On Your Own in Sitka

The approach to Sitka is beautiful

On an Alaskan cruise that starts in Vancouver or Seattle, boomer cruisers might grow weary of Alaska ship excursions by the time they reach Sitka. That was certainly the case when Alan and I sailed on Regent Seven Seas Mariner from Vancouver to Singapore. Walkable Sitka proved to be an excellent Alaskan destination for active boomers to explore on their own. During our visit, we enjoyed our version of a Sitka walking tour:

Regent Seven Seas Mariner anchored in Sitka Sound

It’s a short tender ride from where your ship anchors in Sitka Sound to the Alaskan town where Russian influences mix with the Tlingit Indian culture. And, oh that natural setting. Dormant volcano, Mt Edgecumbe, hovers over a scene where forested islets dot the sound, eagles fly overhead and you might glimpse a whale or two spouting off.

St Michaels Cathedral

Arriving at the tender terminal, a left turn onto Lincoln Street takes you to downtown Sitka. The two block walk introduces visitors to shops selling Russian collectibles, Tlingit handcrafted items as well as the usual tourist souvenirs. In the center of town, St. Michael’s Cathedral makes a good photo opp. Although the original building caught fire in 1966, the interior of the rebuilt cathedral holds many items that were saved when Alaska’s first church burned down.

For culture-loving boomers, the fun is about to begin. Retrace your steps through Sitka, walk past the terminal port and continue a couple of blocks down Lincoln Street along the harbor to Sitka National Historical Park. Inside the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, located in the park, you’ll see Tlingit craftsmen demonstrating woodcarving, mask making and other native crafts.

Totem pole in Sitka National Historical Park

Although Ketchikan’s Totem Heritage Center claims to have the largest collection of totem poles in the world, it can’t beat the setting of the 18 totem poles at Sitka Naitonal Historical Park. You’ll find the poles displayed along a series of walking trails that wind through the temperate rainforest.

This way to the Alaska Raptor Center

From the Sitka National Historical Park, continue your Sitka walking tour towards the Alaska Raptor Center. Be sure to stop on the bridge that crosses the river. If your visit is during the last stages of spawning season, hold your nose. The banks are lined with decaying salmon. Although signs warn of bear encounters, Alan and I were disappointed that we didn’t meet any during our visit to Sitka.

When the woods end, it’s a short walk across the highway to the Alaska Raptor Center (entrance fee required). Inside, injured bald eagles and other wild raptors are rehabilitated for eventual release back into the Alaskan wilderness. If you miss one of the daily shows, it’s still fun to walk through the enclosures. On our visit, we observed a large bald eagle swiveling his head to and from, ever alert.

From here, retrace your steps and you’ll have completed a boomer walking tour of Sitka, Alaska.

More adventure for boomers in Sitka:

• Several of the guests on our cruise raved about the dry suit snorkeling tour
• Search for sea otters and whales on a nature cruise excursion
• Explore the back-country by ATV. Maybe you’ll see a bear!
• The less adventurous boomer will enjoy a look beneath the sea on a semi-submersible boat tour

Did your cruise ship stop in Sitka? Post a comment to share your favorite excursion. This is one of our favorite cruise ports in Alaska.

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Tagged as: active boomer, Alaska, alaska cruises, Baby boomer travel, boomer, boomers, sitka, sitka alaska, tlingit indians, totem poles, United States, walking, walking tour