How To Get From Ward Cove To Ketchikan

The "Ocean Victory" on the left (operated by American Queen Voyages) is dwarfed past NCL's "Norwegian Gem" on the right. Taken from the Bidge Deck of the m/five Malaspina at Ward Cove, Alaska.

I'm a huge fan of Alaska'south "First Urban center", whether information technology's for fishing, for flight or but obviously fun!

Historic Creek Street, in downtown Ketchikan.

So, when I visited concluding week, I stopped in to see how Ward Cove is existence revitalized.

John Binkley, Ward Cove's programmer, gave me a tour of the Malaspina earlier the cruise ships arrived.

Ward Cove , just five miles n of downtown Ketchikan, has been a hub of activity for 95 years for logging and fish processing.

Taking a walk in the Tongass National Forest.

"Ward Cove is all about the Tongass National Forest and how it continues to provide for the people of Southeast Alaska," said John Binkley. Binkley is the developer of the new cruise ship dock, congenital on the site of the onetime Ketchikan Pulp Company.

On the ferry from Ketchikan Airport to "Town Side"

I arrived in Ketchikan in the usual way: flying on Alaska Airlines, then catching the ferry over to the "Boondocks Side" to choice up my automobile ($6 ea. manner). But many, many visitors come to Ketchikan on cruise ships. If they're sailing on a Norwegian Prowl Line ship, they'll dock at Ward Cove instead of the downtown Ketchikan docks.

You can't miss seeing the Tongass National Forest when you dock in Ward Cove. Trees environment the cove—and it's a big part of whatever story almost Ketchikan or Southeast Alaska.

"The woods sustained Alaska'due south indigenous people for thousands of years," said Binkley. "In modern times, the fishing and timber industries sustained the community."

Now, the Tongass will continue to sustain the community equally a natural treasure. And tourism is part of that effort.

The outside of Ward Cove's "Welcome Center"

In add-on to the new cruise dock structure, the developers have remodeled the massive warehouse as an indoor welcome eye. That's especially helpful when it's raining outside.

"Whistle Stop" Cafe inside the Welcome Center at Ward Cove, Alaska

Visitors can come across up with their tour group to go zip-lining, flightseeing, kayaking or hiking. In that location's a gratuitous downtown shuttle. Likewise on-site are several options for visitors to exit and run into the surface area: "Bounding main cycles" or floating pedal-powered watercraft, eastward-bikes, u-drive Zodiacs, kayaking, etc.

Lining up to catch the bus to run across more of Ketchikan.

Data on where to become and what to do in Ward Cove.

Recently, Binkley purchased the decommissioned thousand/v Malaspina, an Alaska state ferry. It'south docked right next to the cruise send dock. Binkley plans to open up a museum on board and to provide hands-on training for maritime students. Also, many seasonal employees volition be housed on board.