wanderlust Archives | Arner Adventures

In Adventures hike hiking trails Travel ·

A Guide to Ketchikan Alaska: Places to Stay, Eat, and Things to Do

If you’re looking for an unforgettable Alaskan adventure, look no further than Ketchikan! This charming town is located on the southeast coast of Alaska and is known for its rich history and abundance of outdoor activities. Whether you’re interested in fishing, hiking, or kayaking, Ketchikan has something to offer everyone. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at what makes Ketchikan so special and provide some tips on where to stay, eat, and play while you’re there! There are plenty of things to do in Ketchikan, Alaska, especially if you are an adventurer!

What is Ketchikan?

Some people think Ketchikan is some sort of thing. No, it’s actually a town. Ketchikan is often referred to as the “Gateway to Alaska” because it is the first major town that visitors encounter when they travel to Alaska by ferry. The town has a rich history and was originally inhabited by the Tlingit people (pronounced clink-it). Later, it became a popular fishing destination for both commercial and sports fishermen. Today, Ketchikan is a popular tourist destination for those looking to experience all that Alaska has to offer.

things to do in Ketchikan — Ketchikan is known as the “Gateway to Alaska”

The Ketchikan Culture

There are many ways to experience the culture of Ketchikan. One way is to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, which is a museum that celebrates the cultures of Alaska’s indigenous people. Another option is to take a tour of Chief Johnson’s House, which was built in the early 1900s and is one of the oldest standing structures in Ketchikan. Or, you can simply stroll through downtown and admire the totem poles that line the streets!

If you’re looking to experience some of Ketchikan’s more unique culture, be sure to check out Creek Street. This historic boardwalk was once the center of Ketchikan’s red-light district and is now a popular shopping and dining destination.

There are also many annual events that celebrate Ketchikan’s culture, such as the Blueberry Arts Festival and the Winter Arts Faire. Be sure to check the event calendar before you visit so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!

While we were there, we learned that their elementary schools actually teach students wilderness survival skills like building a shelter, starting a fire, and finding food. Then when they reach high school, students go on a weekend-long trip where they put those skills to the test and can only bring one small canister of whatever they can fit into it. Not even their parents are allowed to know where they are, and they have to use the skills they’ve learned to survive. Sounds like an intense weekend, but it’s probably good preparation for living in Alaska!

How to Get to Ketchikan

Ketchikan is accessible by both ferry and airplane. Alaska Airlines offers daily flights from Seattle, which is a popular starting point for many visitors to Alaska. Once you arrive in Ketchikan, you can get around town via the public bus system or by walking. There are also many taxi and shuttle companies that offer transportation services. It is also a major port for most Alaskan cruises.

Where to Stay in Ketchikan

Ketchikan has a variety of lodging options to choose from, depending on your budget and preferences. For those looking for a more luxurious experience, the Gilmore Hotel is a great option. This hotel is located downtown and offers stunning views of the harbor. If you’re traveling on a budget, consider staying at one of the many bed and breakfasts in town like The Black Bear Inn. There are also RV parks and camping sites available for those who want to experience Alaska’s great outdoors.

Where to Eat in Ketchikan

There are many delicious dining options in Ketchikan, ranging from casual cafes to nicer dining restaurants. For a quick and tasty meal, be sure to check out one of the many seafood spots located along the waterfront. These places specialize in fresh, delicious seafood dishes that are perfect for a summer day. We recommend Annabelle’s Famous Keg and Chowder House or the Alaska Fish House. Both of these restaurants offer stunning views of the water and serve up some of Ketchikan’s best crab dishes.

What to Do in Ketchikan

Hiking

Ketchikan is home to many beautiful hiking trails that offer stunning views of the surrounding area. Be sure to hike up Deer Mountain for a breathtaking view of the town and harbor. We spent some time hiking through the Tongass National Forest, and our guide told us a lot about the history of totem poles and the importance of the forest to the Alaska Native people.

Fishing

Ketchikan is known for its great fishing, so be sure to bring your rod and tackle! There are many charter companies that offer half-day and full-day fishing trips. These trips are a great way to experience Alaska’s stunning scenery and try your hand at catching some of the local fish.

