My favorite Alaskan port stop is Skagway. It is full of charming streets, scenic rails, and tasty treats! The city is on the northern end of the Inside Passage on the Lynn Canal. The area began as hunting and fishing grounds for the Tlingit Native Americans, who named it for its windy conditions. In 1887, Captain William Moore, a member of Canada’s Ogilvie survey party, claimed 160 acres of the valley area while exploring the now White Pass trail. He called it Mooresville.
In 1897, the Klondike Gold Rush changed the place forever, as gold rushers clamored in to begin the arduous journey to the Yukon to find fortune. Soon after, the population swelled to around 10,000 people, and construction began on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. After the gold rush, which only lasted a couple of years, the population dwindled, but in 1900, Skagway became Alaska’s first incorporated city with 3,117 residents, edging out Juneau by one day!
Today, the first thing visitors to Skagway will notice is its picturesque location. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on the other. As we were getting of our ship, there was even a rainbow over one of the many mountains! The next thing you will notice is the quaint, pretty city itself. I felt like I was in another time and place as I walked the clean sidewalks, surrounded by buildings that looked like they could have been there during the gold rush.
Just outside the main road, there is a little park and monument. There are also vintage trains which speak to the city’s past and one of the best shore excursions you can take on an Alaskan cruise. Riding on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway will take you to some of the most beautiful sights you will ever see! You will also hear intriguing stories of the area’s past. Be sure to have your passport with you as you will cross over into Canada just like the gold rushers did.
If you don’t want to spend money on a shore excursion or train tickets, the city itself is fun to explore. There are some authentic shops and lots of good eats. We ate at the Banaza Bar & Grill and shared a delicious Alaskan Chowder and Halibut Sandwich. Many of our fellow cruisers also enjoyed The Skagway Brewing Company. After a bite, be sure to get Alaskan fry bread from the The Klondike Doughboy for dessert. It is a cinnamon, sugary, doughy delight, and the best treat I had on this cruise!
An excellent free thing to do in Skagway is to walk through the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center Museum. It has many interactive exhibits. You can even spin to see if you survived the gold rush! Next door to the museum, you will find the old White Pass & Yukon Route depot with restrooms, benches, and water stations. The Train Shoppe is also there for fun shopping unique to the area. I got a beautiful White Pass & Yukon Route Railway train Christmas ornament.
Whether you ride the train or not, Skagway is one of the best cruise ports! Be sure to pick an Alaskan cruise that stops there.
Laci Post is a Dreams Unlimited Travel Agent who loves travel, history, and a good story anywhere. She would be happy to help you with your next Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, or Universal adventure! Â Â Â Â
Request a Quote Today
