Let’s Explore Sitka with Kids!

How does visiting several different unique destinations, eating delicious food, enjoying active adventures, and having unlimited soft-serve sound?  If that sounds like an ideal vacation to you, then you are the perfect candidate for a cruise vacation!  Did I mention that you get to do all of that, but only unpack once?  As the mom of my family, this sounds like the ideal situation to me.  Cruising itineraries are endless, and recently my family embarked on an Alaskan cruise.  You may think that Alaskan cruises aren’t great for kids.  I’m here to show you all the fun that kids can have fun in Alaska ports.  Let’s explore Sitka with kids!   

Thinking about an Alaskan cruise?  Contact me today to start planning! 

Where is Sitka?

Sitka is located in southeastern Alaska, and is a frequent stop on many Alaskan cruise itineraries.  It’s located on Sitka Sound and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.  When your ship docks in Sitka, you can take the free provided buses into town to the Centennial Visitors Center.  From here, you can make your own adventure!

What should you see in Sitka?

Sitka National Historical Site

Some of the more popular destinations to see in Sitka include the Sitka National Historical Park, with trails lined with totem poles.  These poles tell the history and lore of the Tlingit and Haida people, and provide an interesting way to explore the landscape along the coast.  

Sitka Sound at Low Tide

Sitka Sound is located along the coast near the Sitka National Historical Park, and at low tide makes a great playground!  The rocky bottom of the sound gives kids lots of places to hop and climb.  All the tiny crabs crawling around are fun to catch, observe, and release.

Low tide on the Sitka Sound is a great place to explore!

Fortress of the Bear

A quick shuttle bus ride from Sitka National Historical Park takes you to Fortress of the Bear.  Fortress of the Bear is a refuge for orphaned bears native to Alaska.  In Alaska, bears are frequently orphaned as their parents meet their untimely ends.  There is currently no rehabilitation program in place in the state for these bears, but Fortress of the Bear has made it their mission to rescue them and give them long, healthy lives.  

Fortress of the Bear is a great place to see several different species of bears in one place. These enclosures were once water treatment reservoirs!

Alaska Raptor Center

After you visit with the bears at Fortress of the Bear, you can easily make your way back toward the center of Sitka and to the Alaska Raptor Center.  The Alaska Raptor Center rescues and rehabilitates eagles with the eventual goal of releasing them back into the wild.  The viewing platforms provide a wonderful place to see eagles and other avian species up close.  

The viewing platforms at the Alaska Raptor Center get you up close to some amazing eagles! They also provide some sweet photo-ops of the kids with grandparents. 🙂

Leisurely Walk Back to the Visitors Center

After spending the day hiking through the Totem Pole trail, exploring the tidal flats, seeing the bears, and learning all about the raptors, it will be just about time to head back to the ship.  If you still need to get some wiggles out of the kids, you can walk back to the visitors center through the trails of Sitka National Historical Park.  The walk takes about 30 minutes at a leisurely pace.  You may even have time like we did to take a quick peek inside St. Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral and purchase some kettle corn from a street vendor.  

The fallen trees and huge roots all over Sitka National Historical Park make a great place for kids to climb and explore.

Continuing the walk back to the Sitka Centennial Visitors Center to catch the bus back to port, you’ll have beautiful views of all of the boats in the harbor.  There’s even a playground nearby for the kids.  

 

 

Sitka is the most beautiful backdrop to a lovely day spent in nature appreciating the scenery, wildlife, and culture of the amazing Alaskan people.  If you’re interested in sailing to Alaska, contact me or one of the other cruising experts at Kingdom and Cruise Travel!

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