Ketchikan, Alaska
 

Also going to have one day in Ketchikan on our cruise. Don't really want to pay for the shore excursions. Any suggestions on the fun stuff here?

You can walk a very short distance to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show <http://www.lumberjackshows.com/alaska/index.html>
and buy your ticket there or online. The show takes about 90 minutes and is good entertainment.

It's also fun just to walk over to Creek Street and browse in the shops. For a spectacular view, take the tram up to the WestCoast Cape Fox Lodge and have lunch.

If you might be interested in a 4-hour or 6-hour charter fishing trip, Ketchikan Charter Boats, Inc. <http://www.ketchikancharterboats.com> does a good job and they will work with you if you are a cruise passenger (i.e. picking you up, having the fish processed and shipped home, etc.). BTW, they do give other discounts not listed on their web site if you will call tham and just ask [e.g. military (active & retired), Alaska Airlines employees and perhaps others]

If you are really thrifty, you can take a city bus (blue line route) to Saxman to see the Totem Pole Park. No charge to see the totem poles on your own. <http://borough.ketchikan.ak.us/works/bus_info.htm>
This is about as inexpensive as it gets.

ttt

We took the duck trip and regretted it, because we could have walked to the display of totem poles that we just caught a glimpse of in passing. It's a compact town, lots to see without going too far.

We walked to the Totem Heritage Center (http://tinyurl.com/2g6q6x) where they display OLD totem poles. Their docents give a very good explanation of the significance of the different styles. Outside, there is a master totem pole carver with his apprentices at work. Beside the center is a...can't remember the name. It is a center where they rehab bald eagles that they find injured so there is an educational component of that part of Alaska. At the same site, they present some aspects of the salmon migration. Both of these places charge a minimal entry fee. From the 'raptor center', we walked back across the river which was so thick with salmon, we thought it was just black water until we stood and gazed for a while. Continuing back toward Ketchican proper, we turned left onto Creek Street and back to the center of town.

A nice relaxing few hours; inexpensive; leisurely; and educational.

Sorry...I did not read all the posts; just glanced over them to assure myself that my suggestion was not already posted. YES! Take the tram to the Cape Fox Lodge and walk to the Totem Heritage Center from there. Great view and cuts the uphill climb to a reasonable walk.

I was in Ketchikan last summer and the tram was closed for repairs - surely it's open by now! I took a taxi out to the Saxman totem park and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought I had seen plenty of totem poles around AK during 10 days, but these were worth the visit. Also, paid to see performance of native dancing which I had not seen. Enjoyed walking and visiting shops along Creek Street. Have fun!