Skagway Convention & Visitors Bureau

Upon disembarking from our cruise ship, our first stop was the visitor’s center. What better way to gain information than from the locals right? Wrong. Unfortunately the woman behind the counter had a snooty attitude toward tourists. She was some sort of language specialist or something. I wish I’d remembered her name. She said she was not allowed to endorse one attraction or location over another. Her overall negative attitude made her very difficult to speak with. I watched her look at children with disdain and heard her say «Ugh, you can always tell when Disney is in town.» I was appalled. For a town that relies 100% on tourism her attitude was unacceptable. Overall, our time in Skagway was fun and we had plenty to keep ourselves busy just by following a simple map.

This is an entirely nostalgic review, as I haven’t been here since 1995.
The wanderlust is taking over again, and yet again I answer its call by reviewing a loving memory.
To celebrate my forthcoming high school graduation, my aunt took me on an expedition of sorts, one that I am eternally grateful for. In case you didn’t know already from past reviews, I am a huge Jack London otaku (fanatic). The Square is my second home, and I am now a regular at Heinold’s. I have a fairly sizeable collection of London’s works (including a rare edition of a play he wrote), and can spout off many London-​derived facts at will. To complete this loop, my aunt took me to follow his footsteps through the Alaskan and Yukon territories. Together, we jounryed by plane (not cruise ship) from Juneau to Haines, Skaguay and Dyea, then hopped on a train and bus to Whitehorse, then another plane out to Dawson City. Skaguay was my most favourite stop.
I use the old spelling when referring to the historical townfront. It seems only fitting to use the «U» instead of the «W», as was later adopted by conforming officials. In my heart of hearts, it’s yet another way to keep history talking in our modern age.
The backdrop to this beautiful town are the glacial peaks one usually only sees in travel magazines, with the surrounding waters of the Chilkoot Inlet to buffer the town and you. Golden and bald eagles soar the skies while you canoe through the waters, and huskies take you on a spin down the main drag of town. Vaudeville shows to tickle your fancy, fresh seafood fare awaiting your taste buds, and shops aplenty to delight you into loosening your pursestrings whilst you’re there.
Museums decorate the town, but so do vestiges of past times as you walk amongst the wooden structures, both old and new. I remember a single tall chimney stack sitting on a vacant plot of land in the middle of town, and an old tractor trail along the edge towards the water. There’s also Lower and Upper Dewey Lake to the west should you fancy a nice day hike and some of the most aquamarine lake waters I’ve ever seen in my life.
One day I’ll be back to relish in this town that won my heart at first glance. And with the mileage under my belt, perhaps I’ll hit the beginnings of the Chilkoot Trail to deepen my nonsensical historical fancies. Will you join me?