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Get Into The Frontier Spirit With Skagway Private Tours

By Patty Goff


Much of the western coast of the USA was built upon the search for riches, in particular gold. Entire towns sprung up from nothing or bustling cities grew from dusty little missions as people moved west with gold fever. Places that nobody would otherwise have ventured into were suddenly teeming with miners. One of these was the Klondike and Skagway private tours can help you find out more about this part of American history.

The town of Skagway is quite small and normally doesn't even have a thousand residents. It lies at a fjord in Alaska's southeast, making it a gateway to the Klondike. Juneau, the Alaskan capital, lies to the southeast.

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.

A very popular attraction is the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. It's a good way to enjoy the scenery without putting in too much effort. For a different view, consider spoiling yourself with a helicopter ride. Another great way to spend a day is to take the ferry through the Tayia Inlet and on to Haines. The landscape is one of steep cliffs and in the water you might be able to spot whales and seals.

Most tourists visit the area in summer. This is when the landscape is at its most beautiful, the weather is mild and it's relatively dry. However, it can become busy, especially with cruise passengers on shore excursions. Winters are cold and when it doesn't snow, it rains.

There are different ways to reach town, a cruise ship being the most obvious. You can also sail in by ferry from other destinations such as Juneau. There are regular flights from Juneau as well and the town is connected to the Klondike Highway, which runs through parts of Canada to eventually join the Alaska Highway.

To find a private tour of the area, simply look online. There are several tour operators and they offer everything from guided walks through the historic part of town to adventure excursions into the wilderness. You can even go panning for gold. Remember though to book well in advance if you're planning on visiting during the high season.




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