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There are half-hour guided tours that offer insight into the history of the rescue center. When you get to the downtown dock you will see skippers signing people up for boat rides. You will see lots of sea otters, seals, porpoises, whales, puffins and other sea birds. You may even see bears on the land, the skippers know where to look for them. When your cruise ship docks at the Sitka Cruise Port, add the Fortress of the Bear to your list of possible shore excursions in Sitka, AK. This educational bear rescue center offers a unique and unforgettable experience.
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It is the site of the final battle of 1804 between the Tlingit and Russians. The guide will point out and name each of the bears and their individual personalities. Before you leave, stop by the gift shop – proceeds go to the rescue center. Look for beautiful Alaskan artwork and stop for a banana split at the old-fashioned Harry Race Pharmacy and Soda Shop.
Visit the Sheldon Jackson Museum
Located off the Pacific Ocean and within the Tongass National Forest, you will some of the best marine wildlife viewing in North America. Larger vessels may anchor in Crescent Bay and tender passengers to one of the two docks located downtown. If you head in the opposite direction of the boat harbor, that’s where the majority of shops are located. You can find Sitka-branded souvenirs and Alaska t-shirts or head to Old Harbor Books and step back in time at this cozy book store.
Shore Excursions
Baranof Island (aka Baranov Island, Sitka Island) is located in Alaska's Alexander Archipelago. The island has length 100 mi (200 km) and width 30 mi (50 km), with a total land area of 1607 mi2 (4160 km2), ranking it the USA's 10th largest and the word's 137th largest. Baranof is the smallest of Alaska's ABC Islands (Admiralty, Baranof, Chichagof).
Top Sitka Cruise Excursions
Westmark Hotel Dining – A long-time landmark, and part of the Princess Cruises and Holland America hotel collection, it’s the outdoor deck that draws a crowd. Serving fresh local seafood, burgers, salads and some really good desserts. Unfortunately, if you only have one day in Sitka, it’s really important to know your choices ahead of time. For a city with such a small, year-round population, where to eat in Sitka includes over a dozen restaurants and eateries. If hiking is your thing and if your ship is in town for a full day, there are several hiking trails to explore.
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16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions - Royal Caribbean Blog
16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions.
Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Featuring local seafood, meats and beers, you can try reindeer sausage, salmon burgers and salmon mac and cheese. Harrigan Centennial Hall near Crescent Harbor has an information desk that has maps and brochures of the area. In August 2021, the Sitka City Assembly authorized a 20-year lease of land (between Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal and Sitka Ferry Terminal) for cruise development. Its a beautiful, picturesque little fishing village with Mt. Edgecomb in the background, and the harbor studded with tiny jewel-like islands. Explore the top sights, history, and local cuisine for an unforgettable experience.
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Every summer, the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Dancers use the house to perform for tourists with traditional singing and drumming. The songs tell stories of Tlingit legend and offer an incredible experience for visitors. The building is the largest hand-carved house screen in Southeast Alaska. Over one million people voyage on an Alaskan cruise every year, and many of those cruise ships include a stop in Sitka, Alaska. For such a small city, you’ll find a variety of restaurants featuring locally caught seafood since commercial fishing is one of the leading industries here.
The combination of Sitka's stunning landscapes, rich history, and unique culture makes it a must-visit destination on any Alaska cruise itinerary. Unfortunately, most cruises visit Sitka earlier in the summer months, but while you might not see whales, you can still see sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters. For something a little different, be sure to stop at Harry’s Soda Shop in downtown Sitka. This old-fashioned soda shop serves milkshakes, and ice cream sodas, just like they used to.
Getting Around Sitka – Alaska
Over the centuries, Sitka -- one of Alaska's most exotic ports -- has reinvented itself over and over again. It's been home to the Tlingit Native Americans, an outpost of the Russian empire and the one-time capital of Alaska. Through it all, its residents have always figured out a way to get the best out of their resources. Today, the roughly 8,900 locals still rely on their natural surroundings, but with an eye toward the burgeoning tourism market.
Enjoy the fragrant scent of burning cedar while you watch a live performance by the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Dancers. Round out your colonial Russian education with a tour of the nearby Bishop’s House. It served as a cultural and educational center from the 1840s until 1969.
It’s not uncommon to overhear fellow cruise passengers say, “Why should I pay for a meal in port when I can have free food back on the ship? One of my favorite activities when I’m on a cruise is the chance to experience all types of local food in port. There’s plenty to do in town if you don’t want to purchase a shore excursion. If your ship is scheduled for Crescent Harbor, that means it will be anchored offshore and you’ll use your ship’s lifeboats to come into town. Crescent Harbor is located downtown so when you debark from the tender, you’ll be at Harrigan Centennial Hall, too.
When you first visit Old Harbor Books, you will quickly notice the quaint smell of a traditional old-fashioned bookstore. The cozy interior is inviting, and the laid-back is perfect for casual shopping. After purchasing a book, don’t forget to stop by the Back Door Cafe for a coffee or pastry and unwind before heading back to the ship. This restaurant has some of the best seafood chowders you will find. Plus, the view from your patio table looks as if it was taken straight out of a National Geographic magazine. Fresh seafood is a must for great sushi, and Little Tokyo Sushi has just that.
Anchoring in the bay, you’ll take a tender back and forth into the port. The tender drop-off location is right near downtown where there are a number of things to see and explore. Sitka is located on the west side of Baranof Island -- a 100-mile-long island in the state's panhandle -- and is only accessible by air and sea. The vast Tongass National Forest covers the area outside of town, which only has a roadway along the Pacific coast about 7 miles in either direction. Watching over Sitka from across the sound is Mount Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano and Mount Fuji lookalike.
There are several ATMs in the downtown area, and credit cards are widely accepted. See brown and black bears up close and learn about their rehabilitation at this fascinating bear cub orphanage. Abandoned cubs are taken in and reared in conditions as close to their natural habitat as possible, with the ultimate goal of releasing bears into the wild.
The aquarium offers a hands-on experience that will leave you with a greater appreciation for the diverse marine ecosystem of Alaska. At the Sitka Sound Science Center, you’ll have the chance to explore their fantastic aquarium. I visited both in June and July, and both months had excellent weather for an enjoyable afternoon exploring the wilderness through the many beautiful rainforest trails. Sitka National Historical Park is a fantastic place to learn more about Alaska’s rich history and culture. From ornate pipes to delicate dolls, pulling open each drawer reveals a new set of intriguing artifacts.
Buy a book and go to the café and relax for a hour before you head back to the ship. Listen to whale songs and view enormous whale bones from a killer whale. The Sheldon Jackson Hatchery is salmon hatchery under the auspices of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
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