Things to do in Sitka From the Cruise Ship: 1 Day With Kids
Sitka was our favorite port stop on our Alaska cruise! The harbor was absolutely stunning, and the Sitka National Historical Park was one of our favorite hikes of the year. Depending when you visit, you might also see salmon spawning. There are so many amazing things to do in Sitka from the cruise ship and I’ll help you have the best day ever!
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Getting around Sitka can be somewhat tough, so I’ll give you all the details you need to know so you don’t struggle like we did.
How to Get Around Sitka
Walking!
The cruise port is located about 6 miles from downtown Sitka. So you definitely will need a shuttle to start off! The good news is that there is a FREE shuttle bus that goes from the cruise port to Harrigan Centennial Hall every 10-15 minutes. From the drop off point, there are a ton of activities you can do within walking distance. We didn’t actually use any public transportation, but it is a lot of walking if you hit all of these stops.
If you’re planning to walk like we did and have little kids, I would recommend you either prepare to be tired from carrying your kids, or bring a stroller! The walk from the drop off point to Sitka National Historical Park is about 20 minutes.
That being said, it’s totally possible to walk around Sitka unless you have mobility issues. Public transportation would have been difficult for us because we didn’t want to lug around our car seats all day!
Other Ways to Get ARound in Sitka, Alaska
Book a Tour:
If you want a guaranteed shuttle to where you are going, consider booking a tour. The tours come with transportation and there are a variety of options depending on what you’re interested in doing! You can often save money on booking tours outside of the cruise ship excursions. It may be slightly less convenient but the extra money in your pocket is worthwhile.
Book Sitka, Alaska tours here!
Book a Taxi:
At the time of writing this post, Uber and Lyft do not exist in Sitka. There are local taxis, but due to the large volume of passengers coming into the cruise ports at once, I would recommend booking ahead of time. Here are some taxi companies you can try but taxi options in Sitka are limited.
- Baranof Taxi | (907) 738-4722
- Tidal Taxi | (907) 623-2646
Rent a Car:
We rented a car through Turo when we visited Juneau and it made our day so easy and awesome. If you have a long day in port, it might be worth your time to book a car rental ahead of time.
Check here to find a car rental that you can schedule ahead of time!
Shuttle SErvices:
There are several shuttle services that you can schedule ahead of time. Check them out below if you want easy transportation from one stop to another!
One Day in Sitka Itinerary
Okay, now for the fun part – exploring Sitka! Sitka is the fourth largest “city” in Alaska with about 9,000 residents. Throughout Sitka, you’ll find an interesting mix of Tlingit culture (Alaska Native) and Russian influence. Sitka served as a major Russian trading port for decades.
The United States purchased Alaska from the Russia in 1867 and the signing of the Alaska purchase actually took place in Sitka. And, after the signing, Sitka became Alaska’s first capital city until Alaska became a territory in 1906 and the location of the capital was changed to Juneau.
This itinerary was based on our port day which was from 8AM to 5PM. If you have less time, you might have to shorten this itinerary. If you have less time, I would recommend prioritizing time in Sitka National Historical Park and walking along the Sitka harbor.
Stop #1: Baranof Castle Historic Site
Despite being called “Castle Hill”, there isn’t actually a castle here anymore. Baranof’s Castle burned in a fire in 1898, and is now a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historical Places.
This hill was originally inhabited by Tlingit natives. And, after a battle with the Russians, the site was taken over with Alexander Baranov leading the charge. Now, Baranof Castle Historic Site is one of the most important historical sites in all of Alaska. It was the site where Alaska was officially transferred from Russia to the United States. This transfer took place on October 18, 1867 and Alaska Day is still celebrated every October 18th.
All the interesting history aside, it’s a fun and short trail to walk up. At the top, you can see cannons and informational plaques. You’ll also find great views of Sitka and the ocean below!
Stop #2: Harry Race Ice Cream Shop
If you are visiting early in the morning, you might have to postpone your ice cream trip until later in the day. We always try to plan an ice cream stop during our excursions to make our kids (and us) happy! We didn’t actually make it to the ice cream on this port stop because we walked a bit too far in the wrong direction. But your kids will thank you for this one.
