Travel Photo: Sitka National Historical Park
Note: click image for much larger view. ©2016, David A. Porter
There are quite a number of reasons that I love travel. For me, one of the biggies is to witness and stand in awe of creation.
As I stood here to snap this photograph, my senses were hungrily drinking in the sites, sounds, smells, and even the dampness of the air that touched my skin and entered my lungs. While there were certainly others enjoying the Sitka National Historical Park with us, it was fairly easy to find a spot where one might get alone to have your senses quickened to the remarkable surroundings.
As you can see, the park is filled with towering spruce and hemlock trees that are abundant in the Tongass National Forest, our nation’s largest national forest, covering over 17 million acres and the whole of Alaska’s Inside Passage.
And while this photograph is pleasing to most eyes, what you can’t experience from this photograph are the sounds of the bald eagles and ravens screeching from the tops of the trees. You can’t experience the damp woodsy smell of the forest. You can’t enjoy the hush that occurs when you step into this remarkable space. And you can’t enjoy the dampness that exists because you are also standing in the Pacific Temperate Rainforest, the largest temperate rain forest on the planet.
While I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to photograph and witness Alaska’s remarkable glaciers, I also greatly enjoyed the opportunity to again experience this wondrous forest in Sitka, Alaska. If you’ve never been to Sitka, we recommend it for your bucket list.
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Looks so lush. I feel refreshed just looking at the photo. thank you
Irene,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, and we’re glad you now feel refreshed. 🙂
Looks like a Bucket List addition. We have never traveled to Alaska and have heard wonderful things about cruises there.
Hi Sue,
Alaska is a must. It’s relatively close for all, and offers untouched natural beauty. We’ve cruised Alaska three times and would do it again. 😀