ATV Tours

One of the best ways to explore Alaska is by taking an ATV tour. There are many companies that offer tours, and we highly recommend Adventure Karts. This company offers a 3-hour day tour which was just the right amount of time to see everything. It was also super convenient for us since they picked us up right by where the cruise ships docked, and provide all the gear you need to keep your clothes clean during the wild ride.

Kayaking

Explore Ketchikan’s surrounding waterways by kayak! There are many guided kayak tours available that will take you through the area’s stunning scenery. We recommend booking a tour with Alaska Watersports, as they are very knowledgeable about the area and offer a great experience.

Biking Tour

One of the best ways to see Ketchikan is by bike! Alaska Shore Tours offers a unique (and not so strenuous biking excursion via ebike) that will take you around town and show you some of the best views. It’s a great way to see the town and learn about its history. You can also learn a great deal about Totem heritage in Ketchikan at the Totem Heritage Center.

Ketchikan is an incredible place with so much to offer. We hope you enjoy your time in this beautiful town! Be sure to check out the totem poles, enjoy the outdoors, and try some of the local seafood. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

In Adventures Travel ·

What to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise (without packing everything)

If you know us, you know that we are sticklers for avoiding checking our luggage, and baggage fees when we travel. After recently traveling on an Alaskan cruise, the biggest challenge was figuring out what to pack. There are a ton of packing lists and blogs out there that will tell you to bring a little bit of everything. We’re going to share with you how to pack for an Alaskan cruise in just your carry-on case, without packing everything under the sun.

Minimalist packing is our jam, so why not create the best plan for minimalist packing for an Alaskan cruise that is out there?! Yep, we own it!

What to Plan on For Your Alaskan Cruise

The climate in Alaska is very finicky. You can analyze the weather forecast to death but what you are going to find is that the temperature can vary. You can most definitely expect a few things, rain, cold temperatures, and warm temperatures. Confusing, right? It can lead you to want to just throw in everything but just hold on. We can plan for a little bit of everything without taking everything. Just stick with us.

We should also let you know that our cruise was Holland America’s Alaskan Inside Passage. The sail left Vancouver, B.C., Canada, and traveled to Tracy Arm Inlet, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan, then returned to Vancouver. Our cruise was in early June.

Checklist Prior to Packing

The first thing you are going to want to do is to determine if you are going to take part in any onboard social events such as formal night or what Holland America likes to call, “dressy attire” night. If so, that is an outfit(s) you will need to plan for.
What shore excursions are you planning? If you are venturing into hiking, kayaking, or anything with glaciers or waterfalls involved, we should plan accordingly.
Are you going to be exercising on the ship? If so, add to your list that you will need some workout clothing.
Will you be swimming or going into the hot tub while you are onboard?

Now that we have run through that short checklist, let’s get to packing.

what to pack for an alaskan cruise — This raincoat is from Columbia. I’ve had it for years. A similar version is here. I wore it most of the trip.

Let’s Pack for that Alaskan Cruise

If you are not familiar with our travel prep list to minimize your packing, now would be a good time to get familiar with it. This will be your best friend through all of your travels from now on, especially if you want to save time and money. We won’t go into every single thing to pack because this travel prep list has the basics on it. We are going to add things that are not covered on the list and edits/adjustments that need to be made for Alaska.

Our travel prep list is standard for just about any trip, but have not traveled to Alaska before, we were unsure about how it would stand up to a trip like this one. We did a ton of research to pack for our Alaskan cruise and we’re sharing what we learned.

