Editor Pick
Ketchikan Whale Tails etc.
- September 9, 2001
- Rated 4 of 5 by
sasha1 from , Florida
As our sea plane-wildlife-bear tour (and every other outside activity was cancelled) we glumly prepared to wander the town. Disheartened to say the least. We were prepared for "ALASKA THE GREAT OUTDOORS" and were reduced to "Alaska cold pouring rain and tourist traps". This was our first port and I was crabby. Don't fall into my crab trap.
Learn from our lessons. Flexible- be ever willing to change your plans and plan ahead. Use your hiking boots to trudge down to the Shore Excursion desk (we only found out what we missed later) and grab all those coupons for discounts on jewelry. This is the only port that had them available and I'm kicking myself in retrospect. Skepticism aside we missed some good deals and even after the tour (had it happened) we could have taken advantage. The days are long here.
Added some websites along with the commentary if you'd like a sneak preview.
Regardless of my love for the outdoors I am a jewelry freak and regret the opportunity to make some great buys here. Ketchikan has some of the most creative artists and unique jewelry designs I have ever seen. Diamonds,
tanzanite, opals and gold jewelry abound. It's not their availability- it's what the local artists have created. If you are in the market I recommend shopping around and be aware the shop owners are willing to dicker.
Stop at the visitor center and pick up the city guide which also has discount coupons for souvenier items. Yes- many of those discounts are for silly come-ons but you can give your grandkids or whomever a little whale-tail gold charm for little more than the price of a tee-shirt. Which would you rather have? You are going to wander around the town anyway and those shop discounts helped us collect lots of great stocking stuffers for next Christmas. This is also the place to pick up sweatshirts at bargain prices ($9.99)to keep you warm the rest of the trip and congratulate yourself on saving room in your luggage.
Unique stores included the following:
Del Sol- everything in the stores from T-shirts to nail polish) react to sunlight and change color. Keep an eye out if only to hold items up to the light and have some fun.
http://www.justaddsun.com
Creek Street- great little art gallery just as you go across the bridge. SOHO COHO just walk straight ahead you'll be in the door. Lot's of unique craft items and they also sell Ravenbrew Coffee. We picked up several bags such as "Deadman's Reach" (Served in Bed. Raises the Dead.) and "Three Peckered Billy Goat" (Sup From the Cup That Keeps You Up) for coffee lovers back home. If you want a preview try http.trollart.com
A little further down on Creek Street is Perfect Partners that advertises the largest opal found. We didn't buy the opal but did get a beautiful engraved crystal and silver locket for an unbelievable $20.00.
Oh- no sales tax either.
Enjoy.
From journal Alaska Autumn