Alaska - Petersburg sidetrip?

Any thoughts on a side trip to Petersburg - a couple of days - from Sitka (either by Alaska Ferry or Alaska Air)?

Interested in history/culture/scenic parks and settings - not so much emphasis on fishing.

Thanks

Petersburg is a great small (emphasis on small) town and really gives you a feel for small-town life in Alaska. Worth a visit for a couple days. Downtown will take you about 15 minutes to walk through. There are a few historical markers and a totem park, but no major museums or cultural centers. It is a great spot for hiking and outdoor recreation. Just across the Narrows is the Petersburg Creek Wilderness Area. Beautiful location and good for day hikes (check out the muskeg bog), but you would need to arrange for a boat ride across the Narrows. There is also a floatplane service that offers scenic flights down to the La Conte Glacier and along the Coast Range.

The airport is about a 10 minute ride from downtown and the Alaska ferry dock is about a 15-20 minute walk. Air will get you there faster from Sitka, but you will definitely see a lot of the coast by ferry. Kind of a judgement call on your part.

Have fun!

To get to PSG from SIT you will either have to change planes in Juneau or in Ketchikan (with a stop in Wrangell). I have only spent about a half-hour in Petersburg, but I hear very nice things about it. Downtown is an easy walk from the ferry landing.