The first thing you are going to want is a great carry-on bag that meets the TSA guidelines but it is also roomy and allows for proper packing. We love the Beis Travel Carry-on Roller. They are a staple in our travels. Message us if you would like a discount link emailed to you.
For our cruise, there were two dressy evenings. One dressy outfit will do. You can wear it twice. Guess what, no one cares. Do you need formal photos taken on two nights? No. You really don’t need them taken one night. Use your phone and take your own photos. They will be much cooler anyway. After your dressy evening, take off that outfit and hang it up and have it ready for the second dressy night. *This is only if you are taking part in a dressy night. You can always go to the casual dining restaurant to eat those evenings. We totally get that.
Do you need hiking shoes? Many will argue that you have to pack these for your Alaskan Cruise but we didn’t. We went on several hikes and wore our sneakers. The same sneakers that were worn during workouts, walks, and around the ship were the same ones that were worn on hikes and the excursions and we are still living to talk about it. As long as they are comfortable and sturdy, you are good to go!
Rain attire– if you haven’t heard, expect lots and lots of rain. If you go on your Alaskan cruise and it doesn’t rain, well thank the weather gods because, from everything we read and heard, you should always prepare for it. Take a rain poncho or a raincoat with a hood. Don’t bring an umbrella. Do you really want to carry that around? Just have a hood on your jacket or poncho and you will be fine. Your stateroom may have an umbrella in it if you really want one. Check with your cruise line, but for the love of Pete, don’t waste the space by packing an umbrella.
Jeans– we brought one pair of jeans and wore them several times. We read other bloggers who said they brought a pair of jeans for each day. (1) we don’t own that many pairs of jeans, (2) jeans are known to be one of the pieces of clothing that you can re-wear several times over before washing, and (3) why? That is just crazy packing!
Do you need lots of sweaters? No. We brought one. Layers are your friend. Bring a few long sleeve t-shirts and a couple of short sleeve t-shirts and layer up. There was a day in Skagway when we were thankful for layers. We started the morning out on the town with a long sleeve t-shirt over a short sleeve tee, with a coat and beanie, and by lunch, we had the short sleeve t-shirt on walking around and it had reached the 70s. Layering is where it’s at folks. We cannot say that enough.
Coat/jacket– this was a tough decision. We could not figure out if we should bring a jacket. The coat was a no-brainer and even though it was 80-degree weather when we left North Carolina, we wore our coat on the plane to avoid taking up space in our carry-on bag. We knew we would need it when we landed in Vancouver, and we did. We kept wondering if we should take a jacket and opted not to do so. This was the right decision. As long as you have layers, you will be fine.
Beanie, scarf, and gloves– yes, you will want them and need them so bring them along but don’t bring your biggest, fluffiest versions. Unless you are spending the day on the mountainside, just the basics for each will suffice. When you get back aboard the ship, you can hang these to dry if they got wet and have them ready for the next outing.
Swimsuit– yes, cruise ships have pools while traveling to Alaska. They are often heated and even if they are not, there are hot tubs you can enjoy. We searched everywhere while packing for this trip and no one addressed this question. If you want to swim or get into a hot tub, bring a swimsuit. Since it’s not a Caribbean vacation, you probably only need one. No beach towels. They are provided, as well as blankets while on the pool deck.

The remainder of the packing is fairly standard, and as long as you follow our travel prep list, leaving off the things you don’t need, and make the adjustments we have listed here in this blog post, you will fit everything into the carry-on bag with no problem.

Know Before You Go

Several excursions will have the attire you will need to wear as a part of your excursion. For example, we rode ATVs while in Ketchikan. This excursion was rainy and muddy. We didn’t have to have an entire rain suite. The excursion guides had them for us. Check with the cruise line and/or shore excursions to inquire about what is needed and what is provided.
What would we do differently in regards to packing? Bring more socks! We brought a pair/day but this wasn’t enough. Due to the rain, our socks often became wet so it would have been nice to have additional pairs to change into. Fortunately, socks don’t take up too much room and we would have had the room for more pairs.

We wish we would have found this list prior to going on our Alaskan cruise so that we knew what to pack. Even after a week of being on the cruise, we still overpacked, but still managed to fit everything into one carry-on bag. Even the customs officers leaving Canada and arriving in Canada asked twice if we had checked luggage and couldn’t believe it when we said we only had what was currently with us- our carry-on roller and one personal item. We’d rather get the odd looks than have to wait at the dreaded baggage carousel or pay the extra fees for luggage check.

If you have any questions about packing for your Alaskan cruise, or about packing in general, let us know! We hope that this list helps. Remember, traveling is about the experience, not the extra stuff.

In minimalist decor Minimalist Lifestyle wanderlust ·

Celebrity Edge Rainbow Egg Chair — The Original + Dupes To Purchase

One of our favorite parts of traveling is exploring new things around the world. Whether it’s trying a new cuisine or meeting new people, we’re always enthusiastic to hop out of our comfort zone and do something new. After all, travel makes us better humans. For this particular blog post, we’re sharing an interior design masterpiece that I (Shannon) came across during my recent cruise aboard the Celebrity Edge. It’s truly one of its kind — a furniture piece I haven’t seen anywhere before, and I’m sure you haven’t, either! It’s the Celebrity Edge Rainbow Egg Chair. We’re also sharing dupes to purchase, so stay tuned!

