Photo taken by Karen in Skagway..check out their website for details
Seattle
The Pike Place Market..
My favorites …
Moon Valley Organics ..this is a must stop for those of you that are looking for organic products to soothe, heal and moisturize your body. The item I stock up on is their Lip Balm.
I have searched the world for the perfect Lip Balm and they are the winners!
To locate them head down the entrance closest to the pier, they will be on the right hand side before you reach the salmon throwing stand and the pig
Made in Washington..this store has many locations including The Pike Place Market, which was their 1st store that they opened! If you check out their website you can really get an idea of all the products they offer, which supports local artisans and small businesses and the states economy directly. They are located On Post Alley, between Pike Street and Pine Street in Seattle's Pike Place Market. **Special Offer.**.In 2009 they are celebrating 25 years in business! Each day they have .25 cent specials all day long and on YOUR birthday you will receive 25% off your entire purchase. (info provided by Judy Burnside~Store Manager)
Flower Stands- last year I blogged about the Wonder Vase, which can be found on Ebay, in travel Stores or on the official website. The flowers at these stands are simply beautiful and reasonably priced. You are allowed to bring them onboard, you just can’t take them OFF the ship. Hungry? I love Beechers Handmade Cheeses for their Macaroni and Cheese & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. You can sample their cheeses and if you're lucky…it will be cheese making day! What a show! Check out this video below! The Daily Dozen…as the handwritten sign says…Resistance is Futile! If you encounter a line…stand in it…it is worth your time! Don’t become calorie conscious…you can and will want to eat a dozen minis. Trust Me! Here’s a GREAT video for you to watch! Sam McGees is my favorite shop to stop in while in town, it’s located on Creek Street. Inside they offer a wide selection of Made in Alaska Products and they also have a tasting bar…wondering what salmonberry, fireweed and birch tastes like…this is your chance! Whale Tail Soap company ..wonderful selection of handmade soaps, located on Creek Street Skagway Skagway Mercantile..a great store managed by a former cruise line employee! Stop by and say Hi to Allison! Inside her store, you will find the Excelsior Café, they brew Starbucks Coffee and sell snacks to fortify your shopping time in Skagway, they also provide a nice area to sit down and defrost! Skagway Liquor Store next door sales Alaska Brewery singles for $1.95! This is your chance to bring some back on the ship to have with a slice of pizza! A tradition that my mom and I continue as we travel throughout the world! North to Alaska and Tundra Teds both are owned by The Eagan’s, 3rd generation Alaskans! I’ve spent 6 days in St. Petersburg on 3 Baltic cruises and along the way purchased quite a few items…the prices in this store are even better than the market outside of the Church of the Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg! Say Hello to Tari and feel free to say I sent you in to look around! I want to point out that The Eagans decided to advertise onboard in the ship’s Port and Shopping guide…It was a marketing decision to stay competitive with businesses that have arrived from other cruise destinations! While many of us tend to ignore the stores that are in the guide, this is an exception to the rule! Juneau Every time I travel to Juneau there’s a few locally owned stores that I make a point of stopping into to find the perfect souvenir or gift. I hope you will pay them a visit Caribou Crossings ..they are located across from the tram. They are Locally owned and they feature over 60 Alaskan artists throughout their store..HIGH quality merchandise and affordable prices. Outside is the coffee cart with a fabulous menu and delicious coffee drinks! I have it on good authority that the Italian waiters, head waiters and Maitre D’s always look forward to coming here for a cup of espresso! The House of Russia…By now, you’ve taken the time to learn the history of Alaska and why the Russia culture is so a big part of various communities.This store has a fantastic selection of Christmas Santas and ornaments, Lacquer Boxes, Amber Jewelry, and Matreshka Dolls. The quality and quantity reminds me of my time in Russia! NorWesterly …This store has everything Christmas! A fantastic place to pick up a Christmas ornament to remind you each year of your cruise to Alaska!! Alaska Brewery- locally brewed in Juneau! The tour and tastings are FREE! You can reach them by taxi or by public transportation that will drop you very close by! Check out there website, it’s fantastic and a wealth of information! Icy Strait Point We ate at the Crab House in between our tours. We split a whole, FRESH Dungeness Crab for $20.00. Simply Delicious! There are a few shops in the cannery area which are all locally owned, be sure to wander into the Salmon Shop to taste the Salmon Spread. The recipe is provided for you to take home! Kodiak The Kodiak Refuge Center is home to the Alaska Geographic bookstore! It’s small, but stuffed with all sorts of information on Alaska! A must see! If you aren’t making a stop in Kodiak, at least visit their website! Find the Kodiak Welcome sign on your walking map, it’s by “THE MALL” As you face the Fishermen Carving..look to your left ~ that is where you need to go! memory, when you are about to walk by them!
Alaska 
As you walk through the cruise terminal to board your ship make sure to pick up the Alaska Discount Book. Many coupons inside to save you money throughout your cruise and while I’m the first one to appreciate a “deal” on a t-shirt, ball point pen or key chain. Most of the time, I want a souvenir that truly is native to the place I’m visiting!
To know that a product is authentic look for this logo.
Also, watch out for stores that display signs in the window that the store is owned by a local!
Ketchikan..
I met them years ago when they lived in Sitka and was pleasantly surprised to run into them once again here! North to Alaska carries Alaskan made products and Tundra Teds has wonderful Russian Treasures.
It’s the home of the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak. When a ship is in port, they will open up for you, so you can view and purchase arts and crafts they’ve handmade. At speak with them about their culture and life on Kodiak!
Kodiak Brewery- a once in lifetime experience as you can only taste this local beer on Kodiak Island. If you walk into town, it’s on your way or you can ask the shuttle driver to drop you off! They open at 12 noon for tours and tastings, for a very low price of $5.00! The owner is passionate about his beer and the tour will take between 5-20 minutes depending on how much interest you have! As I mentioned above, bring some back to the ship to enjoy with a slice of pizza!
That concludes my suggestions for shopping at locally owned businesses and purchasing Made in Washington and Made in Alaska products!
Below is a photo album of what most of the stores look like, which will help jog your
If a store name is underlined they have a website, they have poured a lot of love into
their websites, just like we have into ours...it's worth your time to check them out!
I would also like to take a moment to add, for those of you who are new to our website...
we are never paid for our opinions!
Have a wonderful cruise!
