Sitka Town Center

Alaska had long been on my travel wish list. When our alumni group made the trip I was thrilled to be able to join them. We were on Oceania Cruise Lines---- a company I can highly recommend! Excellent experience! Given the various cruise mishaps lately, I made sure that we did the drill. Fortunately, we were perfectly safe and took part in all that was available from salmon fishing to braving a zip line more than a mile long. Sorry, he’s not for rent.

I ran out of space to include places to Eat, to Stay and Do in Juneau and surrounding towns! *We flew Alaska Seaplanes based in Juneau. They are wonderful and so are all the pilots. *I wish we had at least a week to spend in Haines. Add this place to your list! About a 40 minute flight from Juneau *MUST SEE Ice Fields. Flight from Juneau towards Skagway or Haines. *Food: Island Pub, Douglas Island (across canal from Juneau). Tracy’s King Crab Shack, on the cruise ship docks in downtown Juneau. Hanger on the Wharf (get soup), Juneau. Jerry’s Meat and Seafood Market (is a must). Skagway Brewing Company, Skagway. Mountain Market in Haines (roasted coffee, cafe, organic groceries). *Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau (Plenty of hiking trails close by). *Fly over Ice Fields *Visit Haines (rent a car and drive to Chilkoot River and Bald Eagle Reserve). *Visit Skagway (close to Haines - a gold rush town). Click link to read full article and see more pictures.

Scattered islands and rugged coastline filled the window upon landing in Sitka on Baranof Island. Tall pines and small cottages were surrounded by crashing waves layered in blues as crisp and clear as any Caribbean sea. Discovering Alaska’s Inside Passage would hold many surprises. Leaving the compact airport in a late morning mist, the air immediately smelled of the pine so familiar from trips to northern Canada. It’s a deep, damp musty scent of the forest: clean, fresh and untouched. Accessible only by plane, ferry or boat, the town is an interesting mix of historic American culture. The area was central to Russia’s hopes of establishing a lucrative colony in America based on the fur of the sea otter. Russian settlers left the architecture of onion shaped domes in this sea trading town. Sitka National Historic Park is a great spot for a light hike. The Alaska Raptor Center allows for an up close and personal experience with the state bird and others healing from injury. In the quaint town you’ll find plenty of shops featuring local artisan crafts and native food products.