A beginners guide to visiting Ketchikan by cruise ship

Located just north of the Canadian border, Ketchikan is the southernmost city in Alaska. Founded in August of 1900, Ketchikan is situated on Revillagigedo Island near the Tongass Narrows, the entrance to the Pacific Ocean and the famed Inside Passage.A historic fishing village with a long-standing Tlingit Native presence, today Ketchikan still represents both of these separate worlds while catering to tourists at the same time. In fact, Ketchikan has the world's largest collection of totem poles spread across four major sites, the most recognizable being Totem Bight State Park.LARK PRODUCTIONS/500PX/GETTY IMAGESSince the city is perched on stilts, much of Ketchikan's downtown sits high above the water. This is particularly prominent in the historic Creek Street district that runs parallel to Ketchikan Creek. Once the town's Red Light district, Creek Street now hosts tourist shops and, in the fall months, it's a prime spot to view salmon as they come upstream to spawn.Ketchikan is also noteworthy for its proximity to Misty Fjords National Monument, offering numerous flightseeing excursions and wildlife boat tours to this pristine section of the Tongass National Forest.Related: Alask...