Ketchikan
Leaving the charm of Juneau behind, we headed for Ketchikan, famously known as the Salmon Capital of the World. Getting off the ship and to the port was a little more eventful than usual; a recent rock slide had taken out the main cruise ship dock so we had to reach the port via tender boats. These boats looked tiny from the deck of our cruise ship, but felt surprisingly massive once we were inside them!
Crossing the pier into town, I discovered a hidden marine world tucked away beneath the planks. From starfish to jellyfish, the water was buzzing with life. It’s amazing how much beauty we miss when we’re in a hurry. I always make it a point to look around and notice the little things; sometimes the most incredible views aren’t the grand landscapes, but the tiny, vibrant worlds under a pier.
Our main attraction in Ketchikan was Creek Street. Today, it’s a vibrant hub of local boutiques and the perfect place for watching the salmon run, but it wasn’t always so family-friendly. For over fifty years (1903–1956), the boardwalk served as the city’s red-light district, teeming with brothels and bootleggers. I can imagine the wild stories Creek Street could tell!
A very cool thing we saw while watching the salmon – a bald eagle flew right above us and landed in a nearby tree! It was so beautiful watching him soar above us and then get a close-up view of the beauty.
Skagway
After leaving Ketchikan, we spent a wonderful day in Skagway. It’s an exceptionally scenic town, and even with the rain, we had a great time wandering the historic district and browsing the local shops. A particular highlight was hearing the performers from the Days of ’98 (1898!) vaudeville show; it felt like stepping right back into the gold rush era. We’d love to visit Skagway again just to see the full show!
Skagway became a boomtown overnight because of the Klondike Gold Rush, as the city sat directly on the route to the Yukon goldfields. Though tales of striking it rich were exaggerated, the sheer volume of people attempting the treacherous White Pass led to the creation of the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad.
Construction on the railroad began at the height of the frenzy, but by its completion in 1900, the rush had already begun to fade. The railroad was then a vital commercial lifeline for the Yukon’s mining industry, but today it survives as a breathtaking scenic excursion for visitors.
We took the Summit Excursion, a 3 hour journey that was breathtaking despite the rain. The scenery was filled with waterfalls, and the history of the railroad construction is truly incredible. The tracks climb from sea level in Skagway to nearly 3,000 feet at the summit, featuring impressive grades of almost 3.9% (extreme for a railroad!). While the full line spans 110 miles, this shorter route highlights the most dramatic engineering feats of the entire climb.
Ketchikan and Skagway were short but really enjoyable stops on our Alaska honeymoon cruise. We’re already looking forward to a return trip, hopefully with a bit more sunshine and a front-row seat at the theater!
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Up next: The last leg of our tour – a 2 day train ride from Seattle to San Diego!
