Royal Caribbean :

gold would buy a man fifteen minutes, so they would often sit and wait until their favorite gal became free.Each room upstairs had a hole in the floor into which the girls would drop the gold piece upon the session’s completion. The hole fed a tube that carried the gold into different chambers behind the bar, and when the bartender heard it coming down he would turn the corresponding girl’s doll upright, signaling she was once again primed for purchase.

A little more about Skagway: It’s been 30 years since a baby was born there, there is no doctor in town (only EMTs, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants), the closest trauma center is Seattle (1123 miles), the population in January (winter) is around 400 people, and the town was equipped with electricity before New York City.

Interesting place, for sure, but it’s not only the history and culture: Nature is what will make your camera smile. Skagway is tucked in a valley amongst the mountains and situated right on the water, very similar to the way Juneau is positioned (you can drive into Skagway, however). 

Splurge: White Pass Yukon Railroad
To get the full scope and lay of the land, we traveled by bus up into the mountains to Fraser, British Columbia (about 20 miles), and took the White Pass Yukon Railroad back down to Skagway (there are several different tour options).

The weather on the coast was mild (50s), but it was almost as if a white sheet had been tossed over the landscape as the train departed Fraser approximately 20 miles inland – snow covered the ground and mountains in all directions, the only variation the stone rocks that jutted out and the small pools of blue glacier water that could be seen on either side of the tracks.

The railroad was built and used during the gold rush to transport men up into the wilderness – a project that solidified Skagway as a major boom town of the Klondike Gold Rush. The ride is pleasantly slow and scenic, the snow giving way to lush mountainsides of green trees and cascading waterfalls. There are different shades of green, some bright like spring and others deep and hearty, the latter represented by the winter-tough tall pines.

I found the railroad to give a perspective that would typically be associated with a plane or helicopter ride (such as the seaplane ride in Juneau), a broad overview of the land that you simply cannot achieve by a walking or bike tour. Those excursions are no doubt available for visitors to Skagway, but the advantage one gets on the train lies in the person’s proximity to what they are observing. I wasn’t looking down upon the land, I was immersed in it, looking up at the tops of the pines and rolling through the valleys and over the rivers. I think that’s an important aspect to keep in mind as you mull over the options of exploration. For more information on the White Pass Yukon Railroad excursion, visit http://www.wpyr.com.

Save: Reid Falls and Rhubarb
Those on a tighter budget should check out Reid Falls near the Gold Rush Cemetery, a 300-ft waterfall located about two miles from downtown Skagway. You can either walk, bike, or take a cab to the cemetery, and the falls is a short, less than five minute walk from there. The area is also known for its abundance of Rhubarb – keep your eye out for a slice of pie. Finish off your time in port with a drink and a $5 tour of the Red Onion Saloon for a lesson in Gold Rush Prostitution and walk through the upstairs bedrooms of the old brothel. 

Famtripper Tips

I would recommend spending at least a night or two in Seattle before or after your cruise. There are a lot of outdoor opportunities in the form of the surrounding national parks and Mt. Rainier, but first timers shouldn’t hesitate to hang out in the downtown area. Pike’s Market may carry a touristy label in some circles, but I promise you the locals go there as well – it’s a cool spot. I was surprised how hilly the downtown area was, that part of the city pours down to the river. Head over to the Crumpet Shop (located at Pike and 1^st) for a great pre-boarding breakfast. 

You can also visit the original Starbucks and check out the infamous Space Needle, which sort of becomes more impressive when you realize that few American cities have a more recognizable icon (the Empire State Building is the only one I can think of). I would suggest going to the top as you really get a feel for the ....