Get Into The Pioneer Spirit With Skagway Private Tours

By Patty Goff


One of the main character traits that built the America of today has been loads of pioneer spirit. Settlers moved into unknown territories with nothing more than the essentials and built prosperous communities. Sometimes the discovery of gold helped to draw people to an area and this was certainly the case with the Klondike. If you want to follow in these pioneering footsteps, you may want to consider some Skagway private tours.

The southeastern part of Alaska is called the Alaska Panhandle and this is where the Klondike is. Juneau, which is Alaska's capital, is situated in the Panhandle but to get to the Klondike, you need to visit the town of Skagway to the northwest. With only about a thousand people, this lovely little town at the mouth of a fjord is the Gateway to the Klondike.

Often called the Gateway to the Klondike, the town has a fascinating history. The Tlingit people had been living here for thousands of years when Captain William Moore decided to settle here in 1887. Moore's cabin still stands. Moore believed that there was gold in the area and only a few years later, the Klondike Gold Rush proved him right. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the Skagway Museum, the Mascot Saloon Museum and several historic buildings will tell you more about those heady days that turned the settlement into a boomtown.

If you want some nature with your trip into the past, take a hike along one of the trails that the miners used back in the day. A guide will be able to tell you more about the people who worked here. The two main trails are the Chilkoot Trail, which leads to a ghost town called Dyea, and the White Pass Trail to a series of lakes.

The scenery in the area is spectacular and there are three great ways to enjoy it. One is to take the ferry to Haines, since it will take you along the fjord and you may see marine creatures such as seals and even whales. You can also splash out on a helicopter tour for a bird's eye view. Most popular, however, is the scenic White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad.

The best time to visit is in summer, when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is lower. However, this is prime tourist season too and thousands of visitors pass through, many of them on day excursions from cruise ships. Winters are cold and wet and there is a good chance of snow.

To visit, you have the option of taking a cruise ship. However, if you want to spend more than a day in the area, it's better to come by ferry. The Alaska Marine Highway is a ferry service that plies the route from British Columbia and via Juneau. Another option is to catch an airplane from Juneau or to drive in, since Skagway has a connection to the Klondike Highway from Canada.

With all the people visiting in summer, there is no shortage of tour operators that provide private tours. You have plenty to choose from too, with guided sightseeing tours or more epic adventures into the surrounding countryside. To be on the safe side, though, find a tour operator online and book ahead.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment