Hello Sitka — A Sensory Symphony of Pure Alaskan Blisses

I believe the senses are our creational antennae, inviting us to drink up the glory of existence everywhere we go. And I can say with certainty that my own senses were tuned to peak glory-reception a few weeks ago when we spent Father’s Day weekend, which coincided with Summer Solstice, in Sitka, Alaska. The confluence of sights, sounds, smells, textures and flavors of this place seemed to conspire into an experiential symphony of blisses, made even more perfect by the company of my sweet family.

Sitka is one of those places that seems to juggle its whimsy with gravitas, whose sense of Alaskan pride appears to be woven into the contours of its mountains. Etched from the grasses of its lush forests and fields. Swirled by the waters of its harbors and seas — and carried in the hearts of its proud and dutiful inhabitants, who sip their chowders in the summer sunshine just outside the Sitka Science Center, itself a bastion of Alaskan knowledge and pride.

Homer, where we live in Southcentral Alaska, is famous for (among other things) “the view,” visible from almost every spot on the hillside beach town — but in Sitka, it almost feels like you’re inside the view, as if you were magically plopped into the back pocket of Mother Nature’s favorite overalls. In Sitka, the seagull squawks sound like elders deciding on important matters, and the 18 totem poles from the Tlingit and Haida areas that line Sitka National Park’s coastal trail are so full of vibrancy and expression that a hike through the park feels more like a conversation.

Our weekend in Sitka was magical every which way, and the wild Alaskan seafood that was shared with us was a key component of that distinct magic. On the shores of Halibut State Recreation Site, our friends brought what I can only describe as the most exquisite loins of salmon that I have ever tasted, freshly caught and roasted to perfection on an open fire. 

And if that weren’t enough, another friend shared a Sitka delicacy with us — black cod tips (aka sablefish tips) which are small trimmings or end pieces often cut from a large fish. They cooked these trimmings over the fire too, passing them around like a delectable local secret of which we were lucky enough to partake. Enjoying wild seafood in the summer among friends, against Sitka’s lush green backdrop, made these meals all the more delicious and memorable. 

In sum, though we had visited before, we fell madly in love with Sitka all over again. I honestly hope you have the opportunity to do the same!

P.S. I am thrilled to share that for the second year in a row, Wild Alaskan Company has been nominated for “Best Box” by Newsweek’s Reader’s Choice award. Please vote daily to show your appreciation for wild-caught, sustainable seafood from Alaska — not just for the seafood, but for the community, conversations, and memories that you’ve helped us sustain over the years. You can vote once per day through July 29 using the following link: Cast your vote!

Live Wild,

Monica

Pictured above: A collage of some of my favorite moments during our weekend in Sitka, which presented itself to us as nothing less than a perfect sensorial journey.