Sitka, Alaska

Sitka is an island in southeast Alaska that is only accessible by boat or plane.  The Russians settled Old Sitka in 1799 giving Sitka its nickname “Alaska’s Little Russia”.

This morning, we are participating in the “Explore Sitka Highlights & Totem Park” tour.   We board bus #8 and begin our tour of the Sitka highlights (crossing the O'Connell Bridge to Japonski Island).  We see the harbor, 3 huge colorful buoys, a bald eagle, and the University of Alaska before re-crossing the bridge back to Baranof Island where Sitka is located. 

Our tour continues downtown where we pass by the Hanion- Osbakken House and St. Peter's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church.

    

Hanion-Osbakken House       St. Peter’s By-The-Sea

We stop at a beach to see a bald eagle but we get an extra treat and see a whale too. 

Next we arrive at the Naa Kahidi Community House to watch the Alaskan Tlingit Natives perform traditional songs and dances from their culture.  The last dance is an invitational dance and members of the audience are invited to participate - so I do.  You simply spread your arms out like the wings of a raven and dance with a limp. 

At the Sitka National Historical Park is a loop trail where totem poles are on display.  Unfortunately, we only have time to walk about 1/3 of the trail.   We do see 6 or 7 of the totem poles before our time here is up and we need to return to the bus. 

                    

For more information on this Park, I invite you to view my Blog Post on Sitka National Historical Park by clicking on the following link:

Denice's Blog Post - Sitka National Historical Park

The bus driver drops us off downtown by St. Michael's Cathedral (a Russian Orthodox Church).   St. Michael’s Cathedral was built between the years of 1844-1848 and was destroyed by fire in 1966 and rebuilt.  The church’s green domes and crosses are a prominent and iconic landmark in Sitka. 

    

In the afternoon, we embark on the “Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest” (Allen Marine Tours).   We are very fortunate today because the waters around Sitka are pretty smooth.  This allows the boat to sail quickly and easily around the area in search of wildlife.  Within 45 seconds of leaving the dock, we see sea otters.  We continue sailing around locating bald eagles and lots of sea otters near Black Rock.  Bieli Rocks (a small rocky island) has three crosses at the top of it honoring those who lost their lives at sea.  We sail by the dormant cinder cone of Mount Edgecombe (3,201').  It was named by Captain James Cook in 1778.  

                   

Cruising for Wildlife Sightings       Bieli Rocks (Island)        

                       

                                                          Mount Edgecombe

We cruise to the 65-acre St. Lazaria Island (National Wildlife Refuge).  Here we see Puffins floating in the water and a rugged coastline.

                    

St. Lazaria Island                             Puffins

Shortly after leaving the Refuge, we spot a couple of gray whales.  We watch them for a short time before moving to another location in search of humpback whales.  We do see whales spouting and making brief appearances but mostly they are playing hide-and-go seek with us.

For more information about Sitka, visit the following website:

Sitka Alaska

For more information on St. Lazaria Island National Wildlife Refuge, visit the following website:

St. Lazaria Island National Wildlife Refuge

For more information on St. Michael’s Cathedral, visit the following website:

St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral

For more information on the Sitka National Historical Park, visit the following website:

Sitka National Historical Park

For more information on the Naa Kahidi Community House, visit the following websites:

Naa Kahidi Community House

For more information on Allen Marine Tours, visit the following website:

Allen Marine Tours - Sitka