<p>מהקצה השפיצי של בניין האמפייר סטייט בניו יורק, דרך הדיונות הסוחפות של עמק המוות בקליפורניה &ndash; ארצות הברית היא ארץ של ניגודים וקיצונויות &ndash; ואפשרויות בלתי מוגבלות. אל תפספסו את הערים הסואנות ומלאות החיים והאתרים העולמיים המפורסמים בהן &ndash; גשר שער הזהב בסן פרנסיסקו, רחובות מיאמי שטופי השמש, הסטייל הקריאולי המיוחד של ניו אורלינס, או הטבע המרהיב שבפארקים המגוונים. תוכלו לחוות הכל בעצמכם או עם מדריכים, לבלוע עיר כמו ניו יורק שהיא עולם ומלואו, לצאת למסע מחוף לחוף, להתרשם מיפי העיירות הציוריות של ניו אינגלנד, מפלי הניאגרה בצפון מדינת ניו יורק, לעבור בערים שהן תחנות חובה בהיסטוריה של המוזיקה, הטכנולוגיה והכלכלה העולמית ועוד. מי שמחפש חוויות בגוון שונה לגמרי יוכל להרחיק צפונה עד לאלסקה הפראית, או להתפנק על חופי הוואי הבתוליים. ארצות הברית מציעה כל כך הרבה למבקרים, שנדמה שאין תייר שיוכל להכיל את כולה בזמן-חיים אחד. אז חבל על הזמן &ndash; ביחרו יעד וצאו לדרך!</p>

ארצות הברית

מהקצה השפיצי של בניין האמפייר סטייט בניו יורק, דרך הדיונות הסוחפות של עמק המוות בקליפורניה – ארצות הברית היא ארץ של ניגודים וקיצונויות – ואפשרויות בלתי מוגבלות. אל תפספסו את הערים הסואנות ומלאות החיים והאתרים העולמיים המפורסמים בהן – גשר שער הזהב בסן פרנסיסקו, רחובות מיאמי שטופי השמש, הסטייל הקריאולי המיוחד של ניו אורלינס, או הטבע המרהיב שבפארקים המגוונים.

Situated in downtown Sitka, overlooking a magnificent fjord, Sitka’s Sheldon Jackson Museum is a warm and friendly storehouse of knowledge and artificats, where long-term curators give a hands-on approach to telling the history of life in the Chilkat Valley.Numerous Native artifacts help to illuminate the life and times of the local Athapaskan, Eskimo, Aleut, and Northwest Coast Natives here. Upon walls hang masks, within drawers lay keys, sewing kits, toys, and other knick-knacks that reveal glimpses into fascinating pasts. The Sheldon Jackson Museum is well-known for being small but complete museum, with a hands-on approach to education. Live demonstrations such as basket weaving and wood carving routinely occur here and are available to the public.

Sheldon Jackson Museum

Sitka National Historical Park is Alaska's oldest national park. Established in 1890 to commemorate the 1804 Battle of Sitka, as well as to preserve Native totemic art, the park strives to combine beautiful temperate rainforest with history. Northwest Coast totem poles line much of the coastal trail here, and the Russian Bishop’s house stands as one of the last existing examples of Russian Colonial architecture in North America. Visitors can also attend ethnographic exhibits and the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center, where guests are allowed to watch native artists at work. In addition, you can still visit the site of the Tlingit Fort and battlefield near the heart of this 113-acre (45-hectare) national park, and though not much remains of the last major battle between Europeans and the Alaskan Natives, it remains an interesting glimpse into the past, surrounded by towering spruce and western hemlock.

Sitka National Historical Park

The story of St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral is really the story of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska. Since the Russians settled in North America starting in 1741, sporadic attempts were made to Christianize the Natives, and in 1848 the capital of the Russian Orthodox Church moved to Sitka and St. Michael’s Cathedral was erected. Though partially destroyed in a fire in January of 1966, the rebuilt Cathedral stands as an outstanding example of Russian Orthodox architecture and was the major religious office in the area until Russia ceded Alaska to the United States in 1867. Today, St. Michael’s Cathedral houses an impressive collection of Russian Orthodox art and various church relics. Set against a sub-arctic skyline, it is a memorable sight for any photographer.

St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral

Animal lovers heading to Sitka should consider visiting Fortress of the Bear, a non-profit bear rescue facility and the largest of its kind in the United States. Focused on educating the public on bears and how to help their populations, Fortress of the Bear takes in orphaned bear cubs and creates a protective and enriching environment for them. The operation was started by couple Les and Evy Kinnear who transformed Sitka’s old pulp mill into a place where baby bears could be cared for. Visitors can watch the bears being fed, observe and photograph bear interactions, and hear the story of each bear and how it ended up at Fortress of the Bear.
Keep in mind this is not like a typical zoo where you see an animal in a cage. Instead, you’ll watch the bears playing with large barrels and tire swings and being active in a large expanse of land. Additionally, the attraction has a non-touristy, non-commercial feel, allowing for a more authentic experience.

Fortress of the Bear

The Pacific Coast town of Sitka sits on Baranof Island in Alaska’s Inside Passage and is only accessible by air and sea. Its combination of Russian settlement history, native Tlingit culture and breathtaking natural landscapes makes it one of the Inside Passage’s greatest hits.Shore excursions like sea kayaking cater to outdoor enthusiasts, while culture and history buffs will enjoy a walking tour of town.How to get to SitkaMost cruise ships anchor in the bay and tender passengers to the harbor in the downtown area, which can be explored on foot.One Day in SitkaStart your walking tour of town at Castle Hill on Lincoln Street, near the tender drop-off point by O’Connell Bridge. Snap some photos of Sitka and the waterfront at the lookout spot, where the Russian flag was lowered and the American flag raised when Alaska was transferred to the US in 1867. Then continue along Lincoln Street, the town’s main drag.Pass by St Michael’s Cathedral and the Russian Bishop’s House, both of which date back to the 1840s, as you make your way to Sitka National Historic Park. Check out the Russian and indigenous exhibits before taking a walk on the park trail that winds its way past several traditional totem poles.For more town scenery, make your way to Katlian Street, which will take you along the Sitka Channel, full of fishing boats. Before getting back on your ship, don’t miss a performance by the New Archangel Dancers if you didn’t catch them when you disembarked.

Old Sitka Dock

Aside from being a scenic town that’s rich in culture and heritage, Sitka is also uniquely situated between the mountains and sea. Since the Sitka coastline was originally settled, the ocean has always provided a bounty of food, tools, and lore, and here at the Sitka Sound Science Center, visitors can literally feel the creatures that swim in the Sitka Sound. In the saltwater touch tanks, feel a squishy sea cucumber or a spiny starfish skeleton, and be amazed at how soft a sea anemone feels when it gently falls on your hand. Crane your neck upward for a full skeleton of a 15-foot killer whale, or stare at the mounted, in-wall aquariums for a look at life beneath Sitka’s waters and the green, plankton-filled sound. And, while the touch tanks are great for visitors with young children, everyone can equally appreciate the sight of dozens of leaping salmon. Outside the aquarium in the Sheldon Jackson Hatchery, species of salmon are often found leaping from the waters of the center’s fish ladder. Most of the work at this non-profit, however, takes place behind the scenes, and staff are always happy to discuss the projects, news, and education that Sitka researchers are completing each year from this small center on the coast. 

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