From Wikitravel

Sitka is a city (population about 9,000) on the Pacific Ocean coast of Baranof Island in Alaska, the largest state in the United States of America. Originally settled by Tlingit Indians, Sitka also has history as a Russian settlement. Sitka was the Russian capital of Alaska, established in 1799 by Alexander Baranof of the Russian American Company. In 1867 when Russia sold Alaska to the U.S., the transfer ceremony took place on Castle Hill at Sitka on October 18, a day celebrated as Alaska Day. Sitka attracts now about a quarter million visitors a year.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

• Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport (IATA: SIT), 605 Airport Rd. served by Alaska Airlines, 1-800-426-0333, [1]. Sitka Tours at 907-747-8443 provides an airport shuttle to the downtown area or to any accommodations. May-September, $6 one-way; $8 round-trip.

[edit] By boat

• Alaska Marine Highway, Phone: 1-800-642-0066, [2].

• Sitka is also a popular port for cruise ships from May through September. The anchorage for large cruise ships is off shore, and smaller boats are used to tender passengers ashore to the Crescent Harbor Lightering Facility or the O'Connell Bridge Lightering Facility.

[edit] Get around

• By Foot. The downtown area of Sitka can be explored by foot. A walking map [3], with two suggested loops, one westward to the Sitka Channel, the other eastward to the Alaska Raptor Center, may be obtained from the Summer Information Desk in the Harrigan Centennial Hall near the Crescent Harbor Lightering Facility.

• Community Ride[4] (907) 747-7103. Founded by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, Sitka Community Ride has been serving Sitka’s Community since 2002. Operates three bus lines -- Green, Red, and Blue -- M-F 6:30am to 6:30pm. Holidays Observed: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Alaska Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.

• Transit Shuttle, 907-747-7290. Runs only on days when there are scheduled to be at least 1000 cruise ship visitors. May-Sept, M-F. Shuttle operates one hour after ship arrives in port up until ship departure. Stops every 25-30 min. at Crescent Harbor Shelter, Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka Nat’l. Historical Park, Alaska Raptor Center, a downtown stop by Random House, the Tribal Community House, O’Connell Bridge docking area. $10pp all day pass; $5pp round trip.

• Hank's Taxi & Tour Service, 907-747-8888, (Email: hank@hankstours.com), [5]. Operates 4AM-12AM.

• Yellow Jersey Cycle Shop, 805 Halibut Point Rd. downtown, across from Harrigan Centennial Hall, 907-747-6317, (Email: yellowj@ptialaska.net). Full service bike shop with daily or weekly bicycle rentals.

• Esther G Sea Taxi, 907-747-6481, cell phone (907) 738-6481, Email: alaskadavey@gci.net. Over twenty years experience. Marine transportation to remote locations for hiking, biking, camping and kayaking. Captain Davey Lubin.

[edit][add listing] See

• Sitka National Historical Park, 106 Metlakatla St., 907-747-0110 [6]. No food service or lodging in this park.
  • Visitor Center open year round: mid-May through September daily 8AM-5PM; October through mid-May: M-Sa 8AM-5PM. Closed on Federal holidays during the winter months. Over 12 years old $4, under free. Wheelchair accessible. The Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, totem poles, and museum exhibits are located in the building. Exhibits depict traditional Tlingit life. A short video reviews Sitka's history.
  • Russian Bishop's House open mid-May through September daily 9AM-5PM. Ranger-led tours are offered every 30 minutes. October through mid-May open by appointment only. 12 years old $4, under free. This original log structure built in 1843 is one of the last remaining buildings from the Russian colonial period. Not wheelchair accessible.
  • Park Trails open mid-May through September daily 6AM-10PM; October through mid-May daily 7AM-8PM. Free. Walk in a temperate rain forest under towering trees, observe migrating salmon, explore the intertidal zone, and study wildlife. A pleasant walk through the Alaska woods with interesting totem poles interspersed. The Village Watchman, the Raven in Human Form, the Raven and a Bear are some of the figures displayed.

• Alaska Raptor Center, 1000 Raptor Way, 1-800-643-9425, [7]. May-September Su-F 8AM-4PM. Adults $12, under 12 $6. Bald eagles and other raptors from all over the Western United States are treated at this 17 acre facility bordering the Tongass National Forest. See the eagles, hawks, falcons and owls up close.

• Castle Hill[8], Baranof Castle Hill State Historic Site, also National Historic Landmark. American flag raising site. In 1867 when Alaska was transferred from Russia to the U.S., the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag officially raised here. In 1959 when Alaska became the 49th State, the first 49-star American flag was officially raised here. Once the site of a two-story log mansion known as Baranof's Castle, which overlooked Sitka Sound during the Russian fur trading era. A fully accessible walkway leads visitors to the top of the hill and provides outstanding views of downtown Sitka and waterfront. Interpretive panels provide opportunities to learn more about the history of this site.

