We stopped in the Visitors Center to inquire as to where we would find the free shuttle bus…read more Thankfully, it was just a short walk from the center. What a great idea that the city of Ketchikan offers a free shuttle bus that takes you for a great tour of the many beautiful sights around the city. We took the bus halfway around on our first go. Got off to explore Creek Street, the got back on another bus and finished the entire route. It was a great and comfortable way to see the many places.

We've been flying with Misty Fjords Air for over 10 years, and they never disappoint. Each…read moreexperience has been nothing short of spectacular, offering access to some of the most breathtaking and remote vantage points around Ketchikan. On our most recent flight, the pilot was absolutely phenomenal and professional, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about the region. This is one of the best ways to take in the natural beauty of Alaska, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Ketchikan. Truly unforgettable

A trip to another world! Misty fjords is one of the coolest places I've ever seen, and the view…read morefrom the sky is amazing. My pilot was friendly and answered questions and really loved the land

I pre-booked this Whale & Wildlife Tour in December, 2023 for our Alasakan Cruise scheduled for…read moreJune 2024. My Hubby gets sea sick and we choose this specific boat perfect for small Groups. Hence the early booking. The day before our Tour, we were notified by Eagle One (EO) that our tour was leaving 30 minutes earlier. No problem, we were ready. Our ship docked at the Pier and I received a call from EO confirming where to meet and a reminder of the earlier time. We followed EO's directions to the meeting destination: Ketchikan's Visitor's Bureau right along the main Pier. Our Group quickly gathered and we were off for our Adventure! Less People equals less waiting! Captain Jesse and 1st Mate Kaylee, were our experienced Guides for the day. The tour began with a brief but informative introduction about the types of whales we might encounter and the conservation efforts to protect these magnificent creatures. As we ventured into the open sea, the anticipation grew, and we were not disappointed. The Tour boats communicate with one another to provide info on where the Whales are feeding for their morning breakfast. It took about 30 minutes to arrive at the site. Pretty thrilling to see Whales surface/breach, dive and spout water high into the air! The Tour lasted about 3 Hours and we were fortunate to not only see Whales but an Island with chillaxing Sea lions and a convocation of Bald Eagles. BONUS: This is the only authorized area, where the Crew can toss frozen herring to the Eagles. Super cool to see them swoop and dive and catch them in their beaks. Get your camera's ready, they are quick! On the way back, we saw a few deer on the coastline grazing. As we docked at the pier, another wildlife bonus: Otters swimming under the pier. Overall, I highly recommend Eagle One looking for a semi private Whale watching excursion. EO provided complimentary blankets, hot chocolate, water and snacks. Bring your own binoculars our borrow a pair, totally worth it! BTW, Bathroom on board, but steady yourself, male or female ;)

I wish I could give this company zero stars. The only reason I booked with this them, is that most…read moreexcursions available in Ketchikan, through the cruise line or direct, exclude kids under 5 or under 7. I wanted to find something fun to do with my 3-year-old son. I noticed that this company had no age limit for their whale watching, website stated that it was for "all ages" and "great for families". So, I naturally assumed that their boat was safe and comfortable for small children. It did not occur to me that the only difference between them and others was dishonesty and disregard for safety.  First of all, in my personal opinion, their vessel is not entirely safe for small kids. There is a net protecting kids from falling into the water that covers most of the guardrail. However, the net does not cover the entirety of the ship, and there are spots where a small child, in my opinion, could fall overboard.  The boat is small. Technically, there is seating for everyone (barely), but be prepared for your child to be confined to a small space, for long stretches of time.   The bathrooms are tiny and not large enough to safely and comfortably change a diaper.  The tour is stated to be 2-2.5 hours. But since they could not find any marine wildlife (only eagles that they attract by throwing frozen fish at them) , the captain decided to extend the tour for an hour. I told her that I did not have enough food, since I did not expect/agree to be on the water for so long with a small child. There are no facilities, and no food available on the boat except for absolute junk. But she didn't care. She told me that the website says the tour is up to 3 hours and can be extended (a lie and a lie). This felt like kidnapping (being held against one's will), to have to spend time confined in a tiny space, with a restless child, who had nothing to do and nothing to see.  I signed up for a quick excursion 2-2.5 hours, on a vessel that was "great for families". That is not what I got at all. The kicker was the aftermath, the response that I got from the owner, via company email. I asked for a refund and told her that the excursion did not match the advertisement, the ship was not safe for "all ages" and that the company had no right to hold me and my son on the vessel, arbitrarily for longer than I agreed to. What followed was a bunch of insults, false accusations and childish threats.  The owner told me I was "very lucky (she is) a calmer person than (she) used to be". I wonder what she used to do to customers before she became a "calmer person". She accused me of clogging their toilet (I never went, since I did not feel safe leaving my child alone on that ship). She accused me of not bringing diapers or food (I brought both, but I ran out of food for him as the trip was longer than expected). She further called me a " liberal piece of shit" (because I am from California?), a "lunatic", "dipshit" and an "idiot". All of this was done via company emails that I can produce if they ever try to deny it.  Anyways, if you want to deal with this company, it's your choice. Maybe you will be lucky and have a great time on the water. Personally, I would not recommend anyone dealing with them. Certainly never bringing a small child on their boat. And hey, if there is a problem, expect them to respond as stated above....

This was a stupendous experience. The group was small enough to get the attention one might need to…read moreactually learn some nifty tricks using their camera. Jacob's sense of humor and local knowledge made the experience top-notch. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and would do it all over again, hoping for part 2. The cookie and coffee break was also tasty! I highly recommend this activity!

