Ketchikan

Ketchikan is often the first port of call for cruise ships in Alaska, offering a unique blend of Native Alaskan culture and maritime heritage. The city has the world's largest collection of standing totem poles, which can be viewed at the Totem Heritage Center and Saxman Totem Park. A stroll along historic Creek Street, a boardwalk built on stilts over the water, takes you past colorful buildings that once housed the red-light district and now feature pleasant boutiques and galleries. Nature enthusiasts are drawn to the vast Tongass National Forest or the sweeping Misty Fjords National Monument, most easily reached by seaplane. The rugged cliffs and deep fjords offer some of the most dramatic scenery in the state. Culturally and culinarily, everything revolves around the water; fresh wild-caught salmon and halibut are staples at every local eatery. The best time to visit is between May and September during the salmon spawning season. Most travelers arrive by sea via the Inside Passage or by air from Seattle. While Ketchikan is known as one of the rainiest places in America, the mist clinging to the lush rainforest mountains creates a mystical atmosphere that defines the true Alaskan experience.

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