The Sitka Shore Excursion: City sightseeing tour, including fortress of the bear (as booked through Viator - Itinerary#IT-71729101, Booking Ref. 552270521, May 11th, (2 adults, cost $125-- for 2 adults), lead traveler - Mrs. Joyce McKinney)
This was a big disappointment for us; first of all, the instructions from Viator, were to go to the top of the ramp at port and we would see our tour guide. We were waiting at the top of the ramp, no tour guide, we started asking questions and another company told us that our tour guide would be in the city (bad start). We took the shuttle bus to the city and found the 'meeting hall', eventually, found our tour. We were in the back of a van and then asked to leave that van to join another tour van.
Greg was our tour guide. Greg drove us across the bridge, pointed our the high school, the college (told us about the online classes that students can take), pointed out the Coast Guard Station. We all got out and stood by the water, while Greg talked. We drove back across the bridge and went to a rain forest in the city, where Greg talked about the Totem pole, then we walked to the footbridge and Greg talked about Salmon (there were no Salmon present), he continued to talk about Salmon. We got back in the van, drove in the country a few miles, we got out, nice view, Greg talked about bear stories. We eventually got back into the van and drove to the Fortress of the Bear; it was nice to see the bears and hear what is going on with rehabilitation of the injured cubs, etc. We got back into the van, drove back to the 'meeting hall' area, tour was over.
This tour was certainly not worth $62.50 per person. We lamented our dismay to Viator, they NEVER RESPONDED.
I am writing this review, so that you do NOT waste your time and money on this tour. Sitka is a nice small town, which Joyce and I walked through and enjoyed by ourselves, it would have been nice to have a real city sightseeing tour.
Jon
