Beautiful forest with 4 unique ecosystems. We did a guided tour and it was great. There are pit…read moretoilets available throughout the forest. Such fresh air here. The trails were well maintained.

The Tongass Historical museum is amazing it have the history of Alaska like the gold rush and the…read moreAlaska Purchase and many wonderful displays and real native items. We enjoy it but we also went the gift shop they very nice items..

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.

Date of visit: July 19, 2025…read more This was a stop on an excursion from our cruise and it was very interesting, with a great setting right on the water, making for a great picture backdrop. The park does have a $5 entry fee per person May through September, so you may want to weigh that fact if you don't have a great interest in totem poles! If you do go, make sure you check out the Clan House and notice the storage underneath your feet as literally dozens of people would sleep in this facility at the same time. Coming with a guide may be your best bet as parking is limited and someone who knows the stories adds much more color to the experience.

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!

Creek street is where all the action is. While standing at the bridge, I saw a seal but could not…read moreget my husband's attention get a picture of it cruising up the creek. It was so graceful and beautiful to watch. The street is one of Ketchikan's most famous attractions. It has a wooden boardwalk that sits on stilts above the water that winds its way past colorful shops and homes. Today, the street is full of shops selling souvenirs, handmade goods, and other one-of-a-kind, Alaskan-made wares. It was once the red-light district. Don't miss Dolly's House - a former "house of ill repute," which is now a museum dedicated to what Creek Street used to be. Be sure to check out the salmon run and ladder near the end of Married Man's Trail, where you can watch salmon swimming upstream. Unfortunately, we were too early in the season to see any salmon. It's a great place for 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.

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.

We absolutely loved visiting Dolly's House! Not only was it fascinating to learn about Dolly…read moreherself, but meeting the incredible women who now run the house was one of the highlights of our visit. Their passion, knowledge, and energy are absolutely amazing and really bring the history to life. Walking through the house feels like stepping into a different era. It's truly a pause in time, preserving a glimpse of when things were built, crafted, and cared for with remarkable attention to detail. Every room tells a story. What surprised us most was learning about Dolly Arthur's impact on Ketchikan. Despite being judged by many during her lifetime because of her profession, she played a significant role in preserving Creek Street. When the city considered demolishing much of the historic district, Dolly's House remained, helping spark interest in preserving the area's unique history and character. Today, Creek Street is one of Ketchikan's most beloved attractions, and it's amazing to think that one woman had such an important role in protecting a piece of the town's heritage. We were genuinely amazed by the lasting impact Dolly had on the preservation of Creek Street and the history of Ketchikan. It's a powerful reminder that people are often far more than the labels society places on them. We highly recommend visiting! The tour is fairly quick, but we absolutely loved every minute of it. Just keep in mind that the house discusses adult themes and the history of a former brothel, so this may be one to skip with younger kiddos. If you stop by, tell them Kissa & Colby from Doody Destination sent you!

Not sure about all the hype. It is historical. Interesting to see. Not worth $10 to walk through a…read moredining room, kitchen, hallway, stairs, bedroom, peek in at the washrooms, then out the second floor onto patio with stairs to the boardwalk.

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.