North to Alaska [2014 - Day 4]

Thanks for joining us as we look back 3 weeks ago today to Day 4 of our voyage Seattle to Alaska and return. Today's schedule calls for us to spend most of the day, September 9, in Skagway, Alaska.

Since, today, Skagway is little more than a tourist destination, there are several spots for cruise ships to dock. We've been here before but this was our first time to be docked right next to the base for the helicopter tours. Watching the 7 choppers come and go was pretty interesting. They take cruisers up for a half hour or so to see the highlights of this remote country. We did not have one of these tours scheduled ... maybe next time.

Cruisers heading into town for shopping or tours.
It is just a short walk from the pier to town but
there are shuttle buses for those who need them.

Scenic shots taken from ship ...

Candid street shots of this little town ...

Some examples of what was seen in shop windows ...

We like the setting of the Historic Skagway Inn ... just out back of the restaurant they have their own garden ... the flowers are still blooming on this September day and the veggies made us think this place probably had some great salads.

The famous White Pass and Yukon Railway operates a popular tour. Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. We didn't do the tour this year, but have in the past, and can recommend it highly ... it is a very scenic ride up to White Pass and the train departs from alongside the cruise terminal. History of the railroad is here.

Tomorrow we will visit scenic Glacier Bay National Park (Blue arrow in map below). Today, September 9, we've been in Skagway (Red arrow) and yesterday we were in Juneau (Green). 

Thank you for stopping by John's Island.