast and scenic routes on Rezanof Drive and Marine Way. The island hosts the largest U.S. Coast Guard base, employing about 1,500 people.