Port Heiden, AK

Port Heiden is a small, quiet village of around 100 residents located along the rugged coastline of the Alaska Peninsula. Originally known as Meshik, this Alutiiq community has adapted to big changes over the generations, from wartime military use to gradually shifting homes inland away from eroding coastal bluffs. Today, it remains a peaceful, traditional town centered around commercial salmon fishing and a self-sufficient way of life.

ATTRUSFWS Headquarters / Public domain

Relocating here means embracing genuine bush Alaska living. With no highway access, getting in and out depends on small scheduled flights, and major household supplies arrive by cargo barge twice a year straight onto the beach. Daily life revolves around the local Meshik School, and neighbors get around town using ATVs in the summer and snowmachines throughout the winter.