It is a cute touristy area in Ketchikan. Here you will find signs/plaques that tells you about the…read morehistory and people behind it. We walked to Creek Street and was fascinated by the colored building and the totem poles in the area. You might even catch the salmon run. It is a walking distance from the cruise ship port (depending which ship you are taking). All ships dock at Ketchikan downtown with the exception of NCL.

We absolutely loved Creek Street! It was an easy, convenient walk from the cruise ship port, and…read moreeven though it rained all day, we still had a blast exploring the shops and taking in the beautiful creekside views. The whole area has such a fun, vintage feel, with so many unique little stores and photo spots. We highly recommend checking out Dolly's House, which also gives some great history about the area and how it helped preserve its character. There is also a free town trolley that can take you around, with pickup near the museum. We found some of the most unique gifts and souvenirs here. Definitely worth visiting for an afternoon walk, shopping, and great photos!

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.

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.

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!

Small intimate historical park that is about as big as walking about a neighborhood park. Beautiful…read moregrounds next to the water with a lot of history to read about. Many tour groups are around to listen in a bit from the guide. Their gift store is large and a little walk further with bathrooms inside. Would recommend to take the silver line bus ($2/way) if it fits your schedule.

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.

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.

You step right off the cruise ship right into Ketchikan. The tiny city of Ketchikan is enchanting…read more Ketchikan welcomes visitors to southeastern Alaska's Inside Passage. It is just three miles long and three blocks wide, but here you will find a very busy waterfront with boat planes, fishing boats, pleasure crafts, and fishermen. Ketchikan is a thriving fishing town with colorful houses steeped in Alaskan culture. Some of the best seafood is found here. Ketchikan is the self-proclaimed salmon capital of the world. Catch the free shuttle bus and see the town.

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.

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.

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.

My family and I just completed a fun kayaking tour with Eli & Maddie! We booked the Eagle Island…read moreexcursion through the Royal Princess on our Alaskan cruise. This was the perfect way to spend our time in Ketchikan. We saw sea stars, seals, a bald eagle and more! Eli & Maddie were patient and informative. Highly recommend!

Rose and Bree took us on a fantastic kayak journey. Saw bald eagles and leaned much about the…read moreecosystem.

We did a tour of the farm and it was amazing! So informative and fun. Makes you really appreciate…read morehow much goes into the process. I now know starfish are evil oyster killers! :-) The oysters at the bar at the end of the tour were absolutely amazing.

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!