How to Explore Ketchikan, Alaska
Visiting Alaska's first and last stop along the famed "Inside Passage" is an experience that takes visitors back to a supply town during the Gold Rush days and a center for commercial salmon. Travel by cruise ship, ferry, airplane or private sailing vessel during the tourist season, May through September. Visitors can see museums, art galleries, wildlife, Native arts, totem poles and culture, and what it's like to live in America's Last Frontier.
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Instructions
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Stop at the Visitor Center located on Front Street by the cruise ships and pick up brochures, guides, maps and information on local attractions and landmarks. Land and waterway tour tickets by float plane, buses and boats can also be purchased there. A tour of Misty Fjords National Monument is highly recommended. Ketchikan is a walking town. Visitors can walk to many of the downtown shops, restaurants, clothing and arts and crafts stores. There are also brochures available from the U.S. Park Service on camping, hiking, fishing, bike trails and places in Southeast Alaska to explore.
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Visit the Southeast Discovery Center on Mill Street. It includes beautiful totem poles, interactive exhibits, a movie and history on Native inhabitants and culture, as well as on Alaskan mining, fishing and wildlife.
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Ride "The Bus," public transportation that runs from Totem Bight Park and Clan House to the north and south to Saxman Totem Park. Bus routes and schedules are available at the Visitor Center or from bus drivers. There are two routes with many stops that take about an hour in a circular path back to downtown. It's a good opportunity to chat with the locals who are happy to offer suggestions of what to see and do, and where to eat. Bus stops include the Eagle Center and Salmon Hatchery, and the Totem Heritage Center at City Park with rescued totem poles. It even makes a stop at Walmart.
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Walk along Ketchikan Creek from Thomas Basin Boat Harbor and explore the shops on pilings. Once a bordello district, it's one of the town's most popular destinations. Dolly's House, the home of a former madam, is now a museum. Follow Ketchikan Creek to see the "fish ladder" and up to City Park. Then walk down to Cape Fox Lodge along the Married Man's Trail for a meal or a spectacular view of the city and Tongass Narrows channel where the cruise ships are docked. Take the tram from the lodge back down to Creek Street and the downtown area.
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Watch the high-energy Great Lumberjack Show by the two-story Salmon Landing Market. In a heated amphitheater, spectators cheer the Canadian or American teams in a variety of competitions such as axe throwing and log rolling.
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Visit the shopping district. Walk along Front, Main, Mission and Dock Streets for jewelry, Native and local arts, books, clothing and souvenirs. There are also restaurants to stop and eat that offer fresh seafood such as salmon and halibut.
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See the totem poles. Ketchikan is noted for having the most totem poles in Southeast Alaska. There are many around town and city parks and in front of houses. Saxman Park also has a carving house where visitors can see work in progress.
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Tips & Warnings
Ketchikan is part of Southeast Alaska's rainforest. Rain is called "liquid sunshine" by the locals.
When packing travel clothes, layering is the best approach. Pack a rain jacket.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photos by Natasha Lawrence
