What to See and Do in Ketchikan

So, you've cruised into Ketchikan and are wondering what there is to see and do here.  Well, here's a few things you can do.

Shopping 

The port is lined with tourist souvenir stores.  I did some shopping at Tongass Trading Company and bought a couple Ulu knife sets with blade sharpeners for myself and my family.

I was able to bring these heavy items back to the ship before my tour commenced so I wouldn't have to lug them around.

Northern Wildlife Tour

As you make your way off the ship, you will see many people standing outside the Visitor's Information Center holding signs trying to entice visitors to sign up for their excursions.  Everything from Whale Watching and Wildlife Tours to City and Cultural Tours.

I chose to do a tour with the Northern Wildlife Tour.  This included a trolley ride with fuzzy warm blankets to keep as warm as we drove.  We had a brief city tour of the local art and other interesting areas.

Creek Street

Creek Street is famous for the brothels on this pier.  The local married men used to come by and sometimes their wives would be waiting for them behind the corners with frying pans to teach their men a lesson on cheating.

You can get a tour of a brothel for $10 USD if you really want to live the experience.  There's a sign that says "Dolly's House - Where men and salmon come to spawn".  Self explanitory.

This creek is used by the salmon to spawn which also makes it a popular spot for seals to search for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I saw two of them feasting on all they could.

Totem Pole Park - Bight Park

One the things I wanted to do was to photograph some totem poles in Ketchikan.  I wasn't disappointed.  We "hiked" through the Tongass National Forest and then proceeded to Bear Clan House compound where the totem poles were erected.  Such beautiful and interesting stories are depicted on the poles and the colours are amazing.

Rainbow Falls

We stopped off the highway to take pics at Rainbow Falls.

We were hoping to see some whales in the water as we drove by but there was no activity.  So we carried on to the Salmon Hatchery.  There were tons of seals in the water looking for their share of the feast.   We were also looking for bears but none showed up anywhere.  So we went back into town and were dropped off at the Visitor's Center.

Mr. Espresso Coffee

It;s a little coffee shop nestled in the corner of Ketchikan.  It's got a coffee bar and wifi for $2/hr.  It was a sunny day in Ketchikan but the wind was a bit chilly so I got myself a nice hot chocolate to keep myself warm before the trolley ride.

Alaska King Crab Company

The wind was picking up and I was getting hungry.  I wanted one last Alaskan meal, maybe a clam chowder?  We had no luck on the clam chowder but we did come across this place.  It offered a dungeness crab bisque chowder in a bread bowl.  The server who brought us the meals said she wasn't paying attention to the chowder and it overflowed a little.  I didn't mind one bit.

This bisque chowder tasted amazing.  If you are ever in Ketchikan, try the Dungeness Crab Bisque Chowder in a Bread Bowl. It definitely hit the spot! It's closed now for the off season but will be up and running again once the cruise ships come back to port in April.

Go North into Town - McDonalds and Subway

I did walk by a Subway while in port.  It felt so out of place among all the old fashioned buildings selling diamonds and souvenirs.  There is also a McDonalds in town.  Alaskans will come from all over to get here for the McDonalds if they really have a bad craving for it.  It's further up in the town, if you are interested.

Ketchikan is a great little town.  It's the salmon capital of the world.  Get to know the friendly people and walk around if you don't feel like shopping or taking an excursion.  Ketchikan is a great way to relax before heading back home to your busy life.  Use your time here whatever way you wish.