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Our Ketchikan walking tour with photo link

harryfat1

By harryfat1,
in Alaska

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harryfat1

harryfat1

Posted
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Hi,

 

We were in Alaska last year and I posted the following thread from our walking tour of Ketchikan. I am re-posting this info in case anyone is interesting in the walking tour and can see what it looks like through our eyes.

 

Maybe some of the info won't apply this year as things may have changed. Haven't been active on these boards the past 9 months until now to know if anything has changed. Just thought maybe someone can use this info as is.

 

 

______________

We were on the Celebrity’s Infinity Alaska cruise from August 14 to 21, 2009. As part of my research prior to the cruise, I was looking for info on the Ketchikan walking tour and from the various posts here and there, I was more or less able to piece together what the walking trip looks like.

 

Now that we have returned, I thought maybe it’d be helpful to put everything together in one thread for future cruisers to read and see in pictures of what the walking trip looks like. I realize the 2009 Alaska season is coming to an end soon, but perhaps this might be helpful for the early planners of 2010 Alaska cruise. Only caveat is that you guys will have to put up seeing my family in most of the pictures as I describe our walking trip.

 

What you will need:

 

First is the old link to the PDF version of the Downtown walking tour map. I will be using this as a reference point. So have this handy on your web browser or print it out. We only had time to do the Downtown walking tour (map 1). Next time we are in town, we will try the west side walking tour (map 2).

 

KetchikanWalkingMap1.pdf

 

KetchikanWalkingMap.pdf

 

KetchikanWalkingMap2.pdf

 

KetchikanWalkingMap2.1.pdf

 

Second is the link to our pictures of the walking tour:

 

http://harryfatketchikanwalkingtour.shutterfly.com/26?startIndex=0&size=All

 

Background:

 

Multigenerational family cruise with the youngest one at 6 years old, so there’s a limit on how strenuous walk we can do as a group. Second Alaska trip for us. Previous trip did the city tour and Saxman Village visit as we had the 15 month baby with us back then and didn’t want to walk in the pouring rain. This time, with better weather and kids being older, good time to save few bucks and did our own tour.

 

Reference:

 

I will just us the numbers on the map as a reference guide. This is by NO means the only way to do this walking tour. You can add or delete whatever part you like, or go in reverse if that floats your boat (pun intended). On the stops we didn’t do or wasn’t worth taking pictures of (like post office – as if you haven’t seen a post office back at home) I will just skip that part.

 

OK, enough talking. Let’s get started.

 

Stop #0 – not on the map per se, this where your ship docks. For us, the Infinity was in berth 2, which is smack dab in the middle. Right in front of the Visitor Center and the shopping area. So you see the town below from the ship. The Rydam was behind us and the Radiance of the Sea was in front of us that day.

 

Stop #1 – Go to the Visitor Center and pick up the hard copy of this map. The rain gauge is outside of the center.

 

Stop #2 – Take the obligatory picture of the arch. Keep walking north.

 

Stop #5 – Whale Park & Chief Kyan Totem Pole.

 

Stop #6 – Chief Johnson Totem Pole – Difficult to get a picture of this one as it’s across the street with various cars and horse carriage threatening to run you over as you stand in the middle to the street trying to capture the every inch of the tall totem pole.

 

Stop #26 – Crossing the bridge, you are at the infamous Creek Street. Depending on time year, you might see lots of salmon in the stream like we did (we saw none in previous visit as we were there in May as it wasn’t Salmon season yet). Stop by the fish bench to take a picture or rest up.

 

Married Men’s Trail – Here is where we differ from the other recommended tours. Instead of walking down the trail from the top, we took the hard way and walked up the trail. Depending on your mobility and weather condition, it wasn’t a particular difficult climb even for some out of shape middle age CPA geek like yours truly. If mobility is an issue, just do the typical route and take the funicular up.

 

At the top, there are benches at the Cape Fox Lodge to rest and drinks water/eat snacks with the family to rest after the climb. There is a nice set of totem poles up at the area to see. Reminds me of Stonehenge version of totem pole with the circular orientation. When ready, take the funicular down.

 

Shopping – I guess shopping must be like the crazy aunt living in the basement – everyone knows she’s there, but nobody talks about her. That’s how I think of shopping – at every cruise port, not just Alaska, I see the stores packed with people buying things but nobody in their cruise review talks about what they bought or where they think the bargains are. I will be the rebel that declares the Emperor has no clothes.

 

If you didn’t pack a jacket, there are some decent ones for $20. Baseball caps are 3 for $5 at the bottom funicular area. If you set sail from Seattle, you should have gotten the free Alaska book with tons of coupons for the waterfront shopping. Bring the book with you as you leave the ship as there are many bargains to be had in Ketchikan. If you buy Ulu knives like we did, be aware that ship security will confiscate them upon entry and deliver it back to your cabin on the last night of the cruise.

 

Stop #12 - OK, now we make one full circle going clockwise from the bottom of the funicular area to the original start of the Married Men’s walking trail, but instead of going up, we keep walking along side the stream until we get to stop #12. That’s where the city tour buses drop people off to see the salmon in the river. Saw the duck tour stopping there. We were on the Seattle duck tour just few days previously and we had a blast with that raucous bunch, but the Ketchikan duck tour is really boring in comparison. No loud music, no duck cracker. Glad we did the Seattle duck instead.

 

While at #12, we saw a talented kid wearing just a pair of shorts taking the salmon by his bare hands and snatch them right out of the water. Something you had to see for yourself to believe.

 

Stop #14 – making a right turn from 12, we are now back on the city streets (Park Avenue) and arrived the Harris bridge and then going down to the shallow water area marked “salmon spawning area”.

