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Originally Posted by Xa'at
I am from Southeast Alaska, and have traveled the area pretty thoroughly. Sitka remains my favorite. (other than Juneau, because Juneau is my hometown and I love it very much) During the time I have spent there it has struck me that the people are friendly and there is a remote atmosphere while still retaining some civilization. There is high speed internet, although I'm sure that goes away when you leave downtown. Until last year it was actually a college town- Sheldon Jackson just closed their doors, claiming they need a year to fix their budget. Most people I have talked to do not believe they will open again. Meanwhile, most of the students have been taken in by my university, University of Alaska Southeast, which is headquartered in Auke Bay (Juneau) but has a small campus in Sitka.
Most of the Southeastern cities have sold out to the cruise ships, Ketchikan perhaps worst of all. While Sitka didn't go the Petersburg route and bar them completely, I believe the compromise they made is wholly appropriate. The ships aren't allowed to dock (Sitka refused to dredge their harbor) and only one is allowed a day. This way, they still get some income (which is a good thing) but have been able to retain their culture and heritage. You WILL NOT find one of those horrible Jewelry stores in Sitka!
As far as amenities, there is a grocery store, maybe two. No Wal-Mart, no Freddies, no A&P (although I suspect that is coming). Most Sitkans hop on the ferry to Juneau for non-food shopping. After the construction of the Fast Ferry, the Fairweather, it is much easier to get back and forth. What used to be something like a ten hour trip is now four hours, but you still have to stay a few days because the ferry only runs every couple of days, even in the summer. There are a couple of nice restaurants, a Subway, a cinema that plays one movie at a time, a huge electronics depot, and a surf shop. Sitka is also the home of Omega One, makers of the best fish food in the world. (I know this because I use it!) There is a small fish hatchery on the Sheldon Jackson campus.
Don't know about the schools, although I imagine they would be pretty good. Alaskan schools have a fair reputation and I would bet that class sizes are small. There is one high school that is probably fairly overcrowded- 8,000 people in the city total is quite a bit for one small high school.
Sitka has an airport (Rocky Guittirez- SIT) serviced by Alaska Airlines with multiple trips to Juneau daily. As far as I know that is the only place they fly.
Sitka is on the ocean, one of the few SE cities that is. Although there is not pounding surf like the Washington and Oregon Coast, it is certainly more of a coastal town than the others. From what I hear the climate is also slightly milder- less rain. But there is still a lot of rain. Tsunamis are a concern, albeit a minor one, and there is a Tsunami siren and escape routes planned throughout the city.
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03-21-2008, 12:00 AM
looking at sitka
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