Cruise Guide to Skagway, Alaska
Finding an Alaskan cruise ship for a trip to the last frontier is great, but with cities like Skagway, Alaska preserving an era of American history that is long past, you will want to make sure that this is one of the stops on your trip.
Skagway is filled with antique buildings, and signs that say “saloon” instead of “bar,” and you can take a leap back in time and see what the gold-seeking men of the time saw when they traveled here over 100 years before. Plus, with many excursions to choose from when you’re there, you won’t be disappointed!
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
Skagway is full of emerald green mountains, gigantic trees, waterfalls, and tunnels that you couldn’t possibly see in all in one hike. So, get the chance to see a snapshot of everything natural in Skagway by taking the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad Train. This trip will have you board the train in one of the many passenger coaches and see the beauty of the city from inside.
Originally built in 1898, this train will make you feel like you are one of the miners in the Klondike Gold Rush until you get back on the Alaska cruise ship.
Outdoor Adventures
River Float Tours
For a relaxing and scenic trip along the water for the chance to see animals on the shoreline and glaciers from close range, you can take an outdoor excursion on a River Float Tour. These boats are big and buoyant and will allow you to slowly float along the river to see the beauty surrounding you in all directions.
Klondike Summit
This tour is a unique option that will take you on a ride in a motorcoach up the Klondike Mountain where you will be guided the rest of the way toward the summit as you hike. Once at the top, you will be able to cross the famous Yukon suspension bridge that looks down over the rapids more than 65 feet below.
Once you work up an appetite by getting your adrenaline flowing, you will get to sit down and experience an authentic salmon bake in the restaurant that overlooks the surrounding area for a great view to go with your delicious meal so you don’t back to your Alaska cruise ship with an empty stomach.
Gold Rush History
If you are interested in learning about the history of the town of Skagway, which contains the route used by gold miners to get to the Klondike Gold Rush, then taking a walking tour of the Klondike Historic District will be quite the treat. These tours are available between May and the end of September and will last 45 minutes in total. You will learn about the miner’s travels and some historical facts about the Gold Rush itself.
Yukon (Canada)
Seeing animals that you won’t get to see during the rest of your trip is an exciting idea for most travelers, that is why the Yukon tours are so popular for many Alaska cruise ships. These guided tours will take you on a ride to the White Pass Summit and then into the Yukon territory. From here, you can get out of the coach and check out the land on foot and search for signs of caribou and moose!
Haines
Heading over to Haines by way of a catamaran is an experience that you will not soon forget. The guide will take you from the docks of your Alaska cruise ship and have you board the boat for the 45 minute-trip through fjords that will end in Haines at the Chilkoot Lake. On the way, you will see the wildlife of all kinds on the shore, and once you’re at the lake, you will transfer to motorized canoes to spend some time on the water.
The end of this trip will conclude with a full picnic and lunch on land before heading back for the night.
Red Onion Saloon
The spirit of the Wild West and its crazy gun-toting days have passed, but the bordellos have been turned into bars with a unique and famous brothel museum at the Red Onion Saloon. This historic must-see saloon once was a famous bordello during the Gold-Rush era, where miners would settle down for a cold one before heading back to their homes for the night.
But this saloon is now a museum that captures the style of the time and offers drinks and dishes to go with it. As a full bar and restaurant, you can come by before going back to your Alaska cruise ship and look at the artifacts while enjoying a bite and a pint!
Dog Sledding
Looking for an adventure that ends with petting dogs? Then, this tour is the excursion for you. With a helicopter ride that transports you to the top of a glacier, then some time to explore the area on foot, and the chance to go on a dog sled ride across a snowy bank, you will get three excursions packed into two hours.
Plus, with the chance to ride back on a helicopter to the dock, you don’t have to worry about tiring yourself out while riding with the dogs and hiking across to snow to go exploring.
Interesting Facts About Skagway, Alaska
Did you know that the city of Skagway holds a world record? Well, it does, and it’s for something that you might not expect. Egg tossing!
Set in 2008, Skagway snagged the record for the most people participating in an egg toss with a crowd that was blocks long down a major street. They got the title during a Fourth of July Celebration!
Many people know and love the store, Nordstrom. Well, not many know that John W. Nordstrom spent a few years in Skagway during the height of the Gold Rush and ended up making enough money to go back home to Seattle, Washington and open up his first department store. Without the city of Skagway, we wouldn’t have the Nordstrom store that is still going strong today!
Author: Sophie Anderson
Post Date: 14th January 2020
Categories: Ports