ALASKA ALASKA Our Lifestyle, Your Reward
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keTCHIKAN ALASKA ALASKA Our lifestyle, your reward. TRIP PLANNER 2016 TOURS THE ARTS SHOPPING SPORTFISHING NATIVE CULTURE ACCOMMODATIONS www.visit-ketchikan.com Our lifestyle, your reward Whether you’re planning your first visit to our unique corner of Alaska or coming back to enjoy more, we offer a hearty welcome to Ketchikan, where Alaska begins. This Trip Planner provides you with resources to make the most of your time in our region. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, just call our Visitor Information Center. We’ll help you plan the best possible Ketchikan experience. That’s what we’re here for. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS KETCHIKAN? You’ll reach our island community by sea or by air. We’re about 700 miles northwest of Seattle. The spectacular sea route takes you through the famed Inside Passage waterway of the North Pacific Ocean. Ketchikan is a popular destination for sportfishers, adventurers, cruise travelers and everyone who wants to break away from everyday life to experience a one-of-a-kind lifestyle. Here in the heart of Tongass National Forest, there’s plenty of beautiful country and shore to explore. Whether you visit us for a day or stay for an extended, independent adventure, our town is yours to discover and yours to love. 2 CONTENTS Planning Your Stay ............4-7 Accommodations ............8-10 Dining, Entertainment & Activities ................. 11 One-Stop Tour Center .......12-13 Can’t-Miss Attractions ........14-18 Meeting Planning & Facilities ... 19 Nature & Wildlife ...........20-21 Misty Fjords & Tongass National Forest ..... 22 Native Culture .............24-25 Arts & Culture ..............26-27 Sightseeing – Tours & Activities ............ 28 Mobile phone & Wi-Fi and Trip Planning Resources ..... 29 Sightseeing – Adventure Tours ..........30-31 Sportfishing ...............32-33 Shopping ..................34-35 Our Neighboring Communities .............36-38 Member Directory ..........39-55 KETCHIKAN VISITORS BUREAU Visitor Centers are at Berths 2 & 3 downtown PHONE 907-225-6166 or 1-800-770-3300 FAX 907-225-4250 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.visit-ketchikan.com MAIL 50 Front St., Suite 203 Ketchikan, AK 99901-6442 3 PLANNING YOUR STAY BOOKING & PACKING Book early for flights, ferries and rooms Make the most of your visit by planning well, particularly if you’re visiting during our busy summer season. Here are a couple of helpful tips. • Book transportation well in advance. Seats on Alaska Airlines and vehicle spaces on Alaska Marine Highway vessels fill fast for peak visitor season, May through September. • Lock in your lodging early and talk to your host or reservation service about where your lodging is situated in Ketchikan; your host has good advice about options for local transportation. It’s Alaska: pack for casual comfort in varying conditions We’re not sticklers about fashion up here. So when you’re in Ketchikan, do as Ketchikan folks do: match your clothes to your activities. And if we have anything up here, it’s activities! • Pack lightweight shirts you can layer under sweaters and jackets. Light wool and polyester fleece are good choices for outer layers. • Your comfortable pants are welcome anywhere and on warm days a pair of shorts will feel just right. But be prepared for a maritime climate and a rain forest setting; we recommend you bring a water-resistant coat with a hood and sturdy, waterproof shoes. • Lightweight gloves and rain gear may be needed for hikes and saltwater excursions. Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended for our long summer days, especially if you’ll be on the water. • If you’re prone to motion sickness, see a physician before your trip. 4 Before you visit, learn more about what makes our community a place like no place else. In the award-winning Ketchikan Story Project series of videos, personality features and photographs, residents tell stories of our fishing, aviation and timber industries; share our arts and Native culture; and offer insights into local history. The project won seven regional Emmys and three national Telly awards. www.KetchikanStories.com Getting to Ketchikan You have options for traveling to Ketchikan. Here’s an overview. • Alaska Airlines provides daily, year-round service from Seattle; flights from other Alaskan cities also land daily. Delta provides daily service from Seattle mid- May through September. alaskaair.com delta.com • For a sea voyage, book on an Alaska Marine Highway ferry sailing here from Bellingham, Wash., or Prince Rupert, B.C. dot.alaska.gov/amhs • Major cruise lines call in this popular port on the Inside Passage. • Ketchikan offers public and private moorage as well as a host of services for visiting s CIRCLE #1 on the Reader Service Card yachts and pleasure boats. • Space for private aircraft and