Holland America Oosterdam docked in Ketchikan, Alaska |
We arrived in Ketchikan, Alaska around 7 AM on a rainy day. We had just 6 hours at this port. We departed the cruise ship in town and headed out for a walking tour.
When we visited Ketchikan there were two other cruise ships visiting as well. This caused for an extremely crowded tour of the town. Thankfully we started our tour at the Creek Street District, which is located several blocks away from the cruise dock. This gave us the opportunity to view this beautiful part of town before the crowds arrived.
The Creek Street District is located on Ketchikan Creek, which flows through town. The beautifully colored buildings are filled with shops and restaurants.
We followed the walking trail along Ketchikan Creek passed the fish ladder and to the streets above town. Here are some photos of this area.
It was a steep walk up to the part of town on the hillside, but the views were gorgeous.
We found a park near the Totem Heritage Center that we spent time exploring. At the time of our visit there was a charge to visit the Totem Heritage Center, therefore we opted not to visit since we had visited the Totem Trail in Sitka, Alaska the day before. You can visit the Totem Heritage Center website to see if there is an admission fee at the time of your visit.
After our walking tour of the Creek Street District and the area on the hillside above town, we visited the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in downtown Ketchikan. If you are interested in learning more about the cultures, customs, and history of Alaska's first city, check this place out. We found the museum to offer something for everyone from 5-105 years of age!
As our time in Ketchikan was nearing the end, we visited some of the many shops in this tiny city. When you visit Ketchikan you will find no shortage of retail stores selling anything from popcorn to tens of thousands of dollar priced fur coats.