Radiance of the Seas Live Blog – Day 5 – Sitka, Alaska

At present is the fifth day of my Alaska cruise and Radiance of the Seas docked in Sitka right this moment for a full day of exploring one other lovely Alaskan port.

Sitka is the 4th largest metropolis in Alaska, with a inhabitants of round 8,500 folks. The town is the previous capital of Russian Alaska and there are a number of Russian influences to see all through city, from historic buildings to monuments and memento outlets.

Like different Alaska cruise ports, the encompassing surroundings is breathtaking in Sitka, and the Mount Edgecumbe volcano towers over city.

I used to be supposed to go to Sitka final yr, however our port was modified to Ketchikan resulting from excessive seas, so I used to be excited to have the chance to go to right this moment.

We ate breakfast right this moment within the Windjammer, the place I loved one other plate of my favourite breakfast: french toast topped with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

I additionally took in my first views of Sitka. I am positively going to overlook the outside seating space on the Windjammer!

Serenade of the Seas pulled into port as we have been consuming breakfast. That is the primary time I’ve seen Serenade of the Seas and, as Serenade is one other Radiance Class cruise ship, she seems an identical to Radiance of the Seas.

We disembarked the ship round 9:30AM. Sitka’s cruise port is situated round quarter-hour from downtown, and there are complimentary shuttle buses accessible to move company to and from the town.

I used to be nervous we would have to attend some time earlier than getting on a shuttle bus, however the line solely took round 5 minutes and we shortly arrived on the town.

We didn’t e book any excursions right this moment. Most of Sitka’s principal points of interest are all walkable from downtown, so we deliberate to discover on foot with no plan and see the place the day led us!

We began the day at Lincoln Avenue, Sitka’s principal vacationer avenue. It was good to see that the city blocks the road from automobiles, making exploring the road straightforward and secure for all guests.

The road is lined with memento outlets and native eating places. Our first cease was to a Russian memento store promoting dolls and Christmas decor. It was positively extra distinctive than different memento outlets I’ve visited thus far in Alaska and the shows have been lovely.

At this level it wasn’t raining too exhausting, so we took benefit of the climate and walked to the Baranof Fort State Historic Web site, situated adjoining to Lincoln Avenue.

This small hill is the location the place the ceremonial switch of Alaska from Russia to the USA occurred. Not solely was it fascinating to face the place such an influential historic occasion came about, however the hill had the most effective views of Sitka I noticed all day.

Sitka’s mountain surroundings is dramatic and completely beautiful, with jagged peaks and a rainforest dominating over the city. I might have stayed on the hill Sitka’s skyline for hours!

Nevertheless, we’re in Alaska, so the rain made us head again to Lincoln Avenue.

We continued window procuring and visiting native companies in Sitka. Whereas we did not buy the $30,000 fur coat on show at one store, we did heat up with some sizzling chocolate at Previous Harbor Books espresso store and bookstore.

We additionally made a quick go to to St. Michael’s Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church situated in downtown Sitka that was based in 1848. Whereas the unique constructing was destroyed, the duplicate was constructed with the identical structure, transporting guests again in time to when Sitka was owned by the Russians.

Our final cease downtown was to Ashmo’s, a seafood meals truck with menu objects together with salmon mac n’ cheese, teriyaki halibut, and rockfish fish n’ chips. I ordered the fish n’ chips and thought it was nicely definitely worth the value of solely $13 for freshly caught Alaskan seafood.

There was additionally a small meals stand promoting reindeer sizzling canine, and though I wasn’t fairly adventurous sufficient to order one, I am positive they’re scrumptious.

After lunch, we left Lincoln Avenue and walked alongside Sitka’s marina. On the finish of the marina was a salmon hatchery. It is prime salmon spawning season and there needed to have been over a thousand salmon swimming round!

Subsequent I continued strolling alongside the waterfront path, which led to the Sitka Nationwide Historic Park. The park had lovely trails, though the quantity of bear warning indicators made me fairly cautious! There have been additionally lots of of salmon within the river on the park.

My final cease for the day was the Alaska Raptor Middle, a rehabilitation middle for eagles, owls, and different birds of prey. This non-profit group rescues injured birds and helps the birds attain a degree the place they will return to the wild.

Admission to the Alaska Raptor Middle was $15, which I discovered nicely price the price because it goes to an incredible trigger.

After a quick introduction, a employees member launched a rescued eagle and we have been capable of study extra about how they enhance the well being of those birds. We made a cease by the middle’s Flight Coaching Middle, the place eagles apply bettering their flight expertise after harm.

Situated exterior the middle are varied habitats for rescued birds of prey. Right here guests can get extra shut up views of the birds and examine every hen on the middle. The outside space was positively my favourite a part of my go to.

I walked again to the shuttle bus space in downtown Sitka from the Alaska Raptor Middle, which most likely took me round 25 minutes.

The road to catch a shuttle bus again to port was fairly lengthy and I waited one other 20 minutes or so within the rain earlier than getting on a bus. You should definitely carry a rain jacket or umbrella!

I used to be again onboard round 3:30PM and took a a lot wanted relaxation in my stateroom earlier than watching sailaway from the Viking Crown Lounge at 5. I loved a glass of wine for sailaway and Reeham ordered a blueberry mojito frozen mocktail.

Sadly I wouldn’t have images from sailaway right this moment resulting from points with the web on Radiance of the Seas… however relaxation assured, it was lovely!

We hung on the market for some time earlier than heading to dinner round 7. We have been horrible about exhibiting as much as our Most important Eating Room reservations this week, and have solely confirmed as much as our 5:15 reservation as soon as. Fortunately we have had no challenge being assigned a desk straight away, and we loved a pleasant meal earlier than heading again to our stateroom for the night time.

Total, I cherished my time in Sitka right this moment! Subsequent time I am right here I would prefer to make a visit to the Fortress of the Bear to see rescued bears of their pure habitat and do extra mountain climbing within the surrounding areas.

Tomorrow we’re in our final port of name: Skagway, Alaska.