Happy Independence Day! Today we are in Ketchikan, Alaska. This is our first port of many and it has been an A.B. Day (Absolutely Beautiful). All sun and blue skies today. The Zaandam is in port with the Celebrity Millennium.
At 8am, right on time, we were allowed to leave the ship. Walt and I walked over to Thomas Basin where the small fishing and private boats are docked. There is a jetty, so we walked out to the end and met some very colorful Alaskans wishing us a Happy 4th. After that we wandered down Creek Street (former red light district), but the stores were not open yet.
The funicular was not working today, so we hiked Married Man’s Trail up to Cape Fox Lodge to check out their totem pole replicas and the lobby of the lodge. A very nice young lady that works in the gift shop noticed my tattoo which started a rowing conversation. Walt waited that out in the lobby.
After our visit it was apparent that the funicular would not be running for the day, so we walked over to Edmunds Street to walk down a street of stairs. The views were great and there was no one but locals around. In fact, for most of the morning we were nowhere near the other cruise ship passengers.
Next we went back to Creek Street for a little shopping. I found a magnet of a Puffin and neat Alaskan socks. It was getting to the point that the fellow passengers were showing up, so we decided to get an early lunch at Dwyer’s across from Berth 2 on the 3rd floor. I decided to try the Denali Single Engine Red beer. So what if it was only 10:45am, technically that is 2:45pm on the east coast. J Walt had Halibut Fish and Chips and I had the Halibut Burger. Both were really good.
With noon quickly approaching, we headed back to the ship to watch the Independence Day Parade from out balcony. It was a fantastic vantage point (look for pictures on my Facebook page). Ketchikan knows how to throw a parade! There were bagpipes, sirens, dancers, boyscouts, logging trucks made up as floats, High School Reunion groups, and much more. There was even a fly-by of floatplanes during the parade. So much fun that I was smiling ear to ear.
If you get a chance to be in Ketchikan on Independence Day, you should absolutely do it. The characters are out and friendly as can be.