The Iconic Celebrity Edge Rainbow Chair

Warmer, sunnier days — the harbinger of summer — instigated me to cruise the waters during one of my recent travels. I enjoyed cocktails and sunset views behind the gushing waters, but beyond that, I came across a stunning furniture piece that single-handedly turned heads: the Rainbow Egg chair.

This chair was specific to my cruise ship, Celebrity Edge. And when I posted the photo on the ‘gram, the DMs blew up and I was bombarded with questions about the stunning chair.

When I tried to search more about the Rainbow Egg chair and get answers or how everyone could purchase it, I found out Celebrity Edge ordered it from a corporate furniture company, and no one could buy it. A bummer, I know! But since we don’t have access to the original, why not consider lookalikes to achieve a similar look — and recreate the same vibe — in your space? I’ve put together the top dupes of the Celebrity Edge Rainbow Chair for you to purchase and adorn your space. So, let’s started!

Celebrity Edge Rainbow Egg Chair Dupes

Hunting dupes for the Celebrity Edge Rainbow Chair had me surfing the internet like crazy; I knew I had to do something to help achieve a similar look! It’s perfect for minimalist decor, too! Here’s what I came up with:

Round Rainbow Chillasan Hanging Chair

This Rainbow Chillasan outdoor chair, made of durable all-weather wicker, is my closest selection to the Rainbow Egg chair. Its rounded silhouette handles at the ends, and cheerful, colorful stripes resemble the original — making it the perfect selection if you’re looking to replicate the exact same vibe.

If you wish to subtend it freely in the air from the top, you can purchase the hanging chair stand. The white chair cushion is also to be purchased separately. The product is easy to assemble and convenient to clean (with a damp cloth and mild soap solution).

Although it is designed to be an outdoor chair, you can adorn your indoor space with it, too! Ideally, you can create a statement with the rainbow chair in an otherwise white interior.

Celebrity Edge Rainbow Egg Chair — Round Rainbow Chillasan Hanging Chair | Photo Courtesy of World Market

Acapulco Chair Set

My next selection was this beautiful set of Acapulco chairs. The legs of the armchairs are made of metal, with the upper portion using durable plastic.

These differ from the original Celebrity Edge Rainbow Chair as they’re not subtended in the air, but rather rest on the floor. However, the pop of color and rainbow shades ensure you can achieve the same vibe!

The chair frame is UV resistant, making it ideal for outdoor use. You can also flank an indoor table with these chairs (and perhaps use cushions) to create a stunning seating corner.

Portable Hammock Rope Chair

If you’re on the hunt for a super comfortable version of the Celebrity Edge Rainbow Egg chair, this portable hammock is for you! It’s extremely soft seating — owing to the two cushions — is perfect to take an afternoon nap amidst fresh air and sunshine.

Plus, its diverse colors and freely-hanging nature replicate the original Rainbow Egg chair and can bring a pop of color to even the most boring spaces.

Tahiti Island Rope Swing Hammock Chair

A slightly understated version of the chair above, the Tahiti Island Rope Swing Hammock is another stunning dupe of the Celebrity Edge Rainbow chair.

It is woven using high-quality material, so you can expect it to last several years. The white base of the hammock is topped with multiple different colors, giving it the ultimate rainbow effect.

The cherry on the cake? Its holed nature gives it an airy effect, perfect for enjoying the breeze and beating the heat on a hot summer day.

Found Your Rainbow Egg Chair?

The Celebrity Edge Rainbow Egg Chair makes a statement of its own among interior design enthusiasts — and if you’re hoping to replicate its vibe in your space, my top 4 picks will do the trick! If you happen to be aboard Celebrity Edge and are looking for the Rainbow Egg Chair, make your way to Eden at the aft part of the ship. You will find it, and a beautiful view of the ocean awaits you.

Which dupe do you love most? Let us know.

Disclosure: We only recommend products we would use ourselves and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that are at no additional cost to you. We may earn a small commission from them. All efforts are made to ensure that affiliate links are disclosed in accordance with the FTC.