This Remote U.S. Island Is One of the Smallest in the World—Here’s How to Visit

• Fox Island in Alaska’s Resurrection Bay is one of the smallest islands in the world.
• The island is home to Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, which has eight cozy, rustic cabins.
• While there, guests can enjoy wildlife sightings, kayaking, paddleboarding, guided hikes, and a wood-fired sauna, all surrounded by stunning natural beauty.

Island getaways really do have something special that true vacation seekers are after—though if you really want to take things up a notch, maybe it’s time to visit one of the world’s smallest islands. Luckily, you don’t even need to break out your passport to visit one of the best. 

Tucked away off the coast of Seward, Alaska, in Resurrection Bay, travelers can explore Fox Island, which measures in at just over three miles long and two miles wide. Here, they will find very few other humans around. In fact, those on the island are likely fellow guests of Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, which has eight cabins that can only accommodate four people each.

Travel planning site Alaska.org explains that the only way to get to Fox Island is by glacier ferry, though really, getting here is half the fun. You may spot sea otters, puffins, and humpback whales along the way. 

Once you’re there, you can check into those adorable wooden cabins that offer all the rustic charm you’d expect in a destination like this. Guests can choose between ocean or lagoon-view rooms, each with cozy bedding with plenty of extra blankets to keep you warm, leather couches for lounging, and Adirondack chairs on the porch so you can sit and enjoy the serene view for as long as you wish. 

Though here, guests are encouraged to get out and get active, too, via self-guided exploration of the island, including hiking through the pristine landscape or taking out one of its paddle boats, paddle boards, or canoes in the lagoon. The lodge is also happy to share its naturalist with you, who is ready to hike the island and reveal all of her natural secrets. Guests can also hop on a kayak tour via Sunny Cove Kayaking to see even more of what these waters have to offer. Once guests are ready to unwind, they can head right to the wood-fired sauna, which can be prepped and ready at your request. 

But just because the island is remote doesn’t mean you’ll have to survive on sandwiches. Meals are included in this island stay, and are made with “seasonal ingredients found around the Pacific Northwest, served with exceptional service and stunning views of Resurrection Bay,” the lodge explains. 

Then, once your stay is over, guests hop right back on that glacier ferry for one more magical ride back to real life, but not before all those arctic creatures come out to wave goodbye. Guests can usually book two or three-night stays, though there are a few select four and five-night getaways available throughout the year. And odds are, two nights simply won’t feel like enough time away from your cares, so snag those long stays when you can, and get ready to take a selfie or two with a passing whale.