Tucked along the western edge of Baranof Island on Alaska’s southeastern coast, Sitka is one of the most rewarding destinations in the entire state — and one of the most overlooked. Unlike Juneau or Ketchikan, which draw massive cruise ship crowds, Sitka feels genuinely unhurried. You can walk its historic streets, watch sea otters from […]
What you need to pack for Alaska depends heavily on the season and the specific trip, but a few basics apply whether you’re on a summer cruise or a winter aurora trip. Layers Are the Foundation Alaska weather changes quickly, and temperatures can swing 20 degrees or more between morning and afternoon even in summer.
Alaska is home to both brown (grizzly) bears and black bears, and seeing one, even from a distance, is a real possibility on many hikes and in several popular parks. A few basic precautions make these encounters far less risky for both visitors and the bears themselves. Know What You’re Dealing With Alaska has an
Sitka is a Southeast Alaska town of about 8,400 people on the outer coast of Baranof Island, facing the open Pacific rather than the more sheltered Inside Passage most Southeast towns sit along. It has a distinct history as the former capital of Russian Alaska. Getting There No road connects Sitka to the rest of
