Unmissable Experiences on Your Ketchikan Cruise
In a land of misty mountains and totem poles, where cedar rainforests meet remnants of the past, Ketchikan offers a quintessential Alaskan adventure. Salmon throng the streams, eagles glide through the skies, and black bears wander the ancient forests. Don't forget your camera and a sense of adventure—Ketchikan is the reason we cruise Alaska.
Misty Fjords National Monument
A must-see during your visit to this area is the Misty Fjords National Monument. Spanning nearly 2.3 million acres, it is Alaska's largest wilderness area. Over 17,000 years ago, this region was covered in ice. As the ice retreated, it shaped a stunning landscape of deep fjords and towering cliffs that soar thousands of feet above the water. Experience Misty Fjords by plane or boat, with most tours including a gentle hike through the surrounding rainforest. Here, you'll encounter a diverse array of Alaskan wildlife, including bears, moose, wolves, otters, seals, killer whales, and more.
Totem Heritage Center
Ketchikan is a realm of totem poles, with many nearby attractions to explore these captivating artworks. Since 1938, the Totem Bight State Historic Site has been preserving and restoring totem poles that were left behind in the forests by indigenous tribes. The site features fourteen exceptional totem poles and a reconstructed indigenous clan house. Visitors learn about the legends depicted in the totem poles, which showcase figures such as eagles, bears, wolves, ravens, beavers, and killer whales. The nearby Totem Heritage Center houses the world's largest collection of unrestored totem poles, some over a century old. The exhibits also include baskets, masks, and fascinating 19th-century photographs of the ancient villages where these totems originated. Potlatch Totem Park offers a fully recreated Native Alaskan village, where you can witness totem pole artists carving beautiful pieces from cedar logs, including a 42-foot pole dedicated to Raven, the deity who brought light to the world.
Ketchikan’s Creek Street
Creek Street in Ketchikan is a historic boardwalk that sits on stilts along Ketchikan Creek. In the 1920s, this area was a bustling red-light district with over 20 brothels. Today, it's a charming spot for leisurely strolls, shopping, and dining. You can hike the adjacent Married Man's Trail, which served as a secret escape route for married men avoiding detection while visiting the brothels. During Prohibition, all the houses were equipped with hidden trap doors in their floors for smuggling alcohol from boats docked beneath the boardwalk. Be sure to visit Dolly's House, which operated as a brothel until 1954 and was home to the most renowned madam on the boardwalk. It's the only remaining former brothel in the area.
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
When adventure beckons, the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary spans 40 acres of ancient spruce, hemlock, and cedar trees. A half-mile trail winds through the forest, featuring raised platforms that provide excellent views of bears fishing for salmon in the stream below. The site also houses the Alaska Raptor Centre, where you can observe eagles, hawks, owls, and more as they recover from injuries.
Ketchikan will undoubtedly be a highlight in the tales you share with friends and family back home.
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