Station/Boat Location~
USCGC LONG ISLAND(110')
Date there~
2011-2013
Weather~
Local welcome center's website that has all kinds of good information on it. Valdez is the snow capital. Typically this town gets around 325 +/- inches of snow a year. So far this winter I have seen temperatures range from 5 - 35 degrees. Fall is around the 40 - 50 range. Summer is around 60 to maybe 70 degrees. Spring - well we still have a ton of snow on the ground in spring if that tells you anything.
Military facilities~
There is a new tiny Exchange located in housing that is open 3 days a week. Other than that there is no other military facility locally. Anchorage has a nice sized Commissary and Exchange on JBER (Joint base Elmendorf Richardson) which is a 6 hour drive away.
Medical~
Providence Valdez Medical Center is a small hospital and clinic with around 4 full time general practitioner doctors on staff. You will be sent to Anchorage for any major issues or if you need a specialist.
Housing~
CG does have military housing here with 2/3/ & 4 bedroom 2 story homes in fourplex style. All the units are generously sized with a dedicated one car garage right out front of your unit and another one car garage down a row of nothing but garages. Newly reporting families (summer 2011 & 2012) are not able to move in to housing due to them going through renovation. There is a high demand for rentals on the economy here. The local real estate property manager in town (Sound Realty) has been very supportive with finding places for members to live.
Shopping~
There is one grocery store here - a newly remodeled Safeway. There is also a small health food store, A Rogue's Garden. 3 hardware type stores, and few souvenir/gift shop type stores, one consignment shop, and one goodwill type thrift store. Any big shopping is done in Anchorage or via the internet.
Child Care/Schools~
Valdez City School District:There is 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school here. My son is enrolled in the elementary school, Herman Hutchins, and we have been very happy with it so far.
There is one day care facility in town and a few people offer in home day care.
Adult Schools~
Only one I have seen is Prince William Sound Community College.
Fun Activities~
Fishing is HUGE here! Every year they have several different fishing derbies. In addition there is hunting/hiking/camping/snowshoeing/riding snowmobiles/riding atv's/basically anything outdoorsy. The Convention Center shows movies occasionally too (no movie theater here).
Additional Info~
Valdez does have 6 months of dark in winter (about 4-5 hours of daylight) and 6 months of light (summertime sun goes down around 1am and back up shining bright at 4am). There is no home mail delivery here. Everyone must get a PO Box at the post office. There is a small airport here that offers flights to Anchorage (40 minute flight) in case you don't want to make the 6 hour drive to get there. There are no stop lights in town. Only stop signs. We have one "fast food" chain here, Subway. The college has a wellness center you can purchase a membership to for approximately $200 a year. There is no dry cleaner here. The electricity and heating fuel bills can get very expensive in the winter time. This town is small with only 4300 residents but everyone I have come across has been very kind. The scenery is gorgeous any time of the year. I will miss this place when we transfer!
Homeport AK
USCGC LONG ISLAND(110')
Date there~
2011-2013
Weather~
Local welcome center's website that has all kinds of good information on it. Valdez is the snow capital. Typically this town gets around 325 +/- inches of snow a year. So far this winter I have seen temperatures range from 5 - 35 degrees. Fall is around the 40 - 50 range. Summer is around 60 to maybe 70 degrees. Spring - well we still have a ton of snow on the ground in spring if that tells you anything.
Military facilities~
There is a new tiny Exchange located in housing that is open 3 days a week. Other than that there is no other military facility locally. Anchorage has a nice sized Commissary and Exchange on JBER (Joint base Elmendorf Richardson) which is a 6 hour drive away.
Medical~
Providence Valdez Medical Center is a small hospital and clinic with around 4 full time general practitioner doctors on staff. You will be sent to Anchorage for any major issues or if you need a specialist.
Housing~
CG does have military housing here with 2/3/ & 4 bedroom 2 story homes in fourplex style. All the units are generously sized with a dedicated one car garage right out front of your unit and another one car garage down a row of nothing but garages. Newly reporting families (summer 2011 & 2012) are not able to move in to housing due to them going through renovation. There is a high demand for rentals on the economy here. The local real estate property manager in town (Sound Realty) has been very supportive with finding places for members to live.
Shopping~
There is one grocery store here - a newly remodeled Safeway. There is also a small health food store, A Rogue's Garden. 3 hardware type stores, and few souvenir/gift shop type stores, one consignment shop, and one goodwill type thrift store. Any big shopping is done in Anchorage or via the internet.
Child Care/Schools~
Valdez City School District:There is 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high school here. My son is enrolled in the elementary school, Herman Hutchins, and we have been very happy with it so far.
There is one day care facility in town and a few people offer in home day care.
Adult Schools~
Only one I have seen is Prince William Sound Community College.
Fun Activities~
Fishing is HUGE here! Every year they have several different fishing derbies. In addition there is hunting/hiking/camping/snowshoeing/riding snowmobiles/riding atv's/basically anything outdoorsy. The Convention Center shows movies occasionally too (no movie theater here).
Additional Info~
Valdez does have 6 months of dark in winter (about 4-5 hours of daylight) and 6 months of light (summertime sun goes down around 1am and back up shining bright at 4am). There is no home mail delivery here. Everyone must get a PO Box at the post office. There is a small airport here that offers flights to Anchorage (40 minute flight) in case you don't want to make the 6 hour drive to get there. There are no stop lights in town. Only stop signs. We have one "fast food" chain here, Subway. The college has a wellness center you can purchase a membership to for approximately $200 a year. There is no dry cleaner here. The electricity and heating fuel bills can get very expensive in the winter time. This town is small with only 4300 residents but everyone I have come across has been very kind. The scenery is gorgeous any time of the year. I will miss this place when we transfer!
Homeport AK
