Sitka's setting, in a tranquil bay on Baranof Island, is nothing short of spectacular. Tiny islands dense with evergreen trees dot the blue-green water, which is crisscrossed by dozens of fishing boats. Looming over the town and waterfront is Mount Edgecumbe, a Mount Fuji look-alike located on a nearby island.
Sitka also has a rich legacy of artifacts and traditions from the Alaska Native, Russian and early-U.S. eras. It is the ancestral home of the Tlingit people. In the 1800s, before Alaska was sold to the U.S., the town was a major Russian port, headquarters of the Russian American Co., established to promote the fur trade, and capital of Russian North America. Sitka has 19 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, seven of which are National Historical Landmarks. But don't spend all your time touring historic buildings—Sitka also has an abundance of wildlife. Humpback whales frolic in the bay; massive brown bears and Sitka black-tailed deer roam through nearby forests of Sitka spruce and hemlock; and thousands of seabirds, including the rare rhinoceros auklet and tufted puffin, flock to St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of Sitka Sound.
Location
Plan to be on deck when your ship sails into Sitka Sound, particularly if it's a sunny day: The views of the town from the ship are beautiful.
Large cruise ships anchor in the sound, which is protected from the rough seas of the Pacific. Passengers are tendered to the visitors pier near Crescent Harbor or to O'Connell Bridge. Smaller cruise ships are at the visitors docks. It's an easy walk to town and to most of the sites, including the Sitka National Historic Park. Visitor information can be obtained from the visitors desk at Harrigan Centennial Hall, near Crescent Harbor, one block from O'Connell Bridge, or at the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau, 303 Lincoln St. A visitor kiosk at O'Connell Bridge also is available when cruise ships are in town. Open Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm in summer. Phone 907-747-5940. http://www.sitka.org.
Shore Excursions
Consider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. They may not be the least expensive way to see the area, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or your travel agent for additional information.
Explore Sitka's Russian history via bus tour followed by a Russian dance performance; learn about eagles at the Alaska Raptor Center; or bike and hike through the area. Boat tours allow you to watch sea otters and other wildlife, experience a working salmon hatchery, enjoy sportfishing and watch whales. Tranquil Sitka Sound is the perfect place to learn to maneuver a two-person sea kayak or experience the underwater environment from the comfort of a semisubmersible vessel.
