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Originally Posted by WAmomof4
Hi~ We plan on moving back to AK this summer after an almost 10 year absence . We had lived in the Anchorage area before, and were planning on returning to the Palmer / Wasilla area....but on extending our search, are now also drawn to Kodiak (we never made it there to visit). With its lush forested area and beach access, it seems to have similar landscaping here in WA, which we like. Anyone that has any info about Kodiak would be appreciated. Their touristy website makes the place look beautiful, with a temperate climate, it seems to be an attractive town. I assume those glossy shots don't show all of the "real" town, and would love any info anyone has on pro's and cons of living in Kodiak ( vs. Palmer), raising children there, amenities avaliable (Costco? Home Depot? thrift shops?), quality of living,also if anyone has gone thru the nursing program at the UAA branch there ( how competitive is entry, quality of program...)...., or any feedback....THANKS!
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I left several years ago, but you definitely need to remember that it's an island. People get Rock Fever, and the only cure is getting off. That means a ferry ride, which may or may not be fun, or a plane ticket, which also may or may not be fun - in addition to being expensive.
There are plenty of beaches, but they are gravel, mostly, and if they are the least bit accessible [as in not having to hike a mile or more] there's a lot of combat fishing. And ever since the dump was fenced in, there's a lot more bear activity in town. Bears will come up to people's porches after dog food, fish smokers, climb in dumpsters, just about anything. Ditto for eagles. There are a lot of eagles, and they go for anything small enough to carry off, especially small dogs and cats.
There's a Walmart and a Safeway. I don't think the Walmart set any records, but the Safeway was the biggest one in the country when it was built. It's a sort of mini-mall, with a separate liquor store and a post office substation, and inside the main store is a deli and a bakery, a bank, and a video rental.
The school system is neither good nor bad. It does okay, for the most part.
The community college has a separate complex, with a fine library, and is part of the UofA's rural education programs. It's possible now to get a 4 year degree, but it takes some effort and finagling. The nursing program was just getting started when I left, so I don't know how it's doing. It was aimed at CNA certifications, but by now may well have gone further. You should contact them directly, Kodiak Community College, they have a website.
My kids grew up there, and I think they survived nicely.
Keep in mind also that it's not what it once was - a lot of the trees have been cut by people who've first paid for 'treed lots' then bulldozed them so they could have lawns. Once the trees start being cut, they go down more easily in big blows. Used to be the smaller ones at the edges of the forest protected the bigger ones by acting as wind breaks, but that just doesn't happen much any more.
And if you fly in, be warned that one end of the runway is on the beach, the other is at the foot of a mountain. It's a lot less scary coming in and leaving over the water
. Taking off into a mountain face can be disconcerting, at best.
On the plus side, it's the home of cross-country golf - there's a one hole, par 100 course up Pillar Mountain. At least, that's what par was several years ago. And people actually come from all around the world to play. There's also an ultra-marathon during Crab Festival in the spring. It's something like 50 miles.
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From WA...Palmer or Kodiak?
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