Ketchikan

Ketchikan is an interesting place, it's called Alaska's first city because it is the customs check in for anyone arriving from Canada. It is a fishing boat dominated town, located in a rainforest but also heavy with cruise shop traffic which is confined mostly on the south end of town. There are a few hidden treasures for folks who don't salivate at the opportunity to walk endlessly through souvenir shops. The SE Alaska museum is wonderful as is the Tongass museum.The Rain Bird rainforest walk maintained by SE Alaska Univ, is excellent, with grand views of Tongass Narrows...fortunately we had on good walking shoes and charged phones for pictures.  The Water Street trestle walk was also worthwhile. 

We made this trek starting from our north end location at Bar Harbor Marina with our goal being the Totem museum ( time well spent).  We started all this walking down Tongass avenue but got tired of the traffic so we cut uphill at Elliott street to walk the water street trestle where we saw neighborhood living with a view.  Once in town near the cruise ship docks we did a quick twist to get us over to Creek Street where we lingered and shopped awhile. We walked a short way along Tongass ave. again heading south out of town before making the turn uphill to the Totem Museum, Fish hatchery and city park. We grabbed food at the IGA and made an urban picnic in Ketchikan city park. After eating and seeing the museum we walked along the creek as far as we could before heading off Schoenbar Road to the RainBird Forrest walk. We ended up right back at our harbor, dirty and tired but happy.


The local people are friendly, happy, and very polite.  Everyone works hard and there is a sense of adventure in most everyone eyes. You meet lots of folks at the laundromat....The people who love being here stay.