For a lot of people, Alaska is high on their bucket list. My idea of Alaska was a lot different than what I actually experienced. I was expecting glaciers and polar bears. I hadn’t even heard of Sitka Alaska before my dear friend moved there last year. Despite my lack of knowledge of Alaska, I have to say that I’m so glad I’ve gotten to experience the glorious beauty of Sitka. And this summer, I was lucky enough to be able to take my kids too. If you have the chance to visit, I highly encourage it. And if you can bring your kids, even better. Here are 10 things to do in Sitka Alaska with kids.
Things to do in Sitka Alaska With Kids
1. Go Whale Watching
This was my second time going whale watching in Sitka.
Although I do get seasick, it’s still totally worth the experience to go whale watching. We were able to see nearly a dozen whales, including one young whale who breached several times right next to our boat. It was an amazing experience to see so many humpback whales.
2. Visit the Alaska Raptor Center
The Alaska Raptor Center is a place where they rehabilitate birds, including bald eagles, owls, and hawks. It was amazing to see so many bald eagles so close up!
3. Walk Around Totem Park
One of my favorite places to visit in Sitka is also kid-friendly. We walked around Totem park and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time I visited. The kids had fun looking at the totem poles and running down the walking trails.
4. Go Fishing
There are so many gorgeous lakes and ocean fronts for fishing. This was the first time my kids went fishing and they told me it was one of their favorite experiences on the trip. I loved it because of all of the amazing views!
5. Explore Natural Wonders
Sitka is full of natural wonders. While we were there, we explored the remnants of an avalanche that had happened earlier in the year. There was also a natural waterfall running right down the center of the thick ice and snow. There are many amazing alpine lakes, waterfalls, and other areas to explore right near Sitka.
6. Have a Picnic at the Top of Harbor Mountain
Another really fun thing to do in Sitka Alaska with kids is visit Harbor Mountain. One afternoon, we drove up to Harbor Moutain and had a picnic. Harbor Moutain has the most amazing views of Sitka and the ocean. If you’re in Sitka, you must visit.
7. Visit the Sitka Sound Science Center
If your kids like sea creatures, you definitely need to stop by the Sitka Sound Science Center to visit their touch tanks. They have some really fun sea animals that you can touch. They also just acquired a baby octopus which we got to see really close up. There is also a really cool community park just down the street from the science center.
8. Go Tide Pooling
One morning, we went to do ‘the end of the road’ and the kids went tide pooling. We visited in July, so low tide was from about 8 am to 10 am. There are several areas along the coastline that are great for tide pooling. My friend taught my kids about flipping over rocks and we found one rock that was covered in starfish. We also saw sea urchins, crabs, and other fun little sea creatures.
9. Visit Fortress of the Bear
Fortress of the Bear is a great place to see many bears up close. I actually saw a bear in the wild during our first whale-watching trip, but that’s not as likely to happen for most people. Fortress of the Bear is the next best thing to seeing them in nature.
10. Pick Wild Berries
If you’re lucky enough to visit in the summer, you may get to pick wild blueberries and salmonberries. It was my kids’ first time picking berries in the wild. It’s such a fun experience for them and they enjoyed eating them in the wild too!
I hope you found this list of things to do in Sitka Alaska with kids helpful and fun! If you get the chance to visit, I know you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.
Which of these things to do in Sitka Alaska would you like to try? Let me know in a comment below!