 

Stop #15 – this is the salmon hatchery area. If interested, you can go and pay admission to this and the totem heritage center. The boys didn’t want to go, so we passed. Instead, we stopped at the City Park bench for more snacks and water.

 

By then, it started to sprinkle and we decided we better start to head back before we get caught in a rain without much protection. Walked down Deermont Avenue and made a right turn on Steadman heading back to downtown.

 

Stop #24 – The other side of Creek Street. Dolly House has the long line of visitors waiting to get in.

 

Stop #23 – Saw some anglers fishing off the bridge as well as from the waterfront.

 

Saw the back of the Lumberjack show. Guess if you are really cheap, you can watch for free the pole climbing from the back lot as that is visible from the back.

 

We used the restroom facilities at the Alaska Discovery Center before we bought up half of the store using the aforementioned shopping book coupons.

 

Afterward, back to the ship for the lunch and sail away at 3 PM.

 

Hope this info is useful to somebody going to Ketchikan and wants to use the walking map.

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Cheryl H

Cheryl H

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So did you mean that to go down hill on the trail, we should first take the tram up, then get on the trail?

 

Thank you so much for all the info. Great maps too!

 

p.s. how much is the tram?

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harryfat1

harryfat1

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Can you tell us how long your ship was in port and/or how long your walking tour took?

 

Thanks!

 

A lot of brain cells have died since then, but I think we got off the ship around 9 AM. Believed we docked before 8.

 

Depends on how fast you walk and how many shops you wonder into, it can be done in less than 3 hours. We did it an leisurely pace as our ship was there until 3 PM. But if you have a brief stay in port, just hit the highlights on the map.

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harryfat1

harryfat1

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So did you mean that to go down hill on the trail, we should first take the tram up, then get on the trail?

 

Thank you so much for all the info. Great maps too!

 

p.s. how much is the tram?

 

Typically most people take the tram up and then walk down the trail. My kids were full of energy so they wanted to climb the hill instead and then we took the tram down. It's a loop, so you can do it anyway you like depending on your party's mobility. In theory you can walk up the trail and walk down the same trail and never have to be in the tram.

 

We didn't have to pay for the tram as you pay down at the bottom of the hill and we got on it on the way down. Think I read somewhere last year it was $2/pp.

 

I can't take credit for the map as it was already loaded by another person. I just stole the link from other posts...

 

You can get the map at the visitor center. I think I may have scanned a copy of my own when I came back. Not sure where I saved it on my computer. If I find it, I will let everyone know and people can email me to get a copy of the map before they leave town.

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maggipie

maggipie

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Your walking tour sounds excellent!! We (family of four with 2 kids) are leaving on the Infinity in 2 weeks and I wanted to do an inexpensive port stop in Ketchikan; probably will combine this with a bus ride to Totem Bight since we are there from 7 to 4. Thanks for reposting for this season!

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Ratdoggie

Ratdoggie

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Thank you so much for posting this. I've searched the internet trying to find more details about the walking tour but this is the first time I have seen the actual brochure...it's exactly what I had been looking for!!!

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ilovebananas

ilovebananas

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Hi,

 

If you set sail from Seattle, you should have gotten the free Alaska book with tons of coupons for the waterfront shopping.

 

I am wondering if this is a coupon book you find in a touristy area of Seattle? or was it given to you on the ship? I will be sailing on Princess in August and want to be sure to look for it.

 

Thank you for taking the time to post such great information! Very informative and useful.

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harryfat1

harryfat1

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I am wondering if this is a coupon book you find in a touristy area of Seattle? or was it given to you on the ship? I will be sailing on Princess in August and want to be sure to look for it.

 

Thank you for taking the time to post such great information! Very informative and useful.

 

Last year they were handing them out as soon as you walk inside the cruise terminal in Seattle. So look for it then.

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pedo

pedo

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Nice photos, thanks for your time and effort in reposting. We're a group from a Ottawa Swiss choir that will be performing in a June 2011 singing festival in Vancouver and a few of us are planning a post-cruise afterwards. Will pass on your useful info to our participants. Good stuff!

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seafare

seafare

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Nice photos, thanks for your time and effort in reposting. We're a group from a Ottawa Swiss choir that will be performing in a June 2011 singing festival in Vancouver and a few of us are planning a post-cruise afterwards. Will pass on your useful info to our participants. Good stuff!

 

 

We will be in Vancouver 14 June 2011 and boarding Oceania's Regatta on 17 June. Where and when will your group be performing it sounds like it would be fun.

 

Jill

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pedo

pedo

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We will be in Vancouver 14 June 2011 and boarding Oceania's Regatta on 17 June. Where and when will your group be performing it sounds like it would be fun.

 

Jill

 

Hi Jill, thanks for your interest. The festival takes place at University of British Columbia from June 23 to 26, 2010, so it would be after your cruise departs. There are choirs from several North American cities performing, and some groups from Switzerland as well. Here is the link to the festival website http://www.saengerfest2011.info, perhaps you'll have a chance after your cruise to join us in our celebrations.

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seafare

seafare

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Hi Jill, thanks for your interest. The festival takes place at University of British Columbia from June 23 to 26, 2010, so it would be after your cruise departs. There are choirs from several North American cities performing, and some groups from Switzerland as well. Here is the link to the festival website http://www.saengerfest2011.info, perhaps you'll have a chance after your cruise to join us in our celebrations.

 

 

It sounds like it would be alot of fun, our cruise however is a Nothbound ending in Anchorage. I'm sure others will see your post and be interested in attending. Thanks for the info

 

Jill

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