The Best of Skagway

In my opinion, the Best of Skagway is the bowling alley at the Elks because I love bowling!

If one of your Alaskan cruise ports of call is Skagway, you are in for a real treat. This tiny town is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, rich with history, and home to all sorts of wildlife. Many visitors call Skagway their favorite Alaskan town, and you’re going to find out why. If Skagway has one drawback, it’s that there are endless ways to spend the little time you have in port. This blog is all about the best of Skagway so that you can get the most out of your visit.

The best of Skagway is up to you

Ultimately, you are the person who decides how best to use your hard-earned vacation time. Skagway has something for every taste and access to some pristine wilderness that is unique to Southeast Alaska. If you’re in port for the entire day, you can pick out two or three things from this “Best of Skagway” list. If you’re only in port for a half day, you probably just have to settle for one or two. At least you will have plenty of reasons to come back!

The Best of Skagway – The White Pass Scenic Railway

This is the most popular tour in all of Alaska. The White Pass Scenic Railway was built in 1898 at the peak of the Klondike Gold Rush. It is considered an engineering marvel by people who know a lot about engineering. Personally, I enjoy the views of glaciers, giant waterfalls, and snow-capped mountains. On the train, you are literally following the path of history on what is essentially a living museum. You can take the 3-hour train/bus combination and still have plenty of day left to do other stuff.

The Best of Skagway – Yukon Expedition

Skagway is connected to the rest of the world by the Klondike Highway. That means you can travel into some pretty amazing frontier wilderness by bus. Only 15 miles from Skagway, the road crosses into British Columbia, Canada, and 35 miles after that it passes the Yukon Territory border. Along the way is some great scenery, many chances to see wildlife, and some Gold Rush mining ruins. You will make lots of stops, which makes these tours better than the train for taking photographs.

The Best of Skagway – The Klondike Summit

This is the highest point along the Klondike highway. At 3,400 feet, you will have some pretty amazing views of things below that elevation. The Klondike Summit is interesting because there is a sign there that says, “Welcome to Alaska.” If you don’t get a photo of yourself by that sign, nobody is going to believe you actually went to Alaska. This is a short tour, so you have lots of time for other stuff.

The Best of Skagway – Restaurants and Bars

If you want to meet real locals, you need to go out and about in places that they like to go. You aren’t going to meet any locals on a Yukon Expedition, but you will meet them in local bars and restaurants. Some of the best restaurants are Skagway Fish Co, The Station Bar and Grill, Skagway Brewing Co, and Starfire. Some of the best bars are Happy Endings Saloon, The Red Onion Saloon, Skagway Brewing Co, and the local Elks and Eagles clubs. Get your drink on and meet locals!

We hoped you enjoyed this Best of Skagway review. There are many other things to do in Skagway, so be sure to check out everything before you get here so you can find your personal “best.”