Ketchikan

A scenic fishing village with an intriguing history, strong Native influence, and an artistic soul, Ketchikan is arguably the most captivating Alaskan port of call. Set at the heart of the Tongass National Forest—the largest national forest in the United States—the town stretches for 31 miles along the coast of Revillagigedo Island on the Inside Passage. The region is home to three tribes of Northwest Coast Indians—the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian—and hand-carved replicas of totem poles dot the city’s parks and streets. Founded as a cannery site in 1885, Ketchikan was once known as the “Canned Salmon Capital of the World.” All five species of wild Pacific salmon still make an annual return from the ocean to the creeks and streams near the town on their way to spawn, attracting an amalgamation of other wildlife species along their journey. With an array of cultural and historical attractions in town and nature’s finest playground as its backyard, Ketchikan offers recreational activities to suit any taste.