Skagway, Alaska

One of Alaska's top three cruise stops, Skagway was once the jumping-off spot for the 1898 Klondike gold rush. Skagua, as it is known by the Tlingit, means windy place. In fact, it's so windy here that Skagway residents must stay inside for up to two weeks at at time. By the time the wind abates, the whole town is ready to celebrate, letting their collective hair down in a festival whose events includes bowling with frozen turkeys and horseshoe games using toilet seats.

Skagway, Alaska Points of Interest

See It Now: Skagway Photo Tour and White Pass Railroad Photo Tour

• Days of '98 Show with Soapy Smith: This long-running show recounts the life of notorious Skagway, Alaska con-man Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith. The action takes place in Smith's Parlor on the last day of his life.

• Jewell Gardens: Because of the long summer days, plants grow like mad in Skagway, Alaska. This little garden has beautiful flowers and they also grow monstrous vegetables, including cabbages weighing up to 30 pounds.

• Klondike Gold Dredge Tours: It never worked here, but the tour of this gold dredge, brought back from a working claim in the Klondike is fun. The gold-panning demo is entertaining, and it's the only tour in Skagway, Alaska where you come out richer than you went in: most people pan $3 to $5 worth of gold nuggets for themselves.

• Klondike Historic Park: This park celebrates the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-98 and maintains 15 restored buildings in downtown Skagway, Alaska. They also administer the Chilkoot Trail.

• White Pass Railroad: Follows the route the gold-seekers took over the Chilkoot Trail to the big gold strike in the Yukon. A must-see.

Best Time to Visit Skagway, Alaska

Skagway, Alaska is 100 miles north of Juneau. Most visitors come during cruise season, late May through early September. June and July bring long days, with almost 20 hours of daylight. Independent travelers will find Skagway, Alaska less crowded in early May and mid- to late-September.

Winter brings ski season, and the Northern Lights can be viewed from town as well as nearby White Pass. Temperatures are more moderate than you might think, with average highs in the 30's. However, the sun is out only 6 hours a day in December and January.

Getting to Skagway, Alaska

By air, Skagway, Alaska is a 45-minute commuter flight from Juneau. By water, it's at the northern end of the Alaska Marine Highway. Most Inside Passage cruises stop in Skagway, Alaska.

By land, you can get here via the South Klondike Highway, 110 miles south off the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The road to Skagway is maintained year round, but in 2005 there was talk of closing it in winter. Check to be sure it's open before you try to travel on it in winter. You will find several RV parks here.