The Alaskan town of Sitka welcomes the lens of photographers and filmmakers with a quaint harbor set against a backdrop of forested mountains, the colorful boats on display a nod to this town’s fishing heritage and the deliciously fresh seafood that can be enjoyed here on Alaska tours.

This small and friendly settlement is deeply connected to nature, since people here live amid this dramatic landscape alongside wildlife such as bald eagles, brown bears and an array of marine life.

Silversea’s director of onboard photography, Lucia Griggi, visited Sitka on the Silver Muse and savored this wide-open wilderness while enjoying Alaska tours. She was met by an inspiring culture and community of local people, eager to cook and share authentic surf-an- turf cuisine.

Read more: Alaska Tours: Behind the Lens in Seafood-Savoring Sitka

Surf and turf over an open fire

“Sitka is my favorite place in Alaska, so it was a complete treat to come back,” says Lucia. “When approaching, you travel past almost a small archipelago of outer islands and it’s just stunning with really still water.”

The most amazing moment for Lucia and her camera was a tour in Sitka to a secluded rocky beach for a fireside seafood feast. “On this particular excursion, we traveled on a Zodiac through the kelp forests as we tried to look out for otters,” she says. “Then we arrived at a wooden jetty and walked to this beautiful lodge as we were greeted by locals who had all this freshly caught salmon.”

But this was just a treat in that we had the opportunity to get into the culture of Alaska, how the locals eat, and how they catch the food. Being able to do that and then cook it ourselves was just really amazing.

-Lucia Griggi

Wholesome food preparation ensued, with king crab cooked in a pot over the open fire alongside fresh salmon, while a joint of local beef was also served. Says Lucia, “I think my moment for shooting was as they were cooking the king crab [alive when it was tossed into the pots] and meeting the chefs that were preparing the feast. That was quite different and interesting.”

It’s definitely a behind the lens moment into daily life in Alaska

Afterward, Lucia and other guests savored one of their most authentic moments of their Alaska vacations as they roasted the salmon on the barbecue and then toasted marshmallows on the fire before heading back to the ship. “For me, that was really nice because normally in Sitka I’m running around trying to film a lot more of the outdoors. But this was just a treat in that we had the opportunity to get into the culture of Alaska, how the locals eat and how they catch the food. Being able to do that and then cook it ourselves was just really amazing.”

Lucia’s culinary excursion left her with a new perspective on Sitka. “The people here are so welcoming,” she says, “and so proud of what they do and where they live.”

Does Sitka surf and turf sound like the perfect meal? Enjoy it for yourself on one of Silversea’s Alaska sailings.