services such as fuel are Start your adventure at available at Ketchikan’s airport. www.visit- www.kgbak.us/130/Airport ketchikan.com 5 PLANNING YOUR STAY TRANSPORTATION From the airport to the city by sea Ketchikan International Airport on Gravina Island is five minutes by ferry from town. • Ferries depart from the airport on the hour and half-hour; ferries depart Ketchikan to the airport 15 minutes and 45 minutes after the hour. During peak summer travel times, departures are every 15 minutes. The adult fare is $6; one-way fare for a standard car is $7. Free baggage carts are available. Cash and credit cards are accepted. • Rental cars can be picked up from rental agencies at Ketchikan International Airport or at the agencies’ offices in town. Getting around on the ground in Ketchikan Taxis meet arriving airport and state ferries. Rates are $3.50 a drop and $3 a mile. The typical one-way fare to downtown from the airport ferry landing is about $12.50; to downtown from the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal, about $11. s CIRCLE #2 on the Reader Service Card 6 Municipal bus service runs daily in the city; routes also reach south and north of town. Service is hourly. Hours are reduced on Sundays. • The fare is $1 for adults, $.50 for children and seniors. A day pass is $2. • A free downtown shuttle runs every 20 minutes, May through September. Public parking lots have time restrictions or require permits. One-day parking permits are $5 at City Hall on Front Street. Foot and car traffic is heavy in summer. Observe traffic rules, use crosswalks and follow crossing guards’ directions. Don’t climb over or through ropes and rails. Get there by air Air taxis using floatplanes provide scheduled commuter service; charter service makes even remote locations such as mountain lakes accessible. s CIRCLE #5 on the Reader Service Card s CIRCLE #3 on the Reader Service Card s CIRCLE #4 on the Reader Service Card s CIRCLE #6 on the Reader Service Card 7 Accommodations Ketchikan provides a wide range of accommodations for relaxation after an exciting day. Select from full-service hotels and motels, vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, fishing lodges and world-class resorts. Hostels are also available. Rates vary by the season; fall, winter and spring visits offer you opportunities to enjoy Alaskan adventures at greatly reduced rates. Lodging sites vary from the historic heart of the city to secluded oceanside settings. • Most bed and breakfast facilities offer private, apartment-style living. • In-town and remote fishing lodges and resorts are available. Choose from fully guided resort packages or do-it-yourself options with boats and gear. Comfortable lodging for every budget category is available in the Ketchikan area. Here’s a sampling of price ranges for accommodations. LODGES AND RESORTS BED & BREAKFASTS Moderate – $375 to $650 per day. AND VACATION RENTALS First Class – $650 and up. $100 and up per night in Accommodations, meals, fishing, summer season; $85 and up in processing and transportation are fall, winter and spring. Monthly typically included. rates are available on request. Minimum nights stays may be HOTELS required during peak season. Moderate – $115 and up per night in summer season; $65 HOSTELS and up in fall, winter and spring. $20 and up per night. First Class – $195 and up per Taxes are additional and vary night in summer season; $114 by location. and up in fall, winter and spring. 8 Camping and RV facilities Camping is a favorite pastime in our forested setting. Residents and visitors alike have several facilities to enjoy. Ward Lake Recreation Area has three campgrounds with 47 sites. Some campsites accommodate vehicles as long as 45 feet; most sites handle 30- to 36-foot vehicles. Reservations are available. s CIRCLE #7 on the Reader Service Card Settlers Cove Campground includes 14 campsites along the ocean shore 18 miles north of the city center. Thirteen sites accommodate RVs; CAMPING four sites handle vehicles as long & R.V. FACILITIES as 35 feet. All sites are first-come, U.S. Forest Service first-served. www.recreation.gov • 1-877-444-6777 Clover Pass Resort offers private RV facilities with hookups; spaces Alaska State Parks for summer months fill quickly. www.dnr.state.ak.us • 907-247-8574 Reservations well in advance are strongly recommended. Walmart allows free overnight RV parking, limited to one day. Remote cabin rentals are offered by the U.S. Forest Service and Alaska State Parks in lakefront and saltwater locations. Cabins are furnished with bunks, tables and stoves that burn wood or oil. Transportation by floatplane or boat can be arranged through local charter companies. s CIRCLE #8 on the Reader Service Card If you’re bringing your own camper, book space as early as possible on the Alaska Marine Highway; spaces on the ferry car decks fill months in advance. To learn more, take your browser to www.visit-ketchikan/ places-to-stay.