Ketchikan fishing fleet walking tour with drinks at two bars
Two bars, the fishing fleet docks, and a guide who lives there
Fish Tales & Ales is a 90-minute guided walking tour of Ketchikan's fishing fleet and Creek Street, bookended by drinks at two fishermen's bars. You're led by a fisherman who lives on the docks and knows the boats, the crews and the stories firsthand. The tour includes two house drinks and photos taken by your guide; minimum age is 21.
1h 30m
Step-by-step itinerary
Historical walking tour with drinks
- Visit Shipwreck Bar for drinks
- Walk through historic Creek Street
- See Dolly's House Museum area
- Explore Fishing Fleet docks
- Enjoy drinks at fishermen’s favorite bar
The Experience
The tour opens at the Shipwreck Bar, one of the fishing fleet's favorite spots, where you'll sample a house specialty or local brew while looking at the wall of shipwrecked boats and the trophy fish and crab mounted on the walls. From there you walk through the historic red light district along Ketchikan Creek—a stretch of fairly flat sidewalks past historic buildings where salmon move upstream to spawn, and where your guide shares the colorful stories that shaped the town. You'll see Dolly's House Museum, an example of the kinds of business that once lined this boardwalk.
The heart of the tour is the fishing fleet docks, where you walk among the boats and meet some of the fishermen preparing for their next catch. Your guide, who lives on the dock, explains the different types of fishing boats and the work that goes into the fleet. The tour ends at the Potlatch Bar, another classic fishermen's hangout, where you'll have another drink and hear more stories. Your guide also photographs you throughout the walk so you have images to take home.
What’s included
- Two house drinks (one at the Shipwreck Bar, one at the Potlatch Bar).
- professional photos taken by your guide throughout the walk.
- guided access to the fishing fleet docks and crew.
- entry to Dolly's House Museum.
Operated by Terry's Tour
Is this one for you?This tour is built for anyone who wants to hear Ketchikan's fishing industry and bar culture from someone who lives it—a guide who knows the fleet, the boats and the stories firsthand, rather than a general history tour. The fixed route and timing mean the two bars and the docks are arranged in sequence, so the day holds together without you planning the stops or the drinks.
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Top questions
What's the Shipwreck Bar like, and what will I see there?
The Shipwreck Bar is one of the fishing fleet's favorite watering holes on the docks. You'll see a wall of shipwrecked boats and large mounted trophy fish and crab, and you'll sample a house specialty or local brew while your guide shares stories about the fleet.
Will I actually meet fishermen on the docks?
Yes. You walk the fishing fleet docks and meet some of the fishermen who are preparing their boats for the next catch. Your guide, who lives on the dock, introduces you to the different types of fishing boats and the work involved.
What is Creek Street and why is it historic?
Creek Street is Ketchikan's historic red light district along Ketchikan Creek. It's lined with historic buildings and is known for the salmon that move upstream to spawn. You'll walk the fairly flat sidewalks, see Dolly's House Museum as an example of the businesses that once operated there, and hear stories about Ketchikan's colorful past.
How much walking is involved, and is it accessible?
The tour is 90 minutes with fairly flat sidewalks through town and along the docks. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Scooters are also accessible.
Who is the guide, and what makes them different?
Your guide is a fisherman who lives on the fishing fleet dock in Ketchikan. They have firsthand knowledge of the boats, the crews and the fishing industry, and they also photograph you throughout the walk so you can keep the memories.
What drinks are included, and what's the minimum age?
Two house drinks are included—one at the Shipwreck Bar at the start and one at the Potlatch Bar at the end. The minimum age for this tour is 21.
Ketchikan fishing fleet walking tour with drinks at two bars
1h 30m · EN
from US$ 95 per person
★★★★★★★★★★5.009 reviews
