5 things you can do in 30 minutes or less in

Skagway Alaska

Doing things is exciting. When you’re on vacation, it’s important to cram as much as you can into a single day, otherwise, you’re not getting your money’s worth. When you visit Skagway, you only have around 12 to 15 hours to do things. Even if you take a couple of tours, eat three meals, and do a little shopping, you still have a few 20 to 30-minute intervals of downtime. In this blog, we outline 5 things you can do in 30 minutes or less in Skagway Alaska, which should eliminate any chance of boredom setting in.

Skagway Alaska is small, which means there’s always time for something

Skagway is only a couple of miles long. Heck, the downtown area is only 6 blocks long, and they’re small blocks! All of these places listed are accessible by foot or by SMART shuttle, which is the municipal bus company. Bring cash.

Skagway Alaska Item #1 – The Pioneer Cemetery

About a half-mile past the Pat Moore Bridge is the Dyea Road turnoff. After you turn onto this road, the Pioneer Cemetery is immediately on the right. You can hike through the entire cemetery in about 20 minutes, which is why it’s on this list. What makes the Pioneer Cemetery interesting is that it holds many people who were true founders of Skagway. The Gold Rush Cemetery holds many early transient settlers, and some of it may not even be authentic. The Pioneer Cemetery is also kind of eerie and has some interesting gravestones, but you may need more than 20 minutes if you want to get some photos.

Skagway Alaska Item #2 – Look for otters and seals in the small boat harbor

Many cruise ships dock very close to the small boat harbor, which makes this an exciting prospect for anyone with 30 minutes of downtime. The small boat harbor is the harbor with all of the small boats, and it’s a cool place because seals and otters are often spotted in the area. You may also encounter fisherman cleaning halibut and salmon, and you’ll see some neat boats. If you’re really lucky, you may see otters destroying people’s boats because they’re naughty little buggers.

Skagway Alaska Item #3 – Ask a hardware store employee about life in Alaska

The Skagway Hardware Store employs seasoned locals because it’s a hub of year-round activity. If you’ve ever had a question about Alaska, this is your chance to get reliable information from a friendly local. They have a big gun display, so you can ask them what gun is best for bear protection. You could ask them about salmon fishing or building an igloo. They will regale you with information and stories that will make you want to stay far longer than 30 minutes, so be sure to keep checking your watch.

Skagway Alaska Item #4 – Drink a beer

Thirty minutes is plenty of time to drink a beer. Heck, it may be enough time for two beers if you’re really thirsty. You could get a locally brewed beer at the Skagway Brewing Company. You can buy beer brewed in the Alaska brewery from The Red Onion Saloon, Happy Endings, and the Skagway Fish Company. You could swing by the liquor store and get a 40 in a paper bag and then go drink it at Pullen Pond. Whatever floats your boat.

Skagway Alaska Item #5 – Check out the salmon run in Pullen Pond

While enjoying your beer at Pullen Pond, you can watch the salmon perform their primordial mating dance. From mid-June to early fall, salmon move into Pullen Pond from the ocean where they spawn, continuing the circle of life that began countless generations in the past. In a half-hour, you’ll witness nature’s endless struggle for life and it may just bring a tear to your eye. When faced with such sublime poetry, you’ll know why you came to America’s last frontier. As an added bonus, you’ll also see dozens of men in goofy hats snagging those same salmon in the belly and eyeballs and dragging them to shore so that they can take a selfie with the fish and tell their friends back home that they caught a gen-u-ine Alaska salmon.

Thanks for coming to Skagway Alaska, where there’s always time for one more thing

There’s always time for one more thing in Skagway Alaska, unless your ship is leaving. We hope you fill your free minutes with a few of these exciting offerings when you visit in your RV or cruise ship.