Arriving by ship to Ketchikan, I wanted a tour that would physically get me to places off the…read morebeaten path. This is the one, do not settle for a cheap substitute. Met Capt.Rob at the Dock and off we went, creek Street, the most awesome library ever & a totem pole park and carving center. This tour packed a full day into 3 hour tour and we didn't get stranded on devils island.... Captain Rob's local knowledge of the area and photography skil made for a great experience, good for all skill levels.

Great choice to see Ketchikan away from the cruise excursion crowds. Enjoyed the tour!read more

This souvenir shop is right on the pier next to berth four. They have a wide selection of items,…read morebut they are poorly organized, and they are EXTREMELY OVERPRICED! We purchased a nativity scene featuring polar bears which they sold in individual pieces for $5.99 each. They were all jumbled with pieces of other nativity scenes -- all cute -- but it was hard to see which pieces went with which set. We picked out our pieces, and took them to the cash register where the attendant wrapped them sloppily. Later, we found the identical nativity, with an additional piece, for a total cost of $12.99 a few blocks away in a cute Christmas store in Skagway. Yes, seven pieces for $12.99 that we paid over $36.00 for at Spirit of Alaska for an incomplete set. Sad. Shape up or lose shoppers, Spirit of Alaska.

Wow... what a great surprise! This souvenir ship shop, that is right off the cruise ship, is…read moreexceptional! The staff is so amazingly friendly and helpful. The prices are shockingly low and but the quality of the items sold are very nice. The staff treated us like old friends who they welcomed back for another visit. What a refreshing and wonderful experience. Thank you!

Home of Alaska Air. This is where Alaska Air all started. A very small airport that serves the…read morecommunity. To get to the airport isn't easy but for $20, you can get sent directly to the door.

Most tourists visit Ketchikan through cruise ships. It's one of the major destination cities along…read morethe Inside Passage section of Alaska. But for those like myself who travel alone, the only alternative option for visiting Ketchikan is flying. Taking a plane is intriguing because...KTN is a quiet, regional airport with not many passengers coming and going. I appreciate these types of places because you feel transported to a far away destination. And interestingly...once arriving here at KTN, to exit the airport and get to downtown Ketchikan, you must pay for a quick ferry boat ride. That includes taking a rental car with you. It may sound tedious and overwhelming, but it's not. The process is simple and in my opinion, adds to the exciting fabric of being here in Alaska, especially for those of us who live in the Lower 48 states. Before getting into the ferry situation, here are some facts about KTN - Ketchikan Airport... - Alaska Airlines is the primary carrier transporting passengers to and from KTN. They operate multiple flights a day out of SEA - Seattle. I flew Alaska Airlines on my return trip back to SEA. Flight time was about 1 hour and 40 minutes. - I actually flew on Delta from SEA to KTN. Delta operates an Embraer 175 aircraft which is the ideal plane for traveling short haul distances. It's 2x2 seating and avoids that dreaded middle person seat. This way every passenger is content, whereas Alaska Airlines has their usual Boeing 737's with 3x3 seating. But, pricing for both Delta and Alaska were relatively similar at the time of booking. I paid around $140 (each way), so $280 is not bad in this day and age for flying. - I rented a car with Budget through Expedia. Rental cars are located on the 1st floor main level of KTN. For 3 full days, I paid $330 for a midsize car which was expensive from my pov. But, with KTN being so small of an airport, rental car options were limited. - Once exiting the terminal and grabbing the rental car, you have no alternative but to hop on the ferry, whether it's just you as the pedestrian or with your car. - I purchased ferry tickets with my rental agency, Budget. It was $7 each way for myself including the car. - Now, the ferry departs the airport side going to downtown Ketchikan every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour. The ferry returns back towards KTN Airport at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour. Basically, there's plenty of opportunities to catch whatever ferry is in progress whether you're coming or going from KTN. - The actual ferry trip is 10 - 15 minutes in total. I was able to exit my rental car and stand at the edge of the boat's platform for scenic views and picture taking. Most passengers hung outside as well to breathe in the fresh air. Thinking of some last extras about KTN Airport... - I didn't purchase souvenirs inside at the gift shop. Downtown Ketchikan has all sorts of stores for buying keepsakes. No need to get anything at the airport. - When I arrived at KTN with Delta, they didn't use a jet bridge so having the chance to walk on the tarmac beside these jumbo jets was thrilling. Though...when flying back to SEA with Alaska Airlines, they used a jet bridge which slightly dampened the experience. Overall, I'd suggest flying Delta if their departure times fit well for you. But...I believe Delta only offers 1 or 2 flights a day to KTN. - Finally, I've actually seen a YouTuber post a very entertaining Vlog about flying along the "Alaska Milk Run". According to news.alaskaair.com, The Milk Run refers to "the daily circuit of Alaska Airlines flights that hop between towns in Southeast Alaska, serving as a lifeline for the communities that aren't always connected by roads to the outside world". Those towns are...Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka and Juneau to name some of the popular stops. If you're an aviation enthusiast, this may be an adventure that interests you. - Also, flying into and out of KTN is a sightseeing trip in itself showcasing the colorful Tongass Narrows mountain range during summers. But beware, Ketchikan is known as one of the rainiest places on earth among a rain forest climate, so you may be flying through clouds. I think I'll stop here. Thanks for taking a moment to read this. Hope there's useful details about what to expect flying to KTN Airport.

Adam was a great, friendly tour guide! Very helpful and showed us a great coffee shop!read more

Randy was the best. He did a great job showing us around and taking us to places the average tour…read morewouldn't take you! He was kind and courteous and I highly recommend!!!