Things to See & Do

Opportunities abound for your leisure time in Unalaska, whether you're a resident or visitor, an outdoorsy person or not! 

OUTDOORS

Boating, birding, whale watching, fishing from a boat or the shore, camping, hiking, kayaking, beach combing, skiing, snow shoeing, berry picking, outdoor photography -- there is so much to do here!  Head out on your own, or contact one of our local tour operators (you will find a list here). 

You could also try your hand at gathering foods in the intertidal zones such as clams, mussels, sea urchins, chitons, seaweeds, etc., and collecting greens and herbs.   

Ounalashka Corporation (OC), the local native corporation, is a major land owner on Unalaska, Amaknak and Sedanka Islands and graciously opens their land, within reason, for use in subsistence and recreational activities.  Please stop by their office or visit their website for trail maps and other information, and to purchase your land use permit. 

INDOORS

Community Center, Aquatic Center & Parks: The City’s Department of Parks, Culture & Recreation (PCR) operates the community center that includes a full-size gym, an indoor track, racquetball courts, a weight room, an aerobics room, a workout center with exercise machines and equipment and specialized rooms for art and ceramics, music, teen activities and child care. There is also an outside play area. The natatorium, or Aquatic Center, which is located in Unalaska City School, is an aquatic facility that includes a standard size pool with racing lanes, a warming pool, slide, sauna and restrooms with lockers, changing areas and showers. The Aquatic Center also features a workout room with cardio equipment, weights and a punching bag. The PCR is often the center of activity for many in the community. The staff organizes activities for teens and children, family movie nights, community garage sales, the Heart of the Aleutians community festival, Easter egg hunts, a Halloween party, Christmas celebration and countless community activities that vary through the years. Organized basketball, soccer and volleyball leagues take place in the community center gym, and when league play is not going on, open gym periods allow opportunities for pick-up games. Outside activities include softball leagues, hiking, half-marathons, triathlons, the annual run up Mount Ballyhoo, the Polar Bear Run, and a variety of other community-oriented activities. The PCR maintains eight community parks, including Ounalashka Park, the central focus of which is Kelty Field, a modern, fenced softball field with an electronic scoreboard. The park also includes a fitness track, an all-purpose court for activities like tennis and basketball, a play area for children, a protected picnic area and a concession stand.

Library: The Unalaska Public Library has been named a Star Library by the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services and the American Library Association every year since 2007. The library boasts a collection of 42,000 items including books, periodicals, videos, DVDs and audio books. The library is a member of the Circum-Polar Library Consortium and has Interlibrary Loan capability from any library listed in the OCLC WorldCat resource sharing system. The electronic Card Catalogs of the Unalaska Public Library and the Unalaska City School are linked so that all library materials in our community are available to all residents. The library provides 52 reader seats, 26 public access internet computers, WI-FI computer access with printing capability, video conferencing for groups, two public meeting rooms and a children’s room with a reading area that is made for children and their parents to enjoy the exciting world of reading. The special Alaskana Collection located in the Ray Hudson Room contains rare and unique items from the region and a holds the Aleutian Region Newspaper Collection, which includes all newspapers published in Nome, Dillingham, Kodiak, Bethel, and Aleutian Chain communities.

Museum of the Aleutians: The community’s state-of-the-art Museum of the Aleutians opened its doors in August of 1999. The primary mission of the Museum of the Aleutians is to promote public awareness of the rich cultural legacy of the people of the Aleutian Islands. The museum’s permanent exhibit gallery showcases 9,000 years of life in the Aleutian Islands with relics found through archeological excavations, purchased by the museum and donated as gifts. The museum’s changing exhibit gallery is used throughout the year for temporary and traveling exhibits, as well as for special events and presentations. Each year, historical and cultural objects arrive at the museum, often from outside sources, and the museum houses thousands of locally recovered archeological artifacts. All are professionally cared for in a secure, climate-controlled environment.

The Aleutian World War II National Historic Area and the related Visitor Center, operated by the Ounalashka Corporation, tell the story of the men and women who were stationed in the Aleutians during World War II and the native people who were removed from their homes during the conflict. The historic area is a 134 acre tract of land on Amaknak Island and houses the military ruins of Fort Schwatka, the highest coastal battery ever constructed in the United States. The Visitor Center contains many artifacts and photographs of the era and is located near the airport in Unalaska.

Unalaska also has several restaurants and lounges, including fine dining at the Chart Room in the Grand Aleutian Hotel, Margaret Bay Cafe, Cape Cheerful Lounge, the Harborview Bar Grill, Harbor Sushi, Amelia's (Mexican and American) and Pho Vy's (Asian and American).

You will also find various clubs and organizations that sponsor many activities in our thriving community.