5.My Daily Bucket List Travelogue-October 8, 2009

KETCHIKAN, ALASKA -

Of all the cruise ports in Alaska, this is one my favorites -- and only because, after being tipped off by someone many years ago, we walked inland and discovered historic Ketchikan. In the process, we bypassed what essentially exists as a company town: all those same jewelry stores we had seen in Skagway and Juneau, bunched up together. There is so much more here to see and experience!

You need to take the time and venture beyond the town. Just blocks away is historic Creek Street. A former red light district, this collection of boardwalk buildings on stilts over Ketchikan Creek has a terrific collection of shops -- notably, Soho/Coho, a contemporary art and craft gallery; Parnassus Books; and Alaska Eagle Art Gallery.

Halfway up the street, there is also a tram that whisks you up a hill to a hotel, restaurant and civic center complex that has a great view of the downtown and Tongass Narrows. This is a spectacular spot for you photographers out there! But to be honest, everything in Alaska is a photo opportunity.

Also not to miss: the spectacular Southeast Alaska Discovery Center at 50 Main Street, just one block from the cruise ship dock. The displays and guided tour put everything we'd seen so far into perspective. If you have any lingering questions about natural Alaska, you'll find your answers here.'

Ketchikan lies in the heart of the 16.8 million-acre Tongass National Forest, the nation's largest, and the Discovery Center showcases the region's natural and cultural history. Among the highlights are exhibits on totem poles, ecosystems, native traditions, Alaska's rainforest and natural resources. There's also a "fish cam" where visitors can view steelhead trout and the four types of salmon that spawn in Ketchikan Creek. The center also has a terrific bookshop with a sizeable selection of books about Alaska. Ketchikan is known as The Salmon Capital of the World.

There are also three specific areas that help make Ketchikan known as The Totem Capital of the World. There you will find the largest collection of standing totem poles. The three areas to go see are as Saxman Village, Totem Bight and Totem Heritage Center. At the Saxman Native Village, you will be able to experience the rich living culture of Alaska’s Southeast Native Indians. In addition to all of the totems and The Beaver Clan House where you will see native dancers perform, there is also a carving house, where you can see the tradition of totem carving passed down from generation to generation.

Totems, skillfully carved by artists in Southeast Alaska, reflect their resources with symbolic characters carved on totem poles and on the community house at Totem Bight. There are 14 totems and a clan house located here. You will learn the interpretation of the totems as each one tells a different story.

In Alaska, one is surrounded with natural bounty. Eagles and ravens soar above, perch in treetops, and swoop to the waters below. Whales, otters and sea lions inhabit the bays and inlets. Bears, deer and wolves live in forests of tall cedar, spruce and hemlock. Berries and edible greens cover the forest floor, while salmon and halibut swim in the waters.

Very nearby to Ketchikan is Misty Fjords National Park. It lies within the Tongass National Park and encompasses over 3,000 acres of pristine wilderness. Most wildlife common to southeast Alaska may be found in Misty Fiords. One of the most spectacular adventures to take is flying in a floatplane over Misty Fjords National Park. You will be in for the treat of your life. Flying above glassy, mirrored lakes, thundering waterfalls and seeing the magnificent glacial valleys and peaks will make this a real highlight of your time in Alaska. Believe me, if you get the chance, just do it! It will be worth every penny!

Alaska's famous brown bears, black bears, the Sitka black-tailed deer, wolves, and mountain goats are the most common large mammals in Misty Fiords. Beaver, mink, marten, and wolverine, can all be found here now. Bald eagles nest in the tops of spruce and hemlock trees. Steller sea lions lay out on rocky islands at the entrances to Aialik and Nuka Bays. Harbor seals ride the icebergs. Dall porpoises, sea otters, and gray, humpback, killer, and minke whales play in the fjord waters. Halibut, lingcod, and black bass lurk deep in these waters, through which salmon return for inland spawning runs. Thousands of seabirds, including horned and tufted puffins seasonally inhabit steep cliffs and rocky shores.

I always enjoy when our cruise stops in Ketchikan. It is a very accessible town and full of so much native history. Our favorite place to dive into some mouth-watering Alaska King Crab Legs is Steamers Bar & Grill. It is located on the waterfront directly across from the cruise ship dock. Up on the second floor, you will enjoy the warm atmosphere and the delicious food and drink. The clam chowder is warm and delicious, but the crab legs are extra special. Thick, juicy and when we dip them in the drawn butter, there is just nothing better in our minds! We grab a table by the window and sit and people watch while we sip on our favorite adult beverage and we enjoy our wonderful warm meal. Enjoy!