This was everything we hoped it would be! We were looking for something a bit more off-the-beaten-path than the typical large group tour so common on cruise ship shore excursions. Tim and Mary run the tours personally themselves -- they're a small family business rather than a large company. On our tour, we were lucky enough to be the only guests, so we essentially had a private tour! This was a nice change of pace from other tour companies which might cancel your tour if they don't meet a minimum guest criteria.
Tim met us in a central Ketchikan location, and walked us to the nearby dock where Mary was waiting with the motorboat. We made out way out of the harbor to a quiet island, where they outfitted us with all necessary gear and we transferred from the boat to kayak to start our paddle. We circumnavigated the island, looking at wildlife and sea creatures -- Tim would hop out in shallow stretches to pull up sea cucumbers, sea stars, and other creatures for us to hold. After the relaxing paddle, we pulled up to a beach where Tim taught us about the local trees. Finally, we paddled back to the boat, where Mary had a beautiful spread of smoked salmon, fruit, and chocolate waiting for us. What a day!
Highlights included both guides' wonderful personalities; it was great to learn about Alaska but also about life in Ketchikan and their local experiences. No topic was off-limits, and Tim answered all questions we threw at him. It felt like we were paddling with old friends.
Just book this tour! Some might stress about booking through a private company rather than through your cruise line, but this is SUCH a better deal and a much more personal experience. Tim and Mary were very cognizant of our cruise departure time, and had us back with plenty of time to spare. We were also a bit nervous about sea kayaking for our first time, and they were so patient and clear with instructions that we felt immediately at ease and can't wait to kayak again. We're so glad we went with them, and felt great about supporting a small family business of year-round Ketchikan residents and active community members. I hope you get to meet them too!