Creek street is Ketchikan's main attraction. It's within walking distance from the docks or simply…read morecatch one of the free downtown buses to get you here. This place can only be explored by foot and is adjacent to the creek which leads upto the salmon ladder. One will need atleast an hour to fully explore and appreciate this quaint little area filled with history, erstwhile brothel houses and the local stores filled with goodies. The stores are all painted in different colors allowing this place to stand out. Each store is unique and charming in its own way. Some of them had salmon based goods on sale and samples as well.

Definitely check this creek street out! It's full of charm with history, shops and the creek…read more Lovely stroll and visit! I like how the entrance, depending which way you're entering though, has the Dolly house which was a brothel. Interesting that it's the first one when entering this street. I adore the salmon shops and sound of the creek!

Very well stocked and easy 30min+ educational center in the heart of Ketchican…read more You can learn about the wildlife and the fishing culture that surrounds the 4th largest town in Alaska. Very interactive, clean, and close to the Ketchican downtown scene If you have time, drop in.

June, 2025. My husband and I loved our visit to Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, a collaboration…read morebetween the US Forest Service and Alaska parks on the Tongass National Forest. We spent about two hours in the center, but easily could have spent more. There are interesting cultural and ecological displays spread over two floors -- in well laid out and open display areas. There is also extensive programming, both with Ranger Programs and regular films in the comfortable theater. We particularly enjoyed watching two Native artists -- one putting finishing touches on an oil painting and the other painting a symbolic paddle. Youngsters can participate in the Junior Rangers Program. I was able to get a stamp in my National Parks Passport though technically this isn't a national park, and to buy a refrigerator magnet souvenir. Summer admission is $5 for those aged 16 and above; free for those 15 and younger. Tip: if you have a National Parks pass, it's accepted at the Discovery Center so don't leave it at home in Virginia! The Discovery Center is an easy walk from the cruise terminal, as well as the Creek Street area, but doesn't have the crowds of either.

A lovely place to check out if you have some extra time!…read more I visited the park in addition to another excursion I had booked for that day (via cruise). This park can be somewhat deceivingly small from the parking lot, but once you head down the walkway, there are a multitude of totems to learn about. It was really interesting learning not only about the history of the totems, but of the restoration projects being done to them as well. There is also a replica house that you can see the inside of too and great views of the water!

This was interesting. And the views were pretty. But if you have limited time, this could be…read moreskipped. We rode public transit about ($2/person) but it took us about 30 minutes each way. Spent less than an hour, which is more than enough time. The bus only runs through every hour on the '7' - so don't miss it. Overall, I was underwhelmed given the hype. $5/person entry fee. I would have been really annoyed if I had purchased an excursion package for this for $79 per person.

This park was covered as part of the tour we purchased onshore, I assume it's included as part of…read morethe cruise ship offered tours as well but it's always cheaper to buy a tour directly off the ship. Park is decent sized with several totem poles, a totem pole carving workshop, native clan houses, some vintage cars and a gift shop. Due to the abundant rain Ketchikan is blessed with, this park is covered in lush greenery. You definitely need a guide to help explain the history behind the totem poles, the clan houses and all the other stories. On the whole it will take less than an hour to cover the entire park. The gift store is great as well and surprisingly very reasonably priced compared to the other touristy places. They had several totem poles in various sizes on sale in addition to the regular tourist store items.

With a knowledgeable guide, we came here as part of a cruise tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable…read moreexplaining the meanings of the totem symbols, such as the Eagle versus the Raven. A potlatch is a ceremonial gathering, like a big party, and the clan's totem pole shows how many potlatches they have been involved with. Enjoyed seeing the small circular doors to the living quarters that would force any unwelcome visitors to stoop down to get through the opening - allowing them to be easily attacked. There is a large gift shop, and a clan house. We did not see any old cars but possibly our guide simply omitted that part of the tour. Those coming without a guide are at a bit of a disadvantage, as I could see no interpretive displays near the totem poles explaining what you were seeing. This is also a cruise ship destination and there were numerous cruise ship groups tramping through the park along with us, affecting the experience. Lots of delays as we had to wait for several groups to clear out before we could go onto the next part of the tour. The crowds also made taking photographs difficult.

