Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan is located in Alaska's southeastern Panhandle Region, on the southern coast of Revillagigedo Island and the northern shore of the Tongass Narrows. The city is 98 miles (158 kilometers) northwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and 310 miles (499 kilometers) southeast of Juneau, the state capital. Ketchikan is the seat of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, and is the fifth most populous city in Alaska with 7,922 residents.

The local economy is based on tourism and fishing, and the city's nickname is the "King Salmon Capital of the World." Several groups offer guided tours of the city and surroundings, and highlights include the local harbor, canneries, the Salmon Ladder and spawning grounds, museums, and heritage sites. Ketchikan is rich in Native history, and boasts the world's largest collection of standing totem poles. These beautifully carved wooden poles record the history and legends of Native groups, and can be found at Saxman Village, Totem Bright, and the Totem Heritage Center. Also be sure to visit the Tongass Historical Museum to learn about the area's heritage, art, and culture.

Thanks to the tourist trade, Ketchikan offers a great selection of shops, restaurants, lounges, and galleries. The Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council is the cultural hub of the community, and offers an art gallery, classes, four festivals, and a wide variety of performing arts events.

Newcomers will probably be surprised to learn that most of the precipitation comes in the form of rain, not snow. In fact, Ketchikan is one of the wettest places on earth, and much of the town sits above water and is supported by piles. This is because southeast Alaska and neighboring British Columbia contain the largest temperate rainforest in the world – Tongass National Forest. To learn more about the ecosystems of the region, visit the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center.

Alaska's spectacular natural beauty draws countless visitors, and nearby Misty Fjords National Monument is one of the state's top attractions. The monument encompasses more than two million acres (809,371 hectares), including some of the most beautiful and pristine wilderness on the planet! Many sightseeing options are available, including tours by cruise boat, seaplane, and foot. Highlights include old lava fields, white sand beaches, dense forest, and endless vistas of glacier-carved fjords. Behm Canal is the park's longest waterway, and offers stunning vistas and sheer canyons that rise 3,000 feet (900 meters) into the air. Recreational activities include fishing, hunting, sea kayaking, hiking, and skiing, and fifteen lakeside cabins are available to weary adventurers. Wildlife enthusiasts will have the chance to spot bears, mountain goats, and moose on land; whales, seals, and sea lions in the water; and eagles, hummingbirds, and trumpeter swans in the air.

Thinking of relocating? Bring your sense of adventure and a raincoat, and head for Ketchikan, Alaska!

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