Sitka Shore Excursions — Wildlife, History & Open Ocean
Sitka is the only major Alaska cruise port on the open Pacific Ocean, giving it a completely different character from the Inside Passage ports. The wildlife diversity is unmatched — sea otters, puffins, humpback whales, and bald eagles are all common in Sitka Sound.
Russian colonial history is everywhere. St. Michael's Cathedral, the Russian Bishop's House, and the Sitka National Historical Park (with its totem pole trail through old-growth forest) connect you to Alaska's pre-American past. The Alaska Raptor Center rehabilitates injured bald eagles and offers close-range encounters.
For active excursions, Sitka offers the best sea kayaking in Alaska — paddling through kelp forests with sea otters floating alongside your boat is a signature experience.