The city of Ketchikan was our first stop on our Alaska trip aboard the NCL Joy. Fun fact: Ketchikan…read moreis Alaska's very first city the oldest incorporated community in the state. And in addition to that, it's also known as the Salmon Capital of the World... and trust me, they definitely have salmon here. There's a lot of history and charm in this town... but unfortunately, our visit didn't quite let that shine. It was raining nonstop, it was very cold, and the road construction situation was wild (combined with there being 6 cruise ships docked at once). Getting anywhere felt like an obstacle course. The town is tiny and it is made mostly of cruise-run souvenir retail and jewelry shops (tourist trap energy was strong), plus the salmon hatcheries. My husband, said he felt like he spent his entire time there chasing salmon. To be fair, seeing that many salmon up close was cool and something we don't see at home. He also mentioned he used to come here often when he worked on cruise ships, and according to him, Ketchikan hasn't changed one bit in 15 years... maybe just got a little more aged. Now, here's where it gets tricky: the port where NCL docks (ward cove) is so very far away from downtown Ketchikan. We were on the Joy, but the Encore passengers were telling us they had to catch their last shuttle back at 11am to get back to their ship from downtown. Meanwhile, the last shuttle from downtown to the ship for us was 3:30pm - yay that this shuttle was free. For anyone coming here on a cruise especially especially NCL, I highly recommend booking a tour to make the most of your visit (before you get off the ship-this port was extremely busy and a lot of the tour operators had booked out) especially if your stop is short and you want to get outside the crowded downtown loop to see totem park and herring cove. Just maybe not the tour we went on. I'll post that review separately so you know exactly which one to avoid. If you're specifically here for wildlife, I honestly think the other Alaska ports have much better offerings. Ketchikan has salmon (endless salmon), but for anything else, the other Alaska towns deliver more variety and better viewing experiences.

4 stars Ketchikan is…read moreAlaska's 5th largest city and was incorporated in the 1900s during the Yukon Gold Rush which brought in many prospectors from the south. Thus, it was named Alaska's "First City". Before all that, it was a known salmon fishing camp for the Tlingit people and had been using for centuries before Mike Martin & George Clark bought the land. After mining died down, salmon became the city's primary industry until mid-1900s when overfishing became a problem. Ketchikan then turned to timbering and profited greatly from the logging/pulp industry until the 1990s when the mill shut down. Today, tourism is city's primary industry and the salmon industry right behind it! So, it is still known as the "Salmon Capital of the World". And Ketchikan knows its customers! They provide FREE shuttles to and from Ward Cove (cruise ship terminal). Additionally, their gift shops are stacked with some seriously edgy-to-cute Ketchikan & Alaska designs. Anything and everything you can imagine you'd want to bring home is here. All they had to do is slap a black bear or moose or the word "Alaska" on something and it'll sell! Anything smoked salmon is here, too. Anyways, there are multiple shuttles taking passengers to/fro Ward Cove and the driver will tell you that purchasing from Ward Cove is better because the sales tax is 2.5%, but downtown, Ketchikan has an 8% sales tax. But in Ward Cove cruise terminal, items are priced higher, while Ketchikan's stuff is priced lower. If anyone on a cruise is headed to Ketchikan and you have time and want to buy, I highly recommend shopping around for the item(s) you really like because what is expensive in one store is cheaper in another. Also, this might be the only port that sells beverages at a reasonable price. The farther up north you go, you might be paying 2-5x the price for a soda or alcohol. Since it's an island, the only way in is by ship or plane. Most of the city's stuff is shipped in via ships or bush planes. And a good number of seasonal employees on the island come from all over the US. Some of them are housed in an older ship docked near the cruise ship terminal. Some of the employees I'm spoken to are excited about camping and picking salmonberries, mooseberries, and mushrooms in the wild! Ketchikan and Tongass National Forest is so worth exploring. I just wish I had more time here!

