Sitka Travel Guide

  Sitka from the Bridge
by Colewade
 
  • Sitka from the Bridge
      Sitka from the Bridge
    by Colewade
  • Mt. Edgecumbe
      Mt. Edgecumbe
    by Colewade
  • Mt Verstovia on a windy day
      Mt Verstovia on a windy day
    by MTrav
  •   Sitka
    by PA2AKgirl
  •   Things to Do
    by WulfstanTraveller
 

Pro

PA2AKgirl profile photo

 Beautiful, Clean, amazing wildlife, Decent nightlife, friendly people 


Con

Colewade profile photo

 It requires a little effort to get to Sitka, and your likely to have rain when you arrive. 


In a nutshell

PA2AKgirl profile photo

 GO! You will fall in love with this place and be surprised how it's unlike your stereotype of Alaska 

 

Explore Sitka

Things to Do  

Pioneers' Home

Pioneers' Home, Sitka

 starship Says:  One of the sights that I saw for the first time during our July, 2006, stop in Sitka was the Pioneers Home.. I really didn't know what the building was when I first saw it. I was just attracted to the architecture which I thought seemed a little out of place for Alaska,... 

Russian Bishop's House

Russian Bishop's House, Sitka

 Agraichen Says:  The first resident of the house was Bishop Innocent, Ivan Veniaminov.It is an example of Russian colonial architecture and is one of the last exisitng in North America.It is only open regularly in the Summer. By appointment it can be visited in the winter. 

Sitka National Historical Park Visitor Center

Sitka National Historical Park Visitor Center, Sitka

 Agraichen Says:  Most tourists arrive in Sitka via cruise ship. The "downtown" area is just to the left off the dock where the tender drop people. If you follow the streets along the coast in about 15 minutes you'll get to the Sitka National Historical Park entrance and the Visitor Center.... 

Alaska Raptor Center

Alaska Raptor Center, Sitka

 Agraichen Says:  The Alaska Raptor Center is located on Sawmill Creek Boulevard north east of "downtown" Sitka. The walk from downtown on streets takes about 30 minutes but by walking through the Sitka National Historical Park it can be done in about 15-20 minutes. The center is a full... 

Raptor Center

Raptor Center, Sitka

 MTrav Says:  The Alaska Raptor Center is just off Sawmill Creek road, about 20 minutes walking from downtown. This is at the top of my list for anyone visiting Sitka. There is a visitors center that is open only in the summer (so Ive never been inside) and a short trail into the forest.... 

Mt. Edgecumbe

Mt. Edgecumbe, Sitka

 PA2AKgirl Says:  There are a couple things that define Sitka as far as physical landmarks go. The Russian Orthodox cathedral dominates the downtown, but Mt. Edgecumbe might be the one that will stick with you the most. It's easy to see from almost anywhere in Sitka, a bit harder to get to... 

Sheldon Jackson Museum

Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka

 krishoffmann Says:  Sitka is in an incredibly beautiful setting, with great hiking trails and National Park, but for a spectacular glimpse into Alaska Native life as it was several hundred years ago, don't miss Sheldon Jackson Museum! WOW! Eskimo whaling suits, birdskin and gut parkas, tools,... 

Sitka Summer Music Festival

Sitka Summer Music Festival, Sitka

 PA2AKgirl Says:  If you're in Sitka in June, check out the music festival. It's held at Harrigan Centennial Hall (where the Isabel Miller Museum is) and they are now in the their 33rd season. They have concerts a couple times a week and additional special events, like a crab feed, a coffee... 

The Russian Bishops House

The Russian Bishops House, Sitka

 PA2AKgirl Says:  If you like architecture and/or religious history, this place is for you. There are only 4 pieces of Russian colonial architecture in existance in N America today. 2 of which are in Sitka. This is the only one that is restored back to period time. It was completed in 1842... 

