I lived in Sitka for several years, so I already knew how beautiful it is. But even I had my breath taken away by the views from virtually every room in the Raven's Roost. And it didn't matter what the weather was doing - it was always fascinating to watch the varying moods of the sky and water. Foggy, drizzly mornings and brilliant sunny days; glorious evenings with the sun setting behind Mt. Edgecumbe, and then tracing the full moon rising and reflecting off the water. No words can do it justice.
The weather was mostly drizzly and occasionally windy (which we knew to expect in September). But inclement weather will not stop Sitkans from getting outdoors, and it didn't stop us either. After spending the day fishing, kayaking or hiking, this was the perfect place to come "home" to. Drop your gear, kick off your boots and hang your wet outer-clothes in the entry vestibule. Then pour a glass from your complimentary bottle of wine, or fix a cup of coffee or hot cocoa (host-provided), and settle onto the couch with one of several available throws - feeling snug and warm, while watching and listening to the waves against the rocks and shoreline. We saw sea otters, sea lions and seals, as well as bald eagles, gulls, cormorants and, of course, ravens. Fun, too, was watching fishing and crabbing boats heading out or coming back in - especially at night with all their lights.
The cabin was very clean and comfortably furnished. We chose the downstairs bedroom with attached bathroom and shower. The bed was comfortable with plenty of pillows, a plush blanket and comforter. We would open the sliding glass door a crack and let in the cold clean air - that, along with the sound of the waves, was conducive to very good sleep. The kitchen was well-equipped, including high quality pots and pans and a variety of spices, making it easy to eat in. Having a washer/dryer was such a convenience! And we very much appreciated the use of the kayak and fishing gear, which enabled us to catch juvenile black cod and rockfish for marvelous dinners at home.
Check-in was contact-free and easy. Katy and Jack were very responsive whenever we had questions, both before and during our visit.
The lovely upstairs bedroom has a bathtub with shower, and its own deck . A word of caution if you have young children or elderly in your group - the stairs leading up to the second bedroom are very steep. The steps are quite high and shallow, so they can be challenging.