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Private: Ketchikan City, Totem Park And Wildlife TourExplore > United States > Ketchikan > Private: Ketchikan City, Totem Park And Wildlife Tour
OverviewNative culture, wildlife and Ketchikan highlights...this tour is sure to please. Your guide is eagerly waiting to share his knowledge with you. With this private tour, you'll have the choice of visiting one of Ketchikan's wonderful totem parks, either Saxman Totem Village or Potlach Totem Park. We have described both to help you decide. Saxman Village offers the only totem park in Alaska that has 29 authentic totems carved by Tlingit and Haida natives. The poles were moved here from the original sites in the 1930s and have been restored by native carvers. Your guide will give you great insight into the background of the tribes and the ritual of carving. Potlatch Totem Park is a step back in time. Built on the former fishing grounds of the native Tlingit peoples, this park depicts what a native fishing village in the 1800s would have looked like. The two large clan houses are surrounded by four smaller clan houses, all filled with elaborate carvings, both inside and out. In the totem carving shed, you'll learn the significance of these cultural works of art and watch one of the carvers in action. You'll hear about the pole's design, carving, and painting process and even smell the fresh cedar scent given off by shavings. Your tour includes admission to the Russian Museum, with interesting displays of firearms, antique cars, such as a 1920's Rolls Royce, and a 1934 Ford Coupe, as well as other curiosities. No matter which Totem park you choose, you'll head out of town, giving you the chance to see more of beautiful Revillagigedo Island, on which Ketchikan is located. En route, your guide will relate the history of Ketchikan, including its fishing and logging past and see the old pulp mill and cannery. After exploring the totem park of your choice, the tour continues on a coastal road, heading farther out of town and away from the crowds to quaint Herring Bay. This small inlet cove provides the perfect habitat for Ketchikan's wildlife to thrive. During salmon season, you'll often spot black bears, eagles, herons, and seals. See the salmon just a few feet away as they fight their way upstream from June through September. On the return trip, you'll check out the highlights of the charming town of Ketchikan. As you make your way around the city, you'll drive past the cannery, some of the residential areas and the waterfront, including Creek Street, the historic former Red Light district. You can choose to end your tour here to do some shopping or continue the ride to the downtown area to return to your cruise ship. - We suggest you bring rain apparel or an umbrella as Ketchikan experiences high quantities of rain. - Wear comfortable walking shoes for this easy tour. - For the best wildlife viewing, we recommend bringing binoculars. And don't forget your camera. - Children under the age of 5 are free if they sit on an adult's lap. - There will be restrooms available during the tour. - This tour is accessible for collapsible wheelchairs only. Please let us know if someone in your party is traveling with a collapsible wheelchair so we can notify the guide. No other accessible equipment can be accommodated. Days offered: 7 days a week Departures:
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