Sitka National Historical Park
On our second trip to Alaska, we made the effort to travel to Sitka, and this town did not disappoint. When the ferry glided into this quaint harbor town, it felt as though we had arrived somewhere different from anywhere else in the state. Walking its streets, we paused at shop windows filled with Russian icons and Orthodox imagery, reminders that Alaska once belonged to Russia and that Sitka was once the colonial capital.
That blend of cultures was what drew us there. I was especially eager to visit Sitka National Historical Park, famous for its forested trails lined with towering carved poles. The totems speak to an even deeper history: stories of the Tingit people and legends rendered in cedar and painted in bold reds, blues and blacks. Walking those paths felt like stepping into another era.
As we walked the trails, we came upon something we hadn’t expected at all. From a small wooden bridge, we looked down and saw salmon powering upstream. We stood there watching nation’s cycle unfold feet away.
It was one of those perfect travel surprises, history in every direction, cultures layered one upon another, and then the spectacle of the natural world stealing the spotlight. Sitka gave us Russian roots, indigenous artistry and a front row seat to Alaska’s wilderness – all in one single day.
Some towns tell their stories in museums. Sitka tells them with harbor views, carved cedar polls and salmon choked streams. It was a reminder of why we keep traveling to places like this. Here the past and present meet, and where curiosity is rewarded with something unexpected and unforgettable.
Read More From Nancy
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier rises more than 14,000 feet above the surrounding forests and valleys. Mount Rainier dominates the horizon. Its snow-covered summit is visible from miles away. Mount Rainier is a massive stratovolcano and the most heavily glaciated peak in the contiguous United States. These glaciers feed rivers that shape western Washington and sustain ecosystems, agriculture and communities […]
San Juan Island National Historical Park
San Juan Island National Historical Park in Friday Harbor, Washington, preserves one of the most unusual stories in American history. Established as a National Historical Park in 1966, the park commemorates the peaceful resolution of a boundary dispute between the United States and Great Britain that became known as the “Pig War.” Reaching San Juan Island […]
Minidoka National Historic Site
After touring Manzanar in California in 2012, I visited Minidoka in Idaho in 2014. At that time, Minidoka was not as organized or extensively interpreted as Manzanar. There were fewer restored structures, and much of the former camp had disappeared into the surrounding agricultural landscape. That emptiness, however, was part of the experience. It demonstrated […]
