Why This One Little Town Is Alaska's Best Kept Secret
By Courtney|Updated on October 02, 2020(Originally published September 27, 2020)
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Courtney
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Living and loving life in Alaska, Courtney enjoys living a happy life based on simple principles; work hard, be kind, stay humble. She is an avid dog lover with hobbies that include running, fly fishing, hiking & snowboarding.
With Alaska being the largest yet most undeveloped state in the nation, it only makes sense that there would be a ton of hidden gems spread throughout the state. Sitka is one of the last frontier’s best kept secrets and the best little town in Alaska. Although Sitka is certainly not the tiniest town on the map and it actually has a decent sized population considering many of the remote villages throughout the state, it still remains a place that is fairly untouched and filled with breathtaking natural beauty.
This remote island escape oozes with outdoor adventure opportunities including kayaking, snorkeling, fishing, hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing. Rich Russian culture, Alaska Native heritage and distinctive historical perspectives found throughout this little town have the ability to completely captivate you. Plus, the lush rainforest and booming volcanic views make it easy for just about anyone to fall in love with Sitka. Read on to learn why this one little town is one of Alaska’s best kept secrets.
Located on the Inside Passage, Sitka is on the western side of the Baranof Island in the Pacific Ocean. One of the most unique features about Sitka is its impressive view of Mt. Edgecumbe which is a statuesque dormant volcano that makes for the perfect backdrop for an early morning sunrise on the water.
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense forest, Sitka has been known to capture hearts within the first few minutes of arriving. Although because of its remote location, the only way to access Sitka is via air travel or by sea (boat or ferry).
One of the many things that makes Sitka so unique is the coastal temperate rainforest. These are forests rare in general, occurring in only six places outside of the state of Alaska. These rainforests which are filled with very old and distinct trees consist primarily of Western hemlock, Sitka spruce, mountain hemlock, and Alaska yellow cedar and offer some of the most amazing opportunities to explore the lush hidden woods. Streams, waterfalls and hidden bridges makes exploring the back-country incredibly exciting and exhilarating.
This area is so lush that if you've ever been to a place like Hawaii, you'll draw an instant connection. Albeit incredibly different than a tropic haven, the Tongass National Forest being spread throughout this remote island offers that same sort of fresh getaway feeling that has the ability to totally revive and transcend your soul. The Tongass National Forest is the nation's largest national forest with over 17 million acres. In Sitka alone, visitors have incredible access to enjoy hiking trails, remote cabins, camping spots and wildlife viewing both in the forest and throughout the waters surrounding it.
Just when you thought you'd seen it all, you realize that Sitka even has some of the most phenomenal natural hot springs in the world. Take a dip and enjoy a view of the Gulf of Alaska before turning in for the night at the White Sulphur Springs cabin? Sign us up!
Some of the best saltwater fishing in the world can be experienced in Sitka. From world-class salmon fishing to some of the biggest halibut in the world, this is the place to go to fill your freezer and have the time of your life doing it.
Sitka Sound is very well known for its world-class sea kayaking, rafting, diving and snorkeling adventures. Thought you had to go somewhere tropical to enjoy these kind of activities? Think again! Sitka breaks the mold when it comes to living the Alaska life. You can enjoy an immense amount of activities both on land and in the sea.
One of the most remarkable places to visit in Sitka is the Alaska Raptor Center. This incredible treatment center spread throughout 17 acres provides medical treatment to 100- 200 injured bald eagles and other birds. Their ultimate goal is to release their patients back into the wild after rehabilitation, although some are too injured to make it out of the center and back into the wild. A dedicated and compassionate group of people come together to educate around 36,000 visitors each year on the importance of animal rehabilitation.
Alaska Day is an event that happens annually in the town of Sitka to celebrate the purchase transfer of the Russian claim of Alaska to the U.S.A in Sitka which happened on October 18, 1867. This event also celebrates the diversity of cultures and historical perspectives of the Alaskan people. The annual parade brings the entire community together to celebrate alongside visitors that come from all over the state to celebrate this truly special event.
Sitka is filled with immense Russian heritage which can be experienced all throughout the city. One of the most recognizable signs of this is the beloved Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral located in town. It's a gorgeous sight to behold and many visitors pay it a visit for a photo-op to pay honor and respect to the towns' heritage. Beautifully carved totem poles are also found here which are a great way to honor Alaska Native heritage.
It's pretty much a given that on an island in remote Alaska you will have some of the most incredible sunsets in all of the world. But with Sitka's unique positioning right overlooking the incredible Mt. Edgecumbe, you are guaranteed to be blown away.
Have you ever explored Sitka, the best little town in Alaska? What is your favorite thing to do here? Would you recommend visiting it? Let us know in the comments below!
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Best Little Town In Alaska
Megan McDonald |October 02, 2020
Are there any other cute small towns like Sitka in Alaska?
Yes! Alaska is filled with tons of tiny little towns and villages just like Sitka. This state imbues its magic in all of these little spots and gives you unbelievable sights and experiences you just won’t find anywhere else. Many of the towns in Alaska are very small, and the majority all sit under 10,000 people. In fact, the largest city in the whole state only has 288,000 people!
Is Alaska a big state?
Alaska is the largest state in the United States of America. If you were to superimpose it over the continental United States, it would take up a large portion of the west, midwest, and central areas. You would need to triple the state of Texas to fill up the land mass of Alaska. And Alaska has so much coastline, that when the tide goes out, you need four times the size of Texas to replicate the area of this great state!
