Sitka, Alaska

Resting between snowcapped mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Sitka is easily one of the most beautiful seaside towns in Alaska. It's certainly the biggest. Encircling 4,710 square miles on Baranof Island, this former Russian enclave covers more land than any other single city in America.

ST. MICHAEL'S CATHEDRAL

Although the United States took control of Sitka in 1867, descendants of the Russians who once owned the land still live there today. No symbol shows their influence more than the landmark St. Michael's Cathedral. Built in 1848, the original structure burned in 1966, only to be replaced by a replica a decade later. Original artifacts and icons, including the Sitka Madonna, were saved from the fire and are on display.

RICH IN RUSSIAN CULTURE

History enthusiasts will want to visit Castle Hill, once the site of a two-story log mansion known as Baranof's Castle, which overlooked Sitka Sound during the town's fur trading days. Today, only the stone walls and mounted cannons remain as reminders of Russia's bloody battles against the native Tlingit people. The Sitka National Historical Park offers a wealth of information and artifacts relating to the Tlingits, including totem poles that chronicle early life on and around this fertile ground.

WILDLIFE REHABILITATION

One of the most fascinating places to visit is the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center, which cares for as many as a dozen bald eagles and other birds at any given time. The facility caters to rare wildlife that is recovering from injuries incurred in the wild. Once they've been nursed back to health, the animals are released back into the wilderness, which you can also enjoy via numerous trails. Among the more popular routes are the Indian River Trail, which parallels a salmon-spawning stream, and the three-mile-long Gaven Hill Trail. Princess also offers a Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest.