One of the most exciting things about a cruise is waking up to new panoramic views every morning. If you are cruising to Alaska, you are likely to visit Ketchikan and the first sight of it will look a lot like this…
I always suggest a balcony view room because there is nothing like waking up to the excitement of seeing a new place!
In Ketchikan, there are many great excursions to book with the cruise lines. But, today I want to present you with a few options of how to enjoy Ketchikan without a tour. I explored Ketchikan by foot and thoroughly enjoyed it.
What can you do in Ketchikan Alaska if you don’t want to take a tour?
#1 Creek Street
The #1 thing to do in Ketchikan is to take a walk to Creek Street where you can see the Salmon Swim Upstream. After all, Ketchikan is the Salmon capital of the world!
The rushing waters of the creek are beautiful to hear and see. Salmon can be spotted as they struggle to make their way upstream to spawn.
Would you believe that creek street is just walking distance from the cruise port?! It is no more than a 10-15 minute walk. On the way, you will walk through town and get to see downtown Ketchikan.
There are plenty of signs posted on the streets that lead you there, so it is unlikely you will get lost. If in doubt, stop by the visitor center to get a walking tour map or you can print one out here. The map includes over 35 points of interest.
In the Youtube video series “What Is It Like Cruising To Alaska” I captured my walk from the Ketchikan cruise port. View it below to see how easy it is to get to Creek Street!
#2 Walk and shop at the boardwalk.
You can also enjoy some shopping at the colorfully painted buildings on the historic boardwalk. Browse souvenirs, taste test pink smoked salmon which is some of the best in the world, and take some home for later.
Just down the road where the river meets the ocean, you may see some people fishing. Look at all that Salmon!
#3 Discover sights in downtown Ketchikan
During your walk around downtown Ketchikan, you will notice beautiful totem poles that represent the Alaskan Native American culture. For those that want to learn more about Native American history, try checking out the Totem Pole Heritage Center downtown.
Downtown has many historic sights and having a map will help you identify points of interest. The entire loop around downtown is only 1.5 to 2.5 hours long. This map from Experience Ketchikan is really helpful. Find it here.
#4 Hike
For the more adventurous, there are hiking trails nearby such as the Deer Mountain Trail which offers panoramic views of Ketchikan. Some say it is one of the best hikes in Alaska!
It takes 3-5 hours so be prepared and keep good timing to make sure you get back to the cruise ship in time for departure!
#5 Be a “Travel Foodie”
Lastly, for the travel foodies, there are plenty of places to eat freshly caught crab and fish in the portside restaurants.
Want to learn more about what to see, do and expect on your Alaska cruise? Check out the youtube channel for video guides.
