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.