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Sitka, Alaska Port Review
Sitka On Your Own Shore Excursion
By: Tom Ogg
Sitka's Russian Church
Overview
Sitka is a quaint village
with a very distinct Russian influence. The center piece of
town is still the Russian Church that dates back over a
century to when Alaska was owned by the Russians and Sitka
was the capital of Alaska. Today Sitka offers wonderful
shopping, restaurants and lots to see.
Cruise Port Location and
Information
Anchored Off of Sitka,
Alaska
Ships anchor in the
channel outside of the downtown area and tender into the
tender wharf that is a block from the main shopping street
in Sitka.
Sitka's Tender Wharf
The
tender wharf is just inside of Sitka's harbor and when the
salmon are running there are thousands of them that get
trapped in the harbor that one can see swimming around. Some
of the smaller ships (Cruise West) may tie up at the tender
wharf thus eliminating the need to tender.
A Bald Eagle Greets the
Tender
Be sure
to keep your eyes open to look for wildlife as you enter
Sitka. It is not uncommon to see bald eagles just about
anywhere. Also, note that the weather in Sitka can be both
cold and wet. Be sure to dress in layers and also carry some
rain gear to stay dry if rain is threatening. Sitka is
exposed to the open ocean and the weather reflects this
fact.
Exploring On Your Own
Looking Down Lincoln Street
in Downtown Sitka
With the Russian Church Centerpiece
Sitka is easily explored
on your own, which is probably the best way to enjoy it.
Everything is within easy walking distance of the tender
wharf and there are no real hills to negotiate.
Shopping Tips
Just One of the Many Stores
in Sitka
Shopping
in Sitka is what everyone does.
Typical Sitka Souvenir Shop
Besides
your typical souvenir shops,
Alaskan Furs Fr Sale in
Sitka
Sitka offers a number of
unique shops and boutiques. Alaska furs and jewelry are
prominent products being sold, as is local art. There
are several galleries right along the main shopping street
with unique paintings and sculptures. There is also a good
selection of Russian products available such as nested
dolls, lacquer boxes, ceramic dolls and the like.
Eskimo Dolls Are Very
Collectible
Many collectible items are
also available for purchase. Shopping in Sitka is excellent
for those looking for something unique to remember their
visit.
Port Highlights
St. Michael's Russian
Church
No visit to
Sitka would be complete without a tour of St. Michael's
Russian Church. Even though it was burned to the ground in
1966, many of its treasures were saved and are now on
display in the church. One can see the church from just
about everywhere in downtown Sitka.
Sitka Harbor With the
Regent 7 Seas Mariner Anchored Off Shore
Sitka's
harbor is fascinating, as there are numerous commercial
fishing vessels kept there and there is always something
going on. If you are there when the fishing boats are
unloading their catch, it is a very interesting process well
worth a watch.
Sitka's Raptor Center
One of the
main attractions in Sitka is the Raptor Center (also known
as the Sitka Historical National Park) This center is both a
national park and a rehabilitation center for sick and / or
injured raptors. The raptor center is an easy walk from
downtown (just head past the harbor and keep walking about
300 yards to the entrance.)
The Raptor Center Office
You will
need to enter the office and purchase an admission ticket to
enter the center (currently $12 for adults and $6 for
children 12 and under - 2008) There are several displays
right in the building itself worth watching.
The Raptor Center Totem
Poles
The first thing that you
notice is the abundance of totem poles throughout the park.
Another Raptor Center Totem
Pole
The trails throughout the
park are well marked and offer some great views of the
surrounding areas.
A View of Sitka From the
Raptor Center
One could easily spend
hours wandering around the Raptor Center's trains and
forest.
Another Totem Pole in the
Raptor Center
There are
some 25 birds of prey that reside in the center full time
and there are also numerous birds that are in various stages
of recuperation being reintroduced to the wild.
Indian River in the Raptor
Center
The Indian
River empties into the ocean in the Raptor Center and one
can follow the river up stream. When the salmon are running
(late summer) the Indian River is chock full of salmon
making their way up river to spawn. It is a very interesting
site to enjoy.
Castle Hill Lookout
Another sight worth a quick
visit is Castle Hill. This old fort resides right in
downtown Sitka.
Look For This Sign to Find
the Castle Hill Entrance
While the entrance is well
hidden, just look for this sign on Lincoln Street.
The Stairs to Castle Hill
Once you
find the sign, simply climb the stairs al the way to the
top. While it is steep the view is well worth the effort.
The Sheldon Jackson Museum
Located by
the Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka (across from the
harbor) the Sheldon Jackson Museum is well worth the $4
admission (2008). Built in the late 1800s, this museum is a
classic. It houses local history and tons of it.
Fishing is also an option
here. There is an active sports fishing industry in Sitka
and your ship will undoubtedly offer a fishing trip or two
in Sitka, as it is known for its halibut fishing and salmon
fishing when in season.
Off the Beaten Path
Again, if you like to fish Sitka
has a wonderful selection of fishing opportunities. There
are also surf shops in Sitka and the surfers enjoy a break
that is about a 20-minute boat ride from the marina on the
other side of the island one sees from downtown. While I
have not surfed it, it is a quality peak that needs the
right tide and wind to get it to break. For surfers that
want an adventure, this is the place. The guy that owns the
surf shop shared a story about a trip that he took a couple
surfers from San Diego on. While they were outside of the
peak, a pod of killer whales came in and started to stalk
them. The California guys got out of the water. While they
were standing on the beach waiting for the killer whales to
depart, a grizzly bear started coming down the beach towards
them. They frantically paddled out to the boat and got in
demanding to be taken back to Sitka saying that they had no
idea how anyone could survive surfing in Alaska.
Dining & Drinking
Suggestions
The Shee-Atika Lodge
Shee-Atika Lodge: On a tip from a local bartender,
we dined at the Shee-Atika Lodge and it was great! Full of
locals, I suspect this is the finest eatery in Sitka. I
would recommend it for a lingering lunch on a rainy day. We
had the halibut and it was excellent.
Pioneer
Bar: This local bar on the waterfront near the tender
wharf is a local's bar with a ton of flavor. Ther are three
or four bars in Sitka, but this on gets my nod. I also enjoy
Ernies on Lincoln Street, but the Pioneer has the color.
“Must Do” List
Sitka's Beautiful Harbor
Nothing that stands out
as being a "must do" in Sitka. However, if you are going to
stay on the ship and miss the port. then I would say that
you "must do it", as Sitka is so unique
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