Joe's Bar and Grill offers iced drinks all day, and some of the best burgers on the beach. 8Information Wrangell Visitor CenterTOURIST INFORMATION ( %907-874-3853; h8am-5pm) Located right in the heart of town and operated by Alaska State Parks, this is the best place to ask for information about getting to Prince of Wales and the surrounding national park and forest. ### Ketchikan POP 8704 Ketchikan is Alaska's premier cruise-ship destination. The city's setting is so beautiful that it's no surprise. Surrounded by forested mountains and sparkling Tongass Narrows, Ketchikan is on a narrow, north-facing fjord and sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by the protected waters of Revillagigedo Island. Just offshore is magnificent, undeveloped Deer Mountain. Ketchikan has developed a bit of a reputation for the number of its drunk fishermen that end up in local hospitals after misjudging the power of the Tongass Narrows on a charter trip. In a town with eight bars in the first block, you won't find a lot of late-night action. But with all this talk about booze, don't think for a minute Ketchikan doesn't have the nightlife. The visitor center has a copy of the _Ketchikan Visitor's Guide,_ a monthly calendar of events, and a comprehensive list of bars, cafes and shops. The Alaska Marine Highway runs a passenger-only ferry service to Prince Rupert, BC, a popular side trip for cruise ships, and south to the BC ferry terminal at Hyder. 1Sights & Activities There's not much in the way of sightseeing in Ketchikan, but it is an interesting town to wander around. The **visitor center** has free historical, cultural and geological displays, and a fishing museum at 730 Harris St. oDeer Mountain TrailHIKING ( %360-752-0737; www.dnr.alaska.gov; Harris St) One of the best ways to enjoy Ketchikan is to do as the locals do and grab a boat and get out to the Tongass Narrows. The trailhead to the left of Ketchikan's historic Alaska Hotel is a 20-minute boat ride. Boats leave for the 1-mile trail from late May to mid-September. Sawmill Creek Salmon BakeFISHING (www.salmonbake.com; tickets $30; hJun-Aug) Sawmill Creek Salmon BakeCULTURAL ( %907-225-5200; www.salmonbake.com; North Tongass Ave; adult/child $30/25; hJun-Aug) You're in for a treat at this delicious salmon bake held in the community hall near Totem Heritage Center (housing the Totem Heritage Center and Ketchikan Indian Arts & Crafts Foundation). The salmon is king here, cooked over alder wood, providing the authentic flavor. And it's so good you'll want to try it five times to get enough. The event is a fund-raiser for community organizations. North Tongass Historical SitesHISTORICAL SITE (NTHS; www.northtongasshistoricalsites.org) Six historical sites within a few miles of town. Look for the markers to see what's left of the town's sawmill, schools, police station, dance halls and more. Tongass Historical SocietyMUSEUM ( %907-225-3859; www.tongasshistoricalsociety.org; 730 Harris St; donations accepted; h9am-5pm Mon-Fri) You can learn about Ketchikan's past here, in the old Royal Canadian Legion, which started as a US Army hospital in WWII. The society has a small museum, information about the old jail, and some interesting historical books. Bartlett Cove Visitor CenterMUSEUM (www.seattlenorth.com; Bartlett Cove Rd; h9am-5pm May-Sep, 9am-4pm Mon-Fri Oct-Apr) Dedicated in 2000 and situated on Tongass Narrows, this center focuses on northern Alaska and the conservation issues facing Southeast Alaska. A free bus leaves the center regularly for tours around the Tongass Narrows area. Tongass Historical Association MuseumMUSEUM ( %907-247-8368; www.tongassmuseum.org; 811 Mission St; ircosts $3) There's a nice Native display and a small museum, all housed in an old church. oKetchikan Historical MuseumMUSEUM ( %907-225-7625; www.ketchikanmuseum.org; 611 Mission St; adult/child $5/1; h10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 1-5pm Sun) Housed in a handsome 1905 building (tours available) is the town's historical museum, complete with a historical overview, artifacts and a collection of about 3000 historical photographs. Ketchikan CreekFISHING (www.ketchikancreek.com) The most popular fishing spot for salmon, rockfish and pollock is the Ketchikan Creek. This popular creek stretches several miles and includes one of Ketchikan's best salmon fishing spots. There's a bridge to get across the creek in Ketchikan proper, but the best place to fish is from private floatplanes or by boat. The creek is accessible from Ketchikan Creek Rd, about 5 miles north of downtown. 2Activities The visitor center has a great Alaska Marine Highway schedule of ferries leaving for the BC ferry terminal at Hyder (one-way adult/child $25/13), which has services every day from late June to mid-September. This is a popular side trip for cruise ships – it's only an hour's drive from Ketchikan – but it's hardly ever crowded. Alaska Raptor CenterWILDLIFE ( %907-225-6504; www.alaskaraptor.org; adult/child $6/5; h9am-5pm May-Aug, 10am-5pm Sep-Apr) S This small facility has a good selection of interactive displays, including the 'Passive Avian Observation Center' and a raptor theater, with live video of different raptors in flight. Alaska Wings & KayaksKAYAKING ( %907-225-6348; www.alaskawing.com; 916 Kearney St; guided $70-350) Ketchikan Kayak Center rents kayaks and runs guided trips, with the full gamut of glacier and fjord paddling on offer, from three-hour excursions to a five-day journey around Deer Island and Admiralty Island. It's a good all-round activity, and you'll meet plenty of locals on the smaller tours. Ketchikan Kayak AdventuresKAYAKING ( %907-225-5991; www.ketchikankayak.com; 629 Knutson St) A recommended five-hour guided day trip ($200) is the _Ketchikan Quad Culture Trip_ (two-person minimum). ### FRESHWATER BAY AREA The breathtaking North Tongass National Forest and protected waters of Tongass Narrows have been called one of the world's most beautiful corners. The area's four main national forest districts (North Fork, Klukwan, Tongass Narrows and Misty Fiords) together include 15.5 million acres of land (29% of all US Forest Service lands in Alaska). A dozen or so rivers join to create the region's rich inland waterways. The **Tongass Narrows** (the narrowest natural channel in the world, with a channel width of 1200ft) meets the Pacific Ocean just south of Ketchikan and spreads to the south. The **Chatham Strait** is dominated by a series of islands known as the Prince of Wales Strait **Marine Reserve** ; it's home to bald eagles, black bears, whales, sea otters and killer whales. Nearby Chichagof Island is famous for its bald eagles. To the north, **Turnagain Arm** is the main fishing access, while nearby Chilkat and Chilkoot Inlets are known for superb fishing for salmon. For information about these areas, visit the South Tongass National Conservation Area Headquarters (www.fws.gov/south-tongass-national-conservation-area). For a great overview, go to the Ketchikan Ranger District Office ( %907-225-7540; www.fs.fed.us/r10; 100 Main St) and pick up a free Tongass Narrows Guide to the Tongass Narrows National Marine Sanctuary Map. There's also a downloadable map at www.seattlenorth.com. 4Sleeping Bird Creek CabinsCABIN ( %907-222-8368; www.cabins