GREAT LITTLE STROLL! 4.8…read more This has got to be one of the cutest port stops we've visited in recent times! Ketchikan, known as Alaska's "First City," is proud to be home to Creek Street, a charming boardwalk steeped in colorful history. Built over the water and perched along the rocky shores of Ketchikan Creek, Creek Street is lined with historic buildings painted in vibrant colors. The soothing sounds of the flowing water make for a peaceful and picturesque stroll. Creek Street began as a hub for miners seeking gold before evolving into a center for fishing and logging. Perhaps the most "interesting" chapter in its history was its reputation as Ketchikan's red-light district. You can learn all about this fascinating past at Dolly's House Museum. Just steps away from the cruise ship docks, Creek Street is a wonderful place to explore. It is quite touristy, with prices to match, but nonetheless, the area is filled with restaurants, art galleries, gift shops, and museums. Depending on the day, Ketchikan can welcome anywhere from one to six cruise ships (four walk-off berths in downtown and two docks located eight miles north of downtown). Luckily, we had only two ships in port, which meant fewer crowds. Many visitors book excursions, so not everyone is exploring Creek Street at the same time. Earlier in the day, we took a private tour of Ketchikan's sights before returning to Creek Street when the weather was sunny and absolutely gorgeous. I would recommend booking an excursion while in Ketchikan, then exploring Creek Street afterward. A leisurely walk along the boardwalk takes only about 15-20 minutes without stopping. However, if you plan to browse the shops and tour Dolly's House, allow at least an hour to fully enjoy the experience.

If your Alaskan cruise docks in Ketchikan, you absolutely have to make the short walk from the port…read moreover to Creek Street. Coming from the concrete sprawl of Los Angeles, it was surreal to step into a spot that feels so completely frozen in time. First off, it's not a paved road..it's a meandering wooden boardwalk built entirely on wooden stilts right over Ketchikan Creek. Back in the early 1900s, this stretch was the town's notorious red-light district. You can actually still tour Dolly's House Museum, which is preserved exactly as it was when it operated as a brothel run by a madam named Dolly Arthur. It offers a quirky and fascinating glimpse into the area's Gold Rush-era history. The absolute highlight for me was the wildlife. You can lean right over the wooden railings and look straight down into the water to watch the salmon swimming upstream. Keep your eyes peeled..you can often spot harbor seals frolicking in the water and bald eagles hanging around looking for an easy catch. Today, all of those historic, brightly colored stilt-houses have been converted into local art galleries, souvenir shops, and cafes. It's a fantastic place to buy authentic Alaskan gifts, like locally carved jewelry or Ulu knives, rather than standard cruise port trinkets. A quick tip: Don't miss the "Married Man's Trail". It's a slightly hidden path in the back that men historically used to sneak into the brothels out of sight. Today, taking it gives you an awesome elevated view of the whole creek and leads right up into the lush green trees. Because it's Ketchikan's most famous spot, it does get pretty packed when multiple ships are docked. Try to walk over first thing in the morning to beat the crowds. Great photo ops, rich history, and the perfect slice of old Alaska!

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.

There is a tiny museum inside the Ketchikan Fire Station. It is open for public. You can also…read morepurchase t-shirts from a vending machine. We enjoyed our visit. They do do tours if you come at the right time. The Ketchikan Fire Station is clean and well organized.

The museum inside this fire station is very interesting, and there are volunteers available to…read moreanswer questions. They also offer tours of the station. The museum snd tours are free, and there is a place to leave tips for the volunteers. The world famous vending machine is in the lobby. It is the only fire station in the world that has a t shirt vending machine. A nice stop if you are in Ketchikan.

This destination was combined with the lumberjack show booked through Celebrity shore excursion…read moreonline. It's on private property where a Tlingit fishing camp used to sit. Everything is recreated including the tribal house and clan houses. There are various cedar totem poles, and a carving workshop. There's a private car collection on property and a gun museum next to the gift shop. Our driver/tour guide walked us through. He gave us a narrative on the houses, and explained the raven's role in Tlingit's culture. I'm not sure I would make a point of coming on my own although we learned a lot. We were dropped back off at the pier.

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.

The website for Southeast Alaska Discovery Center states that "...this USDA Forest Service managed…read morecenter serves as a gateway to the Tongass National Forest, the largest National Forest in the United States." The museum is located just a street away from where the Ruby Princess was docked. Inside were informative exhibits and artifacts. And, with our America The Beautiful Annual Park Pass, we bypassed the entrance fee. Plus, we got a stamp for our National Parks Passport even though it's not a National Park. Pretty neat visit, especially getting to see totem poles not worn out by the weather.

The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center is the hub for cruise excursions and getting local…read moreinformation on the town of Ketchikan. From the outside, there are three carved totem poles you will see. They represent Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian Indian cultures. Inside, there is a museum that has a minimal charge to get a great Alaskan education. The Discovery Center is a short walk from the cruise ship docks, but you can also get there on the free Downtown Shuttle that goes around the waterfront area with a few stops at different landmarks for sightseeing.

The crowds here ebb and flow like the tides, however they're not influenced by the moon, but rather…read moreby the arrival and departure of the cruise ships. This visitor center is sizable, with a row of kiosks seasonally staffed by tour group companies, washrooms, and a general information desk. The workers are quite enthusiastic about helping, even though the queue of people lining up needing to be helped was quite daunting. Pamphlets and information line the walls, free for the taking. Helpfully, there's a whiteboard with the cruise arrival and departure information. I guess it help passengers understand the timing of everything so no one gets stranded! The only downside is that there's no free internet - you have to pay for a limited amount. Oh well, that just encourages you to go out and explore the town.

Ketchikan port area is a nice area with many local shops and restaurants. The local bus picks up…read moreright in the center of town and very close to where the cruise ships dock.

They have tees for sale here! I knew my daughter would enjoy this and even though the vending…read moremachine for shirts was broken I could buy one from the friendly dispatch officer. The shirts are good quality and attractive.

Chief Johnson's Totem Pole is 55' tall. The current pole is carved from a single western red cedar…read morelog, this striking pole is a vibrant expression of Tlingit storytelling and artistry. This pole is a replica of the original that stood from 1901 to 1982, and it honors the Kadjuk House of the Raven Clan. At the very top, the legendary Kadjuk bird perches - a powerful symbol for the Raven Clan and the family it represents. The original totem pole is preserved in the Totem Heritage Center.

The chief Johnson Totem pole!…read more Hey friends, if you are in town and don't have time to go to the totem parks or anything you're still in luck this example is really cool. It is not the tallest in the city but it is very impressive and I love reading about Chief Johnson on the plaque near the base.