Fun Things to Do in Ketchikan Alaska
Of the typical ports of call for an Alaska Inside Passage cruise, I find Ketchikan to be the most scenic and charming town. Many of Ketchikan's attractions, including the Totem Heritage Center and the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, are within walking distance of where the cruise ships dock. Ketchikan is a wonderful place to learn about Alaska's varied and colorful history and about the Inside Passage's indigenous people.
Here are my picks for the best things to see and do during a visit to Ketchikan.
Literally perched over Ketchikan Creek, this row of historic structures is now one of Ketchikan's most photogenic attractions. The colorful wooden buildings now house shops and eateries targeted to tourists. Dollys House Museum, which preserves Creek Street's history as a red light district, is a popular stop. Several of the shops offer Alaskan-made arts and crafts, foods, and souvenir items. Creek Street is just a short walk from the cruise ship dock in downtown Ketchikan.More »
The Totem Heritage Center is home to a significant collection of traditional totem poles. Most poles of the poles on display are accompanied by photos of them in their original locations. Some are displayed in an upright position; many are displayed horizontally in glass cases. For anyone interested in Northwest Coast art and culture, Ketchikan's Totem Heritage Center is a must see.More »
Totem Bight State Historical Park preserves an extensive collection of the traditional totem poles left behind when Alaska's Native people left their villages to live near new and growing towns. In order to facilitate the presentation and interpretation of these treasures, a traditional clan house was built on the site. A visit to Totem Bight State Historical Park is a wonderful way to learn about and experience traditional Northwest Coast art.More »
The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is packed with practical and fascinating information about the southeast region of the state. Home to an Alaska Public Lands Information Center, this is the place to consult with experts to learn about and plan recreation throughout the state. The Discovery Center's exhibits are family-friendly, focusing on the lands and natural history of the state, with exhibits about rainforests, natural resources, and animal life.More »
This small museum offers galleries and exhibits covering local history, including coverage of the fishing industry, forestry, homesteading, mining, and Native culture. A worthy stop on any walking tour of downtown Ketchikan.More »
This exciting and entertaining show provides the opportunity to see traditional lumberjack skills in action, including chopping, sawing, pole climbing, log rolling, and ax throwing. There are official competitive events for many of these skills around the Northwest; many of the performers/athletes in the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show are among the sport's top competitors. While held in an outdoor arena, the seating area is both covered and heated.More »
Ketchikan lies within the boundaries of Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States.You don't have to get too far from downtown Ketchikan to access wonderful hiking trails, some that follow the shoreline, others that head uphill into forest and to lakes. Within the national forest is Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, a popular place to tour by airplane, boat cruise. or kayak.More »
Nature lovers will enjoy a trip to Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, located just a few miles outside of Ketchikan. During your visit you can walk a one-mile nature trail, see bald eagles at the Alaska Raptor Center, visit a historic Alaska sawmill, and watch a Native master totem-pole carver.More »
Like Alaska's other cruise ship ports, you'll find many jewelry stores and tacky tourist shops. However, as you explore the small town you'll find several places to pick up a quality souvenir or original Northwest Coast art. Scanlon Gallery is an excellent option, offering art prints by such popular Alaskan artists as Rie Munoz and Barbara Lavallee as well as carvings, pottery, and photography. Crazy Wolf Studio also had a fine selection of Alaskan art and fine crafts.
A visit to Saxman Native Village gives you the opportunity to learn more about Tlingit traditions and their current way of life. During your tour you'll visit the Beaver Clan House to watch traditional dance and pageantry, see totem poles, and have the chance to observe Tlingit totem carvers at work.More »
This reproduction traditional Tlingit village is a fun and photogenic place for tourists to learn about Ketchikan's Native people and watch Tlingit wood carvers at work. The park is also home to a nice collection of vintage automobiles. The gift shop at Potlatch Totem Park is a great place to purchase a small cedar carving or totem pole as a memento of your Alaska adventure.More »
Here are my picks for the best things to see and do during a visit to Ketchikan.
Explore Creek Street
Literally perched over Ketchikan Creek, this row of historic structures is now one of Ketchikan's most photogenic attractions. The colorful wooden buildings now house shops and eateries targeted to tourists. Dollys House Museum, which preserves Creek Street's history as a red light district, is a popular stop. Several of the shops offer Alaskan-made arts and crafts, foods, and souvenir items. Creek Street is just a short walk from the cruise ship dock in downtown Ketchikan.More »
Totem Heritage Center
The Totem Heritage Center is home to a significant collection of traditional totem poles. Most poles of the poles on display are accompanied by photos of them in their original locations. Some are displayed in an upright position; many are displayed horizontally in glass cases. For anyone interested in Northwest Coast art and culture, Ketchikan's Totem Heritage Center is a must see.More »
Totem Bight State Historical Park
Totem Bight State Historical Park preserves an extensive collection of the traditional totem poles left behind when Alaska's Native people left their villages to live near new and growing towns. In order to facilitate the presentation and interpretation of these treasures, a traditional clan house was built on the site. A visit to Totem Bight State Historical Park is a wonderful way to learn about and experience traditional Northwest Coast art.More »
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is packed with practical and fascinating information about the southeast region of the state. Home to an Alaska Public Lands Information Center, this is the place to consult with experts to learn about and plan recreation throughout the state. The Discovery Center's exhibits are family-friendly, focusing on the lands and natural history of the state, with exhibits about rainforests, natural resources, and animal life.More »
Tongass Historical Museum
This small museum offers galleries and exhibits covering local history, including coverage of the fishing industry, forestry, homesteading, mining, and Native culture. A worthy stop on any walking tour of downtown Ketchikan.More »
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
This exciting and entertaining show provides the opportunity to see traditional lumberjack skills in action, including chopping, sawing, pole climbing, log rolling, and ax throwing. There are official competitive events for many of these skills around the Northwest; many of the performers/athletes in the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show are among the sport's top competitors. While held in an outdoor arena, the seating area is both covered and heated.More »
Tongass National Forest
Ketchikan lies within the boundaries of Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States.You don't have to get too far from downtown Ketchikan to access wonderful hiking trails, some that follow the shoreline, others that head uphill into forest and to lakes. Within the national forest is Misty Fjords National Monument Wilderness, a popular place to tour by airplane, boat cruise. or kayak.More »
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary
Nature lovers will enjoy a trip to Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, located just a few miles outside of Ketchikan. During your visit you can walk a one-mile nature trail, see bald eagles at the Alaska Raptor Center, visit a historic Alaska sawmill, and watch a Native master totem-pole carver.More »
Shops and Galleries in Ketchikan
Like Alaska's other cruise ship ports, you'll find many jewelry stores and tacky tourist shops. However, as you explore the small town you'll find several places to pick up a quality souvenir or original Northwest Coast art. Scanlon Gallery is an excellent option, offering art prints by such popular Alaskan artists as Rie Munoz and Barbara Lavallee as well as carvings, pottery, and photography. Crazy Wolf Studio also had a fine selection of Alaskan art and fine crafts.
Saxman Native Village Tour
A visit to Saxman Native Village gives you the opportunity to learn more about Tlingit traditions and their current way of life. During your tour you'll visit the Beaver Clan House to watch traditional dance and pageantry, see totem poles, and have the chance to observe Tlingit totem carvers at work.More »
Potlatch Totem Park
This reproduction traditional Tlingit village is a fun and photogenic place for tourists to learn about Ketchikan's Native people and watch Tlingit wood carvers at work. The park is also home to a nice collection of vintage automobiles. The gift shop at Potlatch Totem Park is a great place to purchase a small cedar carving or totem pole as a memento of your Alaska adventure.More »