12 Great Places You've Never Heard Of: Sitka, Alaska

It’s our idea of paradise ... just a little farther north.

By Lynn Byczynski
August/September 2006

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Boats fill the tranquil harbor of Sitka.
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OK, so it’s expensive and remote. But it’s still one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Sitka is a coastal town in southeast Alaska with a mild maritime climate that will dispel any notions you may have about Alaska being completely frigid and snowy. In fact, the average winter low in Sitka is 30 degrees, much warmer than many continental towns on our list. And the average summer high is just 61 degrees, perfect for many outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and whale watching. The scenery is spectacular, with spruce forests, snow-capped mountains and island-dappled waters as far as you can see.

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As long as you’re dreaming of the best places to live, you might as well dream big.

Do you live in Sitka? Have you visited? Please post your comments below.

Sitka, Alaska

Population: 8,986
County: Sitka Borough
Climate: rainy and mild
Cost of living index: 138
Median home price: $335,200
Alternative energy: no net metering; no local incentives
Don’t miss: Sitka National Historical Park, where you can learn about southeast Alaska’s native cultures and seaside forests.

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  • Janet Blair 4/23/2010 3:29:01 PM

    Beautiful Sitka (called Sitka-by-the Sea by locals)I lived there from 1985-1988 directing the Sitka Historical Society Musem, located in the Centennial Building, where visitors can orient themselves to the ast by examining a diorama of Sitka in 1867 ~ the year the US purchased Alaska from Russia. Sitka was the Russian capitol (called the "Paris of the Pacific") and first state capitol until Juneau got the nod in 1906.
    A wonderful place to live, especially if you have children.
    A seafood lovers paradise!!

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