Stop #3 Walk Along the Crescent Harbor
The Crescent Harbor is absolutely stunning! Luckily, you’ll get a view of it right away if you take the free shuttle from the cruise port. We got there pretty early in the day, and it was magical with the morning light.
There is a long paved path that follows along the harbor. You can see all the locals boats and statues of different ocean animals for the kids to climb on. The walk along the harbor is a scenic stroll that will also take you to your next stop.
TIP: Before you get too far along the Crescent Harbor towards Sitka National Historical Park, make sure you have a plan for lunch or snacks in your bag! There is almost nothing to eat over by the park and we ended up having to walk extra far to a gas station to get food!
Stop #4: Play at the sitka Community Playground
The next stop on your Sitka adventure is the Sitka Community Playground! This playground is full ADA compliant and accessible. The theme of the playground is “Where the Forest Meets the Sea” and it’s a really unique play structure that our kids had had a ton of fun at.
It’s a nice way to break up the walk to the Sitka National Historical Site. Be warned though, the playground is super fun, but it can smell a lot like fish. It’s located near the Sitka Sound Science Center (and the Crescent Harbor), which has a Salmon hatchery and aquarium.
If you are interested, you can take a tour of the science center to learn more about their programs. They are open for tours to the public in the summers.
Stop #5: Visit Sitka National Historical Park
Sitka National Historical Park was one of our favorite things to do in Sitka from the cruise ship. Here you can watch the salmon spawning (depending on the time of summer you visit), walk the totem trail, and check out the visitor center.
Stamp Passport at the Visitor Center
Make your first stop at the Visitor Center. It’s always a good idea to get a map or brochure and talk to a ranger to get your bearings. If you have a National Parks Passport you can bring this and get it stamped before you walk around the park.
Stop #6: Hike the Totem Trail
The Totem Trail is a fantastic family friendly and stroller friendly hike in Sitka. It’s a flat 1 mile trail that winds through a lush temperate rainforest. The trail passes by unique trees, a river where you can see salmon spawning, and by many totem poles some old and some modern.
TIP: Make sure to grab a brochure from the visitor center that interprets the totem poles along the trail.
Watch the Salmon Spawning
If you have the chance to visit Alaska in the late summer or early fall, you may get to see salmon spawning. A great place to see this is on the bridge along the Totem Trail. You can see hundreds of salmon directly next to each other in the river.
Because of the salmon spawning, we also saw hundreds of birds. It was a very impressive wildlife encounter and was one of the things to do in Sitka from the cruise ship that was so memorable and unique!
Where to eat in Sitka with Kids
Truthfully, we didn’t spend much time eating in Sitka. We spent a LOT of time in Sitka National Historical Park which is on the opposite side of town compared to all the food. However, one of the best things to do in Sitka from the cruise ship is to enjoy the local food. Here is the list of places that we planned to eat.
- Mean Queen – a pizza place in downtown Sitka
- Backdoor Cafe – for coffee
- Ernie’s Saloon – a place to try a duck fart shot (Alaska’s claim to fame cocktail)
- Ludvigs Chowder Cart – near the Sitka Sound Science Center, unfortunately was closed when we walked by
- Sitka Pel’Meni – a place to try Russian dumplings
Map of Things to do in Sitka, Alaska
I hope you have the best time in Sitka, Alaska – we LOVED this town with it’s natural beauty and unique hiking trails. Let me know in the comments what your favorite part of Sitka was. Check out some of our other articles below to help you plan your Alaska cruise. Happy travels!
- 14 Affordable Things to do in Skagway From the Cruise Port
- Royal Caribbean Cruise with a Toddler or Baby: The Need to Know
- 10 Hidden Costs on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
- What to do in One Day in Juneau, Alaska from the Cruise Port
- 17 Reasons Why Cruising with a Baby is Hard!
- Royal Caribbean Nursery and Daycare: Our Review and Everything You Need to Know
- The Victoria, BC Cruise Port With Kids: One Fun Day!
- How to Pack for an Alaska Cruise with Kids: Tips & Printable PDF
