Sitka AK

Plan to be on deck when your ship sails into Sitka Sound, particularly if it's a sunny day: The views of the town from the ship are beautiful.

Sitka Council is planning to reduce the cruise ships, even considering a cruiseless day every week.

Cruise ships will use a floating dock, about 6 miles north of downtown. A free shuttle bus service is provided by the port to and from downtown Sitka. The drop off / pick up location is Harrigan Centential Hall. The shuttle ride is 10 to 15 minutes and the busses depart every 10 minutes.

Other cruise ships will anchor and will tender you to downtown.

The terminal building include large restrooms, usual gift shops. High Speed WiFI, and an outdoor covered terrrace for passengers to view activity in the adjacent boat yard.

Visitor information can be obtained from the visitors desk at Harrigan Centennial Hall, near Crescent Harbor, one block from O'Connell Bridge, or at the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau at O'Connell Bridge also is available when cruise ships are in town.

Its a beautiful, picturesque little fishing village with Mt. Edgecomb in the background, and the harbor studded with tiny jewel-like islands. Just spectacular! Great Russian charm, beautiful, friendly and clean.

New Archangel Dancers: When cruise ships are in town, these dancers perform lively, authentic folk dances from Russia (Harrigan Centennial Building).

Printable map to take along.

Sightseeing:

Sitka, the only major city on USA's Baranof Island, is the beneficiary of three distinct cultures: Tlingit Indian, Russian and American. You'll find relics of all three cultures throughout the area. With the spectacular natural beauty of Sitka Sound, its fascinating history, unique totem park and Mount Edgecomb - a dormant volcano which rises above the harbor - Sitka is definitely a treasure in the usan wilderness.

Sitka National Historical Park, 106 Metlakatla St., 907-747-0110

Visitor Center open year round: mid-May through September daily 8AM-5PM; October through mid-May: M-Sa 8AM-5PM. Closed on Federal holidays during the winter months. Over 12 years old $4, under free. Wheelchair accessible. The Southeast USA Indian Cultural Center, totem poles, and museum exhibits are located in the building. Exhibits depict traditional Tlingit life. A short video reviews Sitka's history.

Russian Bishop's House open mid-May through September daily 9AM-5PM. Ranger-led tours are offered every 30 minutes. October through mid-May open by appointment only. 12 years old $4, under free. This original log structure built in 1843 is one of the last remaining buildings from the Russian colonial period. Not wheelchair accessible.

Everything is within easy walking distance.

Public Transport is another good option:

Red route out along Halibut Point Road – 1 hour loop Blue route out along Sawmill Creek Road – 1 hour loop Green Route through town and over the bridge – 1/2 hour loop $2.00 per one way ride for adults. $1.00 for seniors or persons with disabilities.

Most cruise lines offer a combined walking and motor coach excursion that features a tour through the Raptor Center, a visit to the Sitka National Historic Park, a performance from the New Archangel Dancers, a drive by Castle Hill, and also includes a stop at St. Michael's Cathedral.

When you get to the downtown dock you will see skippers signing people up for boat rides. Take one of these tours, the wildlife is amazing! You will see lots of sea otters, seals, porpoises, whales, puffins and other sea birds. You may even see bears on the land, the skippers know where to look for them.

The official U.S. currency is the United States dollar (symbol: $). ATM's everywhere.

Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are widely used and accepted, even for transactions worth only a few dollars. In fact, in some cases, it may be the only way to make a transaction. Note to overseas visitors: Prices of goods and services always seem lower than they really are, as taxes and gratuities are seldom included.

Most states have a sales tax, ranging from 2.9% to nearly 10% of the retail price; 4-6% is typical. Sales tax is almost never included in posted prices (except for gasoline, and in most states, alcoholic beverages consumed on-premises), but instead will be calculated and added to the total when you pay.

The U.S. has no official language at the federal level, but English is by far the standard for everyday use. Several states have declared their official state language as English. Spanish is also official in the state of New Mexico, where it is widely spoken; French is official in Louisiana and the Hawaiian language is official in Hawaii, but neither approaches the use of English and are official for primarily historical reasons.

Emergency 911

In major metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, many drugstores and supermarkets are routinely open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, while department stores, shopping centers and most other large retailers are typically open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and often with shorter hours on Sundays - generally 11 a.m. or noon to 5 or 6 p.m. On holidays, the tendency is to remain open (with the exception of the most important holidays like Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day where stores are generally closed)