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A Good Question! Which park is the best to visit depends upon your preferences. Totem Bight is definitely ' out of town' and the site is beautiful (and is fairly peaceful - despite the other tourists). If you are on an independent tour (operated by local people and sold on the dock), you will enjoy the same benefits as those tours sold on the ship. This includes a short visit to a replica of a clan house.Saxman Native Village is approximately 2 1/2 miles from the dock. If you purchase a shore excursion from the ship - you will see a 13 min. movie that explains the history of the Tlingets who moved to Saxman followed by a visit to a replica of a clan house where the Cape Fox Dancers perform. You'll also hear the stories of some of the totem poles in the park, visit the Carving Shed where Nathan Jackson is a resident carver and hear abouot the traditional art of carving totem poles. You'll also have time to visit the (ever present) gift shop.An independent tour to Saxman (cheaper) allows you to visit the totem poles and to look into the Carving shed through windows (when there are shore excursion groups inside). If you're lucky, you may get to go inside. You will not see the inside of the clan house, the Native Dancers or the video.
A Good Question!
Which park is the best to visit depends upon your preferences.
Totem Bight is definitely ' out of town' and the site is beautiful (and is fairly peaceful - despite the other tourists). If you are on an independent tour (operated by local people and sold on the dock), you will enjoy the same benefits as those tours sold on the ship. This includes a short visit to a replica of a clan house.
Saxman Native Village is approximately 2 1/2 miles from the dock. If you purchase a shore excursion from the ship - you will see a 13 min. movie that explains the history of the Tlingets who moved to Saxman followed by a visit to a replica of a clan house where the Cape Fox Dancers perform. You'll also hear the stories of some of the totem poles in the park, visit the Carving Shed where Nathan Jackson is a resident carver and hear abouot the traditional art of carving totem poles. You'll also have time to visit the (ever present) gift shop.
An independent tour to Saxman (cheaper) allows you to visit the totem poles and to look into the Carving shed through windows (when there are shore excursion groups inside). If you're lucky, you may get to go inside. You will not see the inside of the clan house, the Native Dancers or the video.