It's very small, but the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau is definitely worth a quick visit, especially if…read moreyou're coming in on a cruise. It's pretty clear they cater to cruise ship passengers, and they're always very helpful and eager to answer any questions. They've got lots of info on local tours, shops, restaurants, and attractions, so it's a great place to get your bearings when you first arrive. One of the best things to grab is a city map. Ketchikan isn't very big, but they offer some easy self-guided walking tours that make exploring a lot more fun. Plus, there's just something nice about having a paper map in hand. It's practical and makes for a great little souvenir afterward. The staff are always friendly and easy to chat with, and over the years, they've pointed us toward a few things we might've missed otherwise. There's also a wide range of brochures you can flip through if you want to plan on the spot. They have free restrooms and an ATM on site, too. If you're looking to book something last minute, their Tour Center (open May through September) is a really convenient option for same-day tours. They also have visitor centers at Berth 2 (open year-round) and Berth 3 (seasonal), so you'll likely run into one no matter how you arrive. Overall, it's a great and helpful first stop to help you make the most of your time in Ketchikan.

The Ketchikan Visitors Bureau is basically the hub for tours and excursions in town, and where they…read moreall seem to depart from. I came in on the NCL Joy, and the shuttle drops you close by about a 10 to 15 minute walk. Honestly, the walk itself is part of the fun since it's through a touristy strip with plenty of shops and restaurants to peek into (or snack at) before you even get to the bureau. If you didn't book something on the ship (which I would highly recommend doing because we were in on a busy port day and it was a madhouse) this is a good spot to snag a tour on your own. The staff here are helpful, point you in the right direction, and the restrooms are clean (which always feels like winning in a busy port). It's also where Holland America ships dock, so you'll see a steady buzz of activity. And if you're not in the mood for an excursion? It makes a decent place to just stay dry and warm, since Ketchikan lived up to its "Rain Capital of Alaska" nickname the day we were there!

Booked an excursion for the kayaking at Orcas Cove. We lucked out and had amazing weather for our…read moreexperience. The staff were nice and kind. Easily located our guide after getting off the cruise ship and was quickly escorted to the speed boat. The speed boat ride was a quick 10 mins and we arrived shortly to Matt's boat to board our kayaks. Our guide was very informative and shared useful information on the wild life that we saw. She actively sought out starfishes, jellies and urchins for us to see up close and feel. We even saw a bald eagle-the only one during our entire cruise actually. It was a magical experience and well worth the money. Hands down the best part was the service and the people that helped us. Gave us great hospitality and recommendations not only for Ketchikan but other cruise ports we were visiting for our trip. Highly would recommend booking this excursion!

Great time. Our guide, Allie, was very accommodating and patient. It wasn't a fast-paced tour and…read moremy sons got a little impatient. I love that she took pics of us and encouraged us to jump in the water. Ideally we could have gone on the amazing rope swing we saw but I get the liability issues. Overall, a relaxing kayak plus gorgeous weather and scenery including eagle nest

Our family was coming in from our NCL cruise and I knew I wanted to support local with our…read moreexperience. My husband and I are avid oyster lovers and when I saw this as an excursion choice I knew we had to go! Pick-up from the dock was easy and since we were the first tour, it was just us and one other person! Everyone from our driver, the capt, and staff at Hump Island were so welcoming, friendly, and informative about the area. With our group being so small, it felt more intimate and enjoyable. Our boat ride was great to and from Hump Island because our captain made sure to show us around and we were able to catch glimpses of bald eagles and whales! Once we arrived to Hump Island Oyster Co we were greeted and given such detail about the process at the farm. Our kids got to enjoy their touch tank and even spotted some jellyfish! Once upstairs, we enjoyed raw and charbroiled oysters along with some amazing salsas and sauces. The whole experience reminded my husband and I of that of wine tasting, but with oysters. Conversation flowed and the laid back atmosphere was comfortable and enjoyable. It was magical being in this part of Alaska and enjoying fresh oysters shucked right in front of us and grown right there. Thank you, Hump Island Oyster Co! We look forward to making our way back in the future and can't recommend this tour enough to others on cruises or visiting Ketchikan!

On our recent Alaskan cruise, we had the opportunity to take a tour of the Hump Island Oyster…read moreCompany. It was a very informative and fun excursion. I'm so glad we did it. I love oysters and it was great seeing how much work and care goes into farming of oysters, especially in Coldwater such as Alaska because the water is so cold they still lose about 50% of the oysters they begin with. The setting is just spectacular and the tour is very well organized. I would suggest that if you're ever in Ketchikan Alaska on a cruise or other vacation that you take part in this fun activity.