St Michael's Cathedral

St Michael's Cathedral, Sitka

 Colewade Says:  Constructed between 1844 and 1848, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is the principal representative of Russian cultural influence in the 19th century in North America. From 1840 to 1872, Sitka was the Seat of the Russian Orthodox Diocese which governed all of North... 

Russian Bishop's House

Russian Bishop's House, Sitka

 Colewade Says:  The Russian Bishop's House is the best surviving example of Russian architecture in North America. Imperial Russia was the dominant power in the North Pacific for over 125 years. Sitka (known as New Archangel at the time) was the Russian colonial capital. The Bishop's House... 

Sitka National Historic Park

Sitka National Historic Park, Sitka

 Colewade Says:  The Sitka National Historic Park is located in a beautiful coastal rainforest that remains much as it did in the time of the Battle of Sitka. The Tlingit Indians were defeated brutally by the Russians when they retook the Indian townsite to make it their own.The reason most... 

Sheldon Jackson Museum

Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka

 Colewade Says:  This interesting and small octagonal museum was built in 1895 and stands as Alaska's oldest concrete building. It definitely ranks in the top three or four sites in Sitka. The core of the Museum's collection comes from the Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson, a Presbyterian missionary... 

Hotels  

Super 8 Sitka

 1 Review and 17 Opinions  We rented the suite for a birthday. Nice and spacious. Not exactly four seasons or anything. They... 

Restaurants  

Hermano's: Mexican Food-Yum

Hermano's: Mexican Food-Yum, Sitka

 seak2005 Says:  They recently opened up in the Franklin Building in Downtown Sitka. I like the setting and location. Right across the street (well it's a round-about) is St. Michael's Cathedral. The food is the best. They have the best pizza and burgers. The Franklin Building or mall some... 

Ludvig's Bistro: Best Restaurant in Alaska!

Ludvig's Bistro: Best Restaurant in  Alaska!, Sitka

 Food_sage Says:  Ludvig's Bistro is proud to offer fresh local seafood, house made bread and desserts, organic ingredients from Full Circle Farm and Sitka Sound's own Alaska Pure Finishing Salt. This place is an amazing destination for Sitka or any local. Go eat there. Colette Nelson spent... 

Nightlife  

Pioneer Bar: Night life in Sitka

Pioneer Bar: Night life in Sitka, Sitka

 Totchbarnette Says:  Very casual place to hang out, have a few drinks and shoot some pool. Nothing fancy but the locals are nice. Very surprise that you are allowed to smoke in the bar. Could use a few more TVs but overall a decent place to go for a few drinks. Come as you are. 

Shopping  

Old Harbor Book Store: Old Harbor Book Store

Old Harbor Book Store: Old Harbor Book Store, Sitka

 Colewade Says:  Old Harbor is my favorite bookstore in southeast Alaska. The Alaskan and native section is very complete. They also have very nice travel journals. This bookstore has a strong connection to the comunnity. If it is happening in town, there will be a notice for it in the... 

Simple Pleasures: Great Jam, pickles, honey, and more

Simple Pleasures: Great Jam, pickles, honey, and more, Sitka

 WulfstanTraveller Says:  This store on the waterfront of downtown Sitka is a family-run business selling home-made preserves - jams, pickles, honey, and more. One can find their products in other towns in this part of Alaska, but this is the actual place itself. It has a great selection of honey,... 

Off The Beaten Path  

St. Lazaria Island

St. Lazaria Island, Sitka

 PA2AKgirl Says:  You have to be on a boat to get to this island and you can't get off the boat once you reach it, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. This island is only one tiny part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge which is the largest NWR is the US. It extends from... 

Favorites  

Where to Get Information about Sitka

Where to Get Information about Sitka, Sitka

 starship Says:  Maps and information are available inside the entrance of Harrigan Centennial Hall. Volunteers manning the information booth are helpful, pleasant and will also sell you tickets to the New Archangel Dancers' performance right there in Centennial Hall. Be sure to pick up a... 

Comments

Map of Sitka