A “Totem-ly” Boring Tour Through Ketchikan, Alaska

Ketchikan, Alaska, often called the “First City” because it’s the first major port of call for many heading up the Inside Passage, was a stop I genuinely looked forward to. With its rich Native history, iconic totem poles, and the charm of Creek Street, it sounded like a destination full of culture and character.

We signed up for the City Highlights, Totems, and Creek Street by Trolley tour, hoping for a fun and engaging way to explore it all. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t quite live up to the brochure… but at least it ended on a high note with a local beer flight and a great view.

We booked the City Highlights, Totems, and Creek Street by Trolley excursion, expecting a fun, educational ride through Alaska’s “First City.” The festive-looking trolley had promise, and I was genuinely excited to learn more about the history, totem legends, and famous Creek Street. Unfortunately… it was extremely boring.

The tour guides weren’t engaging at all, there was barely any direction, and the energy just felt flat from the moment we boarded. The visit to Saxman Native Village should’ve been a highlight, but it lacked the storytelling and depth to really bring the totems to life. It felt more like we were just being shuffled from stop to stop without much passion or purpose. By the time we looped by Creek Street, I was more than ready to call it a day.

Thankfully, the afternoon wasn’t a total loss. We stopped at Alaska King Crab Company, a seafood restaurant nestled right on the water with an incredible view of our ship. While we didn’t eat much, I ordered a beer flight featuring local Alaskan brews, and every single one was a hit. The vibe was warm, the setting picturesque, and honestly, it ended up being the highlight of our time in Ketchikan.

Would I book that trolley tour again? Definitely not. But grabbing a drink with a view of the harbor made for a peaceful little reset after a disappointing start. Sometimes, all it takes is a good beer and a better view to turn the day around.