Written by If you’re hoping to travel somewhere beautiful and cold, where you can enjoy local life, the wonderful weather, and the amazing sights, then Sitka is the place to go!
Sitka is a city-borough in Alaska, previously known as New Archangel. Sitka is a small city with a population of just over 8000 people but is one of the oldest cities in Alaska. According to some sources, it is over 10,000 years old and was originally populated by the Tlingit people.
If you think you’d like a little vacation in the city of Sitka, here is everything you need to know:
How to Get There
Sitka is one of the few cities in America that cannot be reached by road. It is only accessible by boat or plane. Sitka is a very popular cruise destination, and ships stop at the port daily. There are boat schedules that list down the time for arrival and departure of the boats daily. You can also take a plane to and from Sitka. Alaska Airlines has daily flights from Seattle, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan.
The Best Time of Year to Visit
Being in Alaska, you might think that Sitka is a frozen wasteland without any warmth. Surprisingly, this is not the case at all. Sitka receives quite a lot of rain in the year so that it is always fresh and vibrant. The snowfall averages at just 33 inches. The temperature is also quite moderate, and out of the week, only about 5 days reach temperatures above 70 degrees and only 10 days a year have temperatures below freezing.
The best time to visit Sitka would be during the summer, which is also the Alaskan high season. The temperature remains between 50 degrees and 70 degrees, the weather is usually clear and sunny, and the days are long. During the Summer Solstice, sunrise is as early as 4 am, and sunset is at 10 pm, giving you an incredible 18 hours of daylight.
Local Food and Drink
For a super small city, Sitka has an incredible food scene you don’t want to miss out on. You definitely want to try the local seafood, with salmon standing out and some reindeer. Some of the restaurants you’ll want to visit include Ludvig’s Bistro, Beak Restaurant, and Highliner Coffee. As for drinks, you definitely want to visit The Pioneer Bar, a historical site, and the Harbor Mountain Brewing Co, a local brewery.
The Amazing Wildlife
Sitka has some beautiful and amazing wildlife to boast about. Some of the animals that draw a lot of attention are the Humpback Whales and the Alaska Coastal Brown Bears. There is also incredible geography to look at. The Mt Edgecumbe Volcano, the sea caves, and volcanic cliffs are a sight to behold and a lot of fun to explore, too.
Popular Sites to Visit
When visiting Sitka, you should definitely visit a few fun places. The Fortress of The Bear rescue center is a bear habitat near the Tongass National Forest, where you can watch bears living amongst nature. The Sheldon Jackson Museum displays historical artifacts from Alaska, including traditional clothes, masks, and totems. The Herring Cove Trail is perfect if you love to hike and want to immerse yourself in the wildlife. The Sitka National Historical Park is the last site on our list and mixes history with nature.
Sportfishing in Sitka, AK
The city of Sitka lies entirely in the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by water on all sides. As expected, there is a whole host of water activities you can partake in, from kayaking and whale watching to boat tours and Sportfishing.
If you want to take a week off from your hectic lives and go someplace with a tight-knit community, fantastic weather, excellent food, lots of nature, and exciting sites to visit, you need to book a week-long vacation in Sitka, AK.
If you’re interested in going Sportfishing, you have to check out Action Alaska Sportfishing for the best-guided saltwater fishing. The company is the best to give you that authentic Alaska fishing experience.
Check out the Action Alaska website https://actionalaska.com/ or call (907)738-7311 to schedule a fishing session. The company has been part of the Sitka fishing community for over 30 years and has the highest standards.