• St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral[9], 240 Lincoln St., 907-747-8120. National Historic Landmark. Constructed 1844-1848, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel was the principal representative of Russian cultural influence in the 19th century in North America, as the Seat of the Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America, and then as the Seat of the Diocese of Alaska. Although the original was burned down in 1966 and reconstructed, the artifacts inside including the icons were largely preserved from the fire.

• Isabel Miller Museum, 330 Harbor Dr. (downtown), Phone: 907-747-6455, [10]. Historical society museum.

• Saint Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge (by boat tour) St. Lazaria is a rugged island with limited and difficult access -- ideal for birds to inhabit and to nest. On the island, one can find Fork-tailed Storm-petrels , Leach"s Storm-petrels, Thick-billed Murres, Tufted Puffins, Rhinoceros Auklets , Pigeon Guillemots, Glaucous-winged Gulls, Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Black Oystercatchers

• Mt. Edgecomb, a dormant volcano that looks like Mt. Fuji, looms in the background and dominates views to the west.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Call of the Wild Adventures, 907-738-2458, [11]. Go saltwater sport fishing with a friendly local instead of with an over-priced 'monster' lodge.

• Harris Aircraft Services, 400 Airport Road, Phone: 907-966-3050, (e-mail: info@harrisaircraft.com), [12]. A floatplane flightseeing trip is a good way to get an overview of Baranof Island.

• Sitka Tribal Tours[13], 429 Katlian Street, Sitka, Alaska 99835 (907) 747-7290 / 1-888-270-8687 toll free. Walking Tour: 2-hr guided walk along harbor to Sitka National Historical Park. Learn culture, history, & natural resources used in Tlingit artwork & medicinal plants. Includes a visit to the Sheldon Jackson Marine Science Facility. (Transit pass included). Experience an authentic Tlinglit Native dance performance inside a traditional style clan house. $37.10 adult, $26.50 child. Tribal Tours also provides a variety of cultural coach tours.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Russian and native handicrafts are featured products.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are a nice mix of restaurants in Sitka including a Mediterranean and a Mexican restaurant despite the town being relatively small.

• Level II, 407 Lincoln Street, Phone: 907-747-5440. Breakfast lunch or dinner overlooking the harbor. American.

• Ludvig's Restaurant, 256 Katlian St., ☎ 907-966-3663, [14]. Tu-Sa 12PM-9PM. Mediterranean. Dinner:$18-$28.  edit
• Kelly's Sports Pub, 1617 Sawmill Creek Rd., ☎ 907-623-3910, [15]. Sitka's only sports bar. Offering a full food menu, large selection of spirits & wine, 8 big screen TVs, pool tables, dart boards, foosball table, table tennis and a fun atmosphere!  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Ernie's Old Time Saloon, 130 Lincoln Street, 907-747-3334. Chips, peanuts, pool table. Live music F,Sa nights. Hours: M-Sa 8AN-2AM, Sunday Noon-2PM. Cash only.
• Pioneer Bar, 212 Katlian Street, ☎ 907-747-3456. Maritime themed bar.  edit

COFFEE

• Highliner Cafe, 327 Seward Street backside of Seward Square Mall, [16]. Internet cafe with gourmet expresso drinks and freshly roasted coffee, full line of bagels, freshly baked breakfast stuffed croissants, Scandinavian cookies, other pastries.
• Kelly's Sports Pub, 1617 Sawmill Creek Rd., ☎ 907-623-3910, [17]. Sitka's only sports bar. Offering a full food menu, large selection of spirits & wine, 8 big screen TVs, pool tables, dart boards, foosball table, table tennis and a fun atmosphere!  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Cascade Inn, 2035 Halibut Point Road, Phone: 907-747-6804 or toll free: 1-800-532-0908 (fax: 907-747-6572, email: karen@cascadeinnsitka.com). Sitka's only waterfront hotel, a little over 2 miles from downtown. All rooms have private balconies with views of the Pacific Ocean. Oceanfront sauna and barbecue, laundry and convenience/liquor. 10 Rooms. $85-140.

• Eddystone Inn, 2898 Sawmill Creek Road, Phone: 907-747-3313, (fax: 907-747- 3333, email: eddystoneinn@hotmail.com). On a private peninsula, with Alaskan themed rooms, ocean views, hot tub, TV, private park, phone, and Alaskan hosts. About 10 minutes from downtown Sitka. 6 Rooms. $85-160.

• Shee Atika Totem Square Inn, 201 Katlian Street, Phone: 907-747-3693 or toll-free: 866-300-1353 (Email: totemsquare@sheeatika.com). Right in downtown Sitka, this hotel is within easy walking distance of many of Sitka's attractions. Complimentary continental breakfast, shuttle service, wireless internet, exercise equipment, restaurant, shopping, travel agency, charter agency, charter dock drop off and meeting facilities.

• Super 8 Motel, 404 Sawmill Creek Road, Phone: 907-747-8804 or toll free: 1-800-800-8000, ( fax: 907-747-6101). Downtown location; short distance from airport. Jacuzzi, laundromat, free coffee/toast bar, cable TV, children 12 & under stay free, car packages available in off-season. Pets accepted with permission and deposit. 35 rooms. $80-120

[edit] Get out

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