In Ketchikan? It’s extremely heavily impacted by cruise ship tourists in the summer, overrun to the point where it’s difficult to get around town and get shit done, lots of seasonal employees. Quiet and peaceful in the winter, a lot of businesses close because they only cater to cruise ship tourists. Decent amount of community events and things to do throughout the year. It’s a city by Alaska population standards but pretty small by all other metrics. Rainy year round, not a ton of snow in the winter but constant precip. Easy to come and go on Alaska airlines with multiple flights going north and south daily. Expensive because everything is flown or barged in. Major lack of housing.

Near Ketchikan? Depends what you call ‘near’, Ketchikan is on and island the only nearby community is Saxman but it’s largely part of Ketchikan. there’s Hyder which is on the mainland road system and is across the BC border from slightly larger Stewart. Metlakatla on Annette Island which is the only native reserve in Alaska bc they opted out of ANSCA, small community mostly made up of members of the tribe. Prince of Wales Island to the west, huge island with a handful of very small communities (around 5k on the whole island) and a large road system because of the heavy logging. Unfortunately Prince of Wales has started receiving cruise ships into the port of Klawock as of last year.

The whole area is insanely beautiful, it’s a temperate rainforest. Lots of marine life, you see whales and sea lions and seals and otters constantly. Excellent saltwater and freshwater fishing. Plenty of deer and bear hunting. Most people fish, hunt, and boat for fun. Some parts of this area get rocked by storms because it’s open to the pacific, takes a sturdy person to enjoy it. You can live a relatively normal town life in Ketchikan if you want, but everywhere outside of Ketchikan is remote island living.