My husband and I met in Alaska, on a cruise ship. It is a romantic story that I love to tell. Alaska is somewhere I had always wanted to go. If you are thinking of seeing Alaska I highly recommend a cruise, or a cruise + land tour option.
Our cruise ports were: Seattle, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria. All beautiful ports in their own right, but combined together it was a perfect itinerary.
When you book a cruise, you have SO many options for shore excursions. It can be overwhelming and with only a limited number of hours in each port you want to make the most of it. Here are some of my recommendations:
Seattle Must Sees:
Pike Place Market
From seafood, to flowers, to fresh produce, to baked goods, Pike Place Market has it all. While there get a coffee from the first Starbucks on the corner, buy some Rainer cherries from a vendor, grab some lunch and soak in all that this 105 year old market. For more tips, check out this website.
Seattle’s harbourfront showcases many of the cities gems. From the Space Needle to the stadiums, to the magnificent view of Mount Rainer on a clear day. The natural beauty of Seattle is so important to explore and experience. Whether you are there to feast on its culinary delights, marvel at its architecture of take in its water, forests and mountains you are sure to find lots of options to appeal to your interests. Grab a travel guide, visit their website or explore on your own, either way I am sure you will love your time there. Don’t forget your umbrella!
Ketchikan Highlights
Ketchikan is a small fishing town that is flooded by cruise ship passengers from late Spring through September. It is not only a charming town, but filled with locals that take such pride in their home and secretly relish the winter months when they are free from tourists. Their tourism website suggests otherwise, but I could see it in their eyes. There are lots of options for Ketchikan, here are a few of my favorites:
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| View of Ketchikan from the cruise ship. |
Crab Fishing (and eating):
Saxman Native Village
Ketchikan home to the world’s largest collection of totem poles, the Saxman Native Village is a wonderful opportunity to see some of these remarkable works of art, to hear about their stories and marvel at their beauty.
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
Yes, ladies, they have created a show just for you! Real, live lumberjacks performing a variety of tricks and stunts. While I hesitated to go because I felt it would be like a show at a theme park, I was pleasantly surprised. I laughed, I was in awe of what they were capable of doing and would highly recommend it! For more info visit their website.
More Alaskan Cruise Ports to come…watch for the next installment (s) featuring (glaciers, Skagway, Juneau and Victoria).
This trip looks amazing! I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska. I LOVE the story of how you & your Husband met. I hope you have a great weekend!
You should link up your trip on my “Share something Saturday” link party. http://www.thecraftysideofsarcasm.blogspot.com
I have linked up. Thank you for visiting.
So glad you enjoyed our love story. It certainly is unique!
I’ve been to Seattle many times, growing up in Portland. It’s gorgeous there & now my inlaws live in Kent near Seattle. It’s my excuse to visit that part of the country. :)
Lucky you! It is such a beautiful area. Would love to go back.
I went on that same exact cruise in 2010 with my husband, parents, and in laws! It was our big vacation before starting a family :) My favorite was hiking in the rainforest (yes they are in Alaska!)in Skagway. Such a memorable trip! Stopping over from Saturday Sharefest!
Thank you for stopping by Sarah. It is an amazing cruise. So glad to hear that you enjoyed it too! Loved Skagway :)
We just went to Alaska this summer. It’s such a wonderful place to visit! We weren’t on a cruise, though, so we didn’t visit the port towns.
I’m going to check out your Travel Tuesday post!
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
Lemon Drop Pie
Thank you for coming by to visit. Would love to read about your travels to Alaska and the places you went. Heading over to your site now.
Seattle is definitely on my bucket list as I live on the East coast. Those lumberjacks are hot!!! Visiting from the weekend blog walk.
Thank you for stopping by. The lumberjacks were quite nice to look at! And, yes, Seattle is such a fantastic city. I wish I had more time there. There was so much I didn’t get to see!
I have always wanted ro go to Seattle — especially Pike Place. I even have the travel guide for Seattle.
Oh, and cruises are my favorite type of vacation. I love thay people can’t/won’t call me. Makes it a real vacay.
So true! One of the best parts of cruises is the lack of reasonably priced internet and cell service. It is such a freedom to just shut off your phone.
I LOVE Seattle. I only spent an afternoon there and really need to go back…I wondered why the Starbucks line was so long at Pike Place, and then I found out after I got home, that it’s the first Starbucks location!
I’ve also secretly always wanted to check out Alaska. Especially after The Simpsons lived there lol.
Sarah, you crack me up! Yes, Seattle is awesome, as is Alaska. Did not see the Simpsons but definitely worth the trip :)
Oh wow Kerrie! You’ve been to so many wonderful places. It is my dream to be able to travel to as many different places as possible. I would love to go to Alaska. Sounds and looks beautiful.
Tami
Thank you Tami! I have had a remarkable time travelling. I feel truly lucky.
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Hi there! I found you on the Blog Hop and am now following you :) I’d love a follow back at sugarplumsandlollipops.blogspot.com and Pinterest! I follow back all my Pinterest followers!
That looks like such a wonderful adventure. I have always wanted to go to Seattle and Pike Place Market.
What a great post! So helpful to me since i hope to take an Alaskan cruise in the next few years! I’m a new follower!
Tara
http://tarabelle-adropofink.blogspot.com/
Thank you Tara! Looking forward to reading about your adventures.
My family and I took this exact same cruise a couple of years ago. It was amazing!! It completed our journey to all 50 states together! Look forward to reading more about your travels :)
Andrea, wow! All 50 states – that is amazing. Sounds like a wonderful experience.
Great pictures! I’ve never been a fan of being on a boat for a long cruise, but you make it sound like a fun adventure! Thanks!
My husband has always talked about how he would love to go to Alaska. I, on the other hand, wanted to take vacation anywhere that was warm, near the water, had plenty of ice tea for me to drink while I sat under an umbrella on the beach & read a book. Now that he is retired & I no longer want to get into a swimming suit, we may have to head to Alaska. You made it sound so inviting. And I wouldn’t mind revisiting Pike Place Market.
It is so beautiful – more beautiful than I could have ever imagine, but definitely not a warm weather destination!