Ketchikan, Alaska
Almost all Alaska cruises make a stop in the town of Ketchikan for at least
part of a day. Located furthest south of all of the ports along the Inside
Passage, Ketchikan is accessible only by air and water. Most cruise ships
dock near the center of town, making sightseeing easy. So what do you do
with your time in Ketchikan?
The
cruise lines offer a variety of excursions that allow you
to experience a number of adventures and leisurely
activities. Many of these can also
be done on your own. A few I’d suggest that are unique include:
Visit the Misty Fiords via seaplane – Being acrophobic, claustrophobic
and scared to death, I almost cancelled this excursion. I’m incredibly
glad that I didn’t. The scenery flying over Misty Fiords National
Monument is incredible. Some planes even land on lakes that are set in
the tiny valleys that dot the landscape; the experience is amazing. While
the cruise lines all offer this adventure, I booked my trip through a
company called Island Wings www.islandwings.com and had a tremendous
time. If you have any of the same “issues” that I did before
taking this flight, just sit by a window in the plane and spend the first
5-10 minutes snapping pictures. Your fears will be gone in no time.
Experience
crab fishing – Ever wanted to pretend you were
one of the crab fishermen in the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest
Catch without putting your life in the hands of 30 foot waves?
A trip on the Aleutian Ballad gives you that chance. The tour
includes meeting the crew, who tell you about their work on the
ship, as well as watching them retrieve crab and other sea life.
Tours are available through the cruise ships or by contacting
http://www.56degreesnorth.com.
Take
a walking tour of Ketchikan - Pick up a map at the Visitors’ Information
Center and follow the numbered signs posted along the route to
learn about the history and culture of Ketchikan. The walking
route includes local museums, Creek Street, native cultural attractions,
as well as plenty of shopping and restaurants. The route can
be walked in as little as 60 minutes, but plan extra time to
appreciate the sights and for entering attractions along the
way.
For
those who want to be physically challenged, there are companies
that will take you on salmon fishing, kayaking,
zip lining or
bicycling tours of the area. There’s even a company that
takes you touring on Harley XL883 Sportsters.
If
you’re hungry and don’t want to head back to
the ship to eat, both the Alaska Fish House and Annabelle’s
Keg and Chowder House serve excellent chowder and seafood. Be
sure to pick up some smoked salmon to take home with you during
your shopping.
