SE Alaska Part 1: Sitka

At the end of August 2022, we spent two days in Sitka at the start of a 10 day SE Alaska trip. Sitka was the place in SE Alaska that intrigued me most (for no particular reason). Our lodging was an Airbnb within walking distance of the downtown area.

We arrived in Sitka at around midnight and our Airbnb host had advised us to book a taxi in advance. In summer 2022, there was not a lot of taxi availability and no one was accepting advance bookings which made me slightly concerned that we’d be walking the two miles in the middle of the night, but I was very happy to see two taxis waiting outside the airport when we arrived.

I rented a car through Sitka Car Rental, that we picked up the next morning. They were great to work with and the price was affordable, although it appeared their fleet was quite old and we had a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it got us around.

Day 1

Breakfast - Wildflower Cafe & Bakery is a cute little cafe with excellent baked goods.

Sitka National Historical Park was our first stop. The park was created to preserve totem poles from around Alaska and they are placed along trails in the park, which make a pleasant walk.

Lunch - Beak is in downtown Sitka and has a pleasant area to sit outside. They had lots of interesting salmon dishes, but I was in the mood for something light, so I ate barley soup and spinach salad, which was perfect at that moment.

Sheldon Jackson Museum is part of the Alaska State Museum system and is a fascinating collection of native alaskan artifacts from all over the state in a round building.

Fortress of the Bear is nearly at the south end of the road and is a popular excursion option when the cruise ships are in town. Saturday, there were no large cruise ships and it was later in the afternoon and we had a little bit more time, so we decided to stop and check it out. The Fortress provides a home for bears who are orphaned as cubs.

Dinner - Ludvig’s Bistro is only open during the summer and requires an advance reservation as it books up quickly. We actually were there on their very last night open for the 2022 season. The menu leans Mediterranean and we had a very nice dinner sitting outside on their upstairs deck. We started with scallops and then had the paella mixta and finished with creme brulee.

Day 2

Mosquito Cove Trail is at the very end of the road to the north. The trail is a short loop that passes by Mosquito cove and meanders through the forest.

Downtown Sitka - Sitka has a couple sites worth checking out that are right in the downtown area. Baranof Castle is a location of historical significance, although there’s not much to see there now except for views if it’s clear. St. Michael Orthodox Cathedral is interesting to walk into if it’s open.

Sitka Sound Science Center is within walking distance of the downtown area. It has a small aquarium with some interesting aquatic life and it includes an interesting tour of their fish hatchery.