The magnificent Inside Passage: cruise ship passengers flock to the beautiful and unique communities that make up Southeast Alaska.

• Author: Watkins, Gerry

When Alaska became part of the United States, it outranked Texas in size and captured a claim to fame for unique mystiques and spectacular scenery. Majestic mountains, wondrous wildlife, uncommon waters and forests, natural wonders and ancient cultures struggling to adapt to a modern world make the state a standout.

Worldwide travelers come here to view remarkable sights, to hike rainforests and snowcapped peaks, view salmon runs and sled dog races, and watch glistening glaciers send calves into frigid waters with a thunderous clap. Photographers capture nature in the wild as well as seasonal flower gardens blooming from every nook and cranny. Visitors want to see a real Gold Rush town, come face to face with a Native Alaskan, watch a Tlingit use a primitive art form to create a totem pole, and study centuries of culture preserved in marvelous museums. Winter visitors also hope to experience the amazing aurora borealis.

Every year thousands take to the nautical waterway called The Inside Passage for their own Alaska pilgrimage. Marine highway ferries transport passengers and freight along the passage year-round. Cruise ships navigate the beautiful passage during summer months, stopping at several of a dozen sites to give passengers a taste of Alaska. Many of them will return, some as many as a dozen times.

Compared to the ice- and snow-covered Interior, the Inside Passage climate is mild. Four to 25 feet of rainfall per year creates several diverse ecosystems, including several rainforests.

KETCHIKAN

The first stop along the passage is Ketchikan, the Passage's fourth largest city. One to five summer cruise ships dock daily right at the heart of the city. "More than 700,000 visitors came to Ketchikan last year," said Sandra Meske, of the Ketchikan Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They come by boat, cruise ship, marine ferries and by plane." Marine ferries dock there throughout the year.

Summer weather is cool and rainy; winter temperatures can dip into the 20s and 30s, but won't stay there more than a few days, according to Meske. Up to 165 inches of rain falls annually, perfect conditions for the rain forest areas in and around the community.

Pitched inside Tongass National Forest, Native culture comes alive in Ketchikan. At Totem Bight, amazing totem poles and a clan house stand amid lush vegetation. Totem pole artists allow visitors to watch as they practice their traditional art at Totem Heritage Center. Tongass Historic Society Museum...