I took a cruise with my wife and 2 of our friends recently, and one of our port days was in…read moreSkagway. The weather was very nice for late July (cool but dry), so we decided to take a gentle saunter through town and to the Gold Rush Cemetery. The map had us wander through the neighborhood before turning right at a train depot, following an unpaved road until we saw the main sign for the cemetery. It's a 2 mile journey, so be prepared. Don't worry, there's a bathroom near the entrance. Along with seeing the cemetery and all the names of the pioneers, there's a path to the Lower Reid Falls. This path is uphill and the trail is a little rugged and not always smooth. But the view is worth it. Not too many tourists take this opportunity, so everyone who does has time to take as many pictures as you want. After checking out the cemetery and the falls, you could walk back to downtown Skagway. Or you could do what we did and take a bus back, which comes every 30 minutes to the cemetery. Some of the drivers only take cash, but the one we had also had a credit card reader. But instead of a 45+ minute walk, it was a 10 minute bus ride. Very much worth it!

Still enjoy stopping by the cemetery on my way to lower Reed Falls. The cemetery and the storyboard…read morein front of the cemetery provides a nice historical snapshot of the early years in Skagway. Pretty interesting and definitely worth a visit on your way up to lower Reed Falls.

The Arctic Brotherhood Hall is one of Skagway's most distinctive Gold Rush-era landmarks. Built in…read more1899 for a fraternal organization founded by Klondike gold seekers, it is famous for its elaborate rustic façade covered in thousands of pieces of driftwood gathered from Skagway Bay. Today, the historic building houses Skagway's visitor center and remains one of Alaska's most photographed buildings.

After a long port day in Skagway (which for a small town has a surprisingly lot to do even without…read morepaying for a shore excursion), my wife & I stumbled upon this museum. Before we got back on our cruise ship, we saw that the museum was still open and wandered in. It was the late afternoon, so it wasn't too crowded. We were able to go through the exhibits and read through the signage without too many other people crowding around. And we also caught the last showing of the short documentary in the theater (4:00 PM start time), which lasted about 30 minutes. We learned a lot about the Alaskan Gold Rush from this movie. The entire experience was free. In the lobby, there are rangers to answer any questions, a small gift shop, and most importantly, a clean publish bathroom!

Visited the historic park in Skagway, Alaska and really enjoyed it. It tells the fascinating story…read moreof the Klondike Gold Rush, including how gold was originally discovered in 1896 by Skookum Jim Mason, his nephew Dawson Charlie, his sister Kate Carmack and brother in law George Carmack, which quickly sparked a rush of prospectors hoping to strike it rich. The museum is run by the National Park Service and does a great job of bringing the history to life. I especially enjoyed the film explaining how the discovery unfolded and how it transformed the region almost overnight. It's incredible to imagine the hardship people went through to get there in search of gold. Even Jack London made it up to the Klondike when he was only 20 years old, which adds another interesting layer to the story. Overall, a very well-presented and informative experience that's definitely worth a visit -- It's free.

Nice little museum inside the lobby and a simple & easy vending machine to obtain a T-shirt!read more

Any fire station that decorates its front lawn with a hose cart and a variety of fire hydrants has…read moremy vote. And a seemingly all volunteer station, double votes.

Like an earlier reviewer, when you travel, libraries are often the perfect spot to experience the…read morecommunity..  Haines has a beautiful, friendly, and accessible library!  We had an extended layover, via. the Alaska Ferry, and after touring the Seward Square, we found this gem.  The books open the world to visitors, and the great full length windows showcased the exterior local setting, so you could see how the community fits with the rest of the world!!!   They had an extensive book sale as well, so you can see what the locals are reading.  And of course, the biggest benefit for tourists is the informed, local information resource of the library staff, and an easy to use computer area so we can stay connected to family and friends (no service on the ferry!). I'm so glad to have found this welcoming jewel!

This has been sitting in my reviews. Stopped by this library while on a cruise. Wherever I travel I…read morelove going to the local library. Spent