Blogs from Ketchikan, Alaska, United States, North America - page 5

Ketchikan Another sleepy village nestled between mountain and sea with amazing scenery, somehow I just can’t get enough of the views. Ketchikan is Tlingit Indian for “Thundering Wings of an Eagle” ,that is because the town takes the shape of an eagle in flight when viewed from deer Mountain. We were warned about the “traffic ninjas”, these pedestrian crossing attendants take their job VERY seriously and if anyone should step over the sidewalk before they instructed too they get very upset! I guess it upsets the whole town’s traffic system when a ship or two bring in an extra 3000 people… Shore excursions available were – floatplane or boat to Misty Fjords, flightseeing and I think someone mentioned snorkelling! On board entertainment in theatre “iBroadway” – music from Broadway past and present.. We had the best ... read more

20th July ’12 Ketchikan A grey, rainy, blustery day and we have arrived in Ketchikan - The Salmon Capital of the World. We are moored up right along the Front Street in the old historic town, which is…. yes you guessed it, lined with jewellery stores and souvenir shops! Again we got off and ran the gauntlet of stalls and people holding signs offering tours at lower prices than the ship. We started the hunt for the coins and charms and found the stores had given up completely on trying to get you to try on or buy their wares, which was a godsend. In one shop they were selling lots of Sarah Palin election promotion items like fridge magnets and postcards saying things like Run Sarah Run! 2012 election and Sarah says I can see ... read more

Friday June 15, 2012 Three’s a Crew Kira is returning with us and we are a crew, older and more experienced seamen that on our voyage together last year. With only a captain and an admiral giving orders we need a boatswain (pronounced bo’sun) to the things bo’suns do, like help carry provisions down to the ship and perhaps calm the angry birds. This is the first airplane flight that she can remember finding novelty and excitement in all she sees including the nifty little tables that fold up against the seat in front. She brought crafts, activities and drawing pads intent on using them all on our 1 ¾ hour flight to Ketchikan. I probably should have hailed a taxi for the one-mile trek from the ferry landing to Bar ... read more

Trip to Alaska Part Two – June 2012 – Ketchikan to Juneau Intro This is the second of a three part series and focuses on our trip through the western passage from Ketchikan to Juneau. Part One focused on our trip to Ketchikan through the eastern passage, and Part Three will focus on our “bookend” stays in Juneau, with a little bit about our partial day layover in Ketchikan. I will insert a link to Part Three once it is written. As you read this, you will see photos embedded with the text. Continue on after reading to see several more photos. 9 June 2012 – Ketchikan We arrived in Ketchikan on a beautiful sunny day! That is not something you will hear very often for the city that averages 13 feet of rain a year. ... read more

INSIDE PASSAGE, ALASKA As you cruise north from Vancouver the landscape gives way to miles and miles of wilderness. Vancouver is a very densely populated city, but British Columbia as a whole is not. Except for the occasional tugboat pulling a raft of logs or a Ferry transporting passengers and their vehicles the horizon before us is clear. Clear, clean and beautiful. Snow-capped peaks fringe the narrow passage ahead and the shores are an immense forest of lush green trees. Alaska's first city is our destination. Ketchikan is billed as the salmon capital of the world and the whole city is waiting for us to arrive. We are the on the first cruise to Alaska of the season for Princess and the first to arrive at the dock on this Monday morning. We are the first ... read more