Ketchikan...what to do??

Okay, so we missed out on the Anan Creek Bear Viewing. The company we were going to go with didn't get tickets in the lottery and others that had some didn't have enough for the 5 of us. Through the cruise line there is another float plane bear adventure to see black bears. Similar excursion, but not the same location, so no idea how it would compare. Anyway, just thinking with the expense maybe the Lumberjack Show instead?

What did you do in Ketchikan? Anyone do either of these? Reviews? WWYD?

Alaska Bear Adventure or Lumberjack Show?

Thanks!

Here's some ideas...

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Last time we were in Ketchikan, we took the Lighthouses, Totems & Eagles boat tour (we booked it directly, not through the cruise line). We thoroughly enjoyed it, fun crew, good narration and cool wildlife sightings (no bears though...sorry!) Plus plenty of hot chocolate and yummy salmon dip for snacking :)

We did a float and fly excursion there. Went out on a boat for wildlife and scenery (did not see a lot of wildlife but we were VERY late in the season), then met a float plane in the middle of a lake for a ride back (buzzing the ship!). Taking off from the lake and banking over a waterfall worth the whole trip (I got lucky and snagged copilot)

Of the 3 Alaska towns we visited, Ketchikan was also the nicest to walk around.

Heard mixed things about the lumberjack show. General consensus seemed to be fun but a bit cheesy. Ok, a lot cheesy.

This is a shot from the float plane:

My family used Ketchikan Taxi Cab Tours last year and loved it. We saw bears, eagles, a totem pole carver, Bight Totem Pole Park, and a lot more. Amazing, great tour.

If you want to see the totems, there is NO reason to book an excursion. There is a bus to Totem Bite State Park for $1 per person. You walk about 1 block to the blue sign (if you get to the overpass, you went too far). The people at the visitor center are happy to direct you. Park admission and guide tours are free, and there is a "do it yourself" printed guide as well.

The only difference we could see between the excursions and doing it on our own was that we didn't get the hot chocolate in the little gift shop.

Ketchikan is a nice little place to walk around and if you left something necessary at home, there is a Wal-mart. In fact the bus from the totems will let you off across the street from Wal-mart if you wish and you can catch their free shuttle back into town. No, the shopping is not what I recommend doing on a cruise port day, but if you have a need, it can be met here. The other nice thing is that because it is a US port, our cell phone plan worked.

We did a canoe trip in a state park with DCL. It was amazing.

We did a Zodiac adventure with Princess Cruise. Each boat/zodiac can hold up to 4 people and you get to drive your own boat and follow the leader around. i think it was 2-3 hr excursion and there 3 or 4 boats + the leader in our group. We encountered whales, and other wild life in the water and on the shores that passed by.

On the way back to the docks, we rode by all the cruise ships that were docked. Seeing them from the water level...wow they are big.

They allow kids, but not sure how young. My daughter was 4 at the time. We had a blast. If we make it back to Ketchikan, we would try to do the longer zodiac trip which takes you further up some of the bays and they have a campsite to stop at and have some munchies.

We are booked with Ketchikan Helicopters. Its a heli ride and a landing to watch wildlife. They don't promise to see bears but it usually happens. Only 2 people can go (might be 3) so very small and personal service. We are crossing our fingers that the weather will be good! We don't meet the pilot until 4 so we are also doing the lumberjack show in the early afternoon before our excursion.

We saw a bear walking along the road during our bus ride!