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Vacationers can make the most of their visit by selecting the right time. This is the best time for weather and a wide range of services and attractions. Ketchikan stays lively with locals happy to show tourists Alaskan culture.
Ketchikan, Alaska – Cruise Port Guide
The Tongass Historical Museum displays artifacts and exhibits from Ketchikan’s past. The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center shows local wildlife such as salmon, bears and eagles. Visitors to Ketchikan Cruise Port can look forward to smooth check-in and drop-off, as well as shuttle services to other areas of the city. Plus, there’s shopping and dining options, with beautiful views of nearby islands and mountains.
Potlatch Bar and Loft Suites of New York Hotel in Ketchikan, Alaska
Most have a shuttle that can get you from the port to your rental car. Ketchikan Alaska is the state of Alaska's southern most city, with an island population of over 14,000. Named after the creek that runs through town, it was originally a fishing camp for the Tlingit natives before being founded as a town in the late 1800's.
Lighthouse, Totems, and Eagles Excursion
Many peoples’ minds immediately think of totem poles when thinking of Alaska. If these beautiful works of art interest you, there are number of places that you can view them in Ketchikan. Today, you’ll find a number of Alaskan-themed souvenir shops, galleries, restaurants, and more housed in these attractive and colorful buildings.
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Ketchikan is also reputed as being the rainiest town in Alaska, so it's wise to bring an umbrella. After a long day of sightseeing, sit back and relax back downtown at the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, near the port, close to the ship docks. This spectacular show offers live logging and ax-throwing demonstrations from some of the world’s top loggers and lumberjacks, offering a memorable experience in Ketchikan. Ketchikan is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in Alaska. In fact, just about all large cruise ships stop at Ketchikan on their way north.
First cruise ships tie up at new dock outside of Ketchikan - KTOO
First cruise ships tie up at new dock outside of Ketchikan.
Posted: Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]
The major attractions are Totem Bight State Historical Park, Creek Street and Saxman Native Village. Fishing is also popular here, with salmon and halibut fishing being the most common. Ketchikan Cruise port, located in the rainiest city in southeastern Alaska, is recognized as the salmon capital. If you want something more adventurous, zip lining, fishing, off-roading, and kayaking tours are readily available. The Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour and Lumberjack Show are great options for the mobility challenged.
Cruise Ship Docks at Ketchikan Cruise Port
The city offers a free shuttle bus service that loops around downtown during the months of May through September. The fifth port, Ward Cove, is used by Norwegian Cruise Lines and is located 15 miles (about 20 minutes) away from downtown. NCL has a free shuttle that will take you from the port to downtown, but keep the extra travel time in mind when choosing your excursions. This fantastic museum includes the world’s most extensive collection of unrestored totem poles from the 19th century. As with all tourist shops, native Alaskans didn’t make most of the goods in Ketchikan’s stores. Many souvenirs sold in Ketchikan tourist shops were made in China, even if they don’t look like it.
But fishing quickly took over from mining, with 13 canneries in town by the 1930s. When fish stocks declined, a massive pulp mill was built, employing locals until its demise in the 1990s. Join a local guide to learn about Ketchikan through the history of its many pubs on an adults-only tour.
Best Time to Visit
To avoid crowds and get cheaper airfare, plan a holiday in early spring or late autumn. Ketchikan Cruise Port – a vibrant destination with an immersive experience of Alaska. It’s situated on Tongass Narrows, receiving thousands of cruise passengers annually. There are lots of activities for tourists – seafood delicacies, Native American culture, wildlife spotting and kayaking.
Ward Cove project's "Phase 1" is expected to cost ~USD 50 million, with scheduled completion in 2020. The project's "Phase 2" includes the building of a passenger terminal and tourist center. This museum is easy to get to, as it is only a ten-minute walk from the cruise dock. You’ll pass right by it if you’re walking through historic Creek Street (it’s right on the banks of Ketchikan Creek).
You're bound to visit Creek Street, a row of wooden buildings perched over the water on pilings. Since the city of Ketchikan is built on a hill, much of the terrain is too steep for the use of regular paved roads. Instead, you’ll find ‘staircase streets’ by which you access many of the houses. Carvings depicting other characters including the Fog Woman and the Raven (the trickster) comprise the lower portion of this totem pole.
The park has an honor system for entry and suggests a USD 5 donation. First, the coastal drive to this attraction from the ship offers spectacular views. Once you arrive, a guide will lead you on a short hike through dense rainforest where you may encounter bald eagles and black bears (from a safe distance of course!). A great gem of the wilderness outside of Ketchikan is Misty Fjords National Monument. To visit this remote location, you’ll need to take a boat tour or a floatplane; when choosing excursions, you’ll find that excursions of both kinds are offered by most cruise lines. In addition to the totem parks mentioned above, Saxman Native Village is another place to visit to learn about the native people of southern Alaska and to also view totem poles.
The Rainbird Trail is a short distance from the downtown cruise ship terminals, so it makes a great trail to hike, when cruising. The trail is 1.3 miles through a forest but you can trek 50% of the trail if you prefer. Docked next to cruise ship berths, the Aleutian Ballad is best known for its episodes on the TV show, The Deadliest Catch. The crab fishing boat had been retrofitted into a state-of-the-art tour boat, offering the best tour in Ketchikan. If you dock in Ward Cove, you’re closer to Totem Bright State Park. The 33-acre park has 14 totem poles spread around the grounds, which offer exceptional scenery.
Ketchikan is walkable from the cruise port, so take advantage of this convenient option. Take in the stunning glacial landscapes and wilderness exploration opportunities, but always prioritize your safety during sightseeing tours and fishing charters. Stay informed about the cruise ship schedule provided by the Port of Ketchikan to plan your activities. Consider taking a shuttle bus service from Ward Cove to get around and explore the area safely. Mountain Point is five miles from downtown Ketchikan and the location of this unique excursion. If you want to get out of the rain, head up Tongass Avenue to Ketchikan Plaza, the area’s only indoor shopping center.
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