Sitka, Alaska

Arrived in Sitka late morning and grabbed a tender boat ashore to join an excursion to walk around Sitka, population about 8,000, and visit a glass-making studio.

Sitka was originally inhabited by Tlingit Indians and was a Russian settlement for more than 100 years before Russia sold it to the US. It’s also the only Alaskan site that touches the Pacific Ocean. It’s a tourist town and artist community with cruise ships stopping there regularly.

We walked to the glass studio and received a primer on glass pulling to make cane. We then put on our protective gear and tried it. Brad was a natural. Once the cane cooled, we asked for it to be cut in equal pieces to serve as swizzle sticks.

We then headed to the Sitka National Historic Park to see the totem poles there. The sun had come out and the weather was glorious. With clear blue skies, we were able to fully appreciate Alaska’s beauty.Read more