Ketchikan is a town of about 8,500 people, but hosts nearly three-quarters of a million visitors during the summer. It’s the first Alaskan stop for most cruise ships touring the Inside Passage and proudly declares itself to be “Alaska’s First City.” Set in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, the town has one of the highest rainfall totals in the state, with 162 inches of rain falling in an average year. It is also the closest community to Misty Fjords National Monument, a 2.3 million acre wilderness of massive glaciers, deep saltwater fjords, pristine forests, and abundant wildlife. Closer to town, the protected waters of the Inside Passage attract massive runs of salmon each year, leading to Ketchikan’s claim to be the “Salmon Capital of the World.” The most famous section of the old town area is Creek Street, a former red light district that now houses an appealing blend of restaurants, art galleries, and small shops built on pilings over Ketchikan Creek. It’s a pedestrian-only zone and a great place to wander around, do a bit of shopping, and grab a bite to eat. The Ketchikan area is also rich in native culture. Totem Bight State Park, 8 miles north of town, contains a historic collection of totem poles set along a scenic trail on the shores of the Tongass Narrows. Saxman Totem Park, located 2 miles south of town, contains historic totem poles as well as workshops where visitors can watch native carvers fashion totem poles, canoes, and other artwork using the same techniques employed by their ancestors. The Totem Heritage Center in town offers classes in traditional art forms and preserves totems from abandoned villages, and the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in the middle of downtown has a wide range of exhibits, including a selection of contemporary poles, samples of native basketry, and a model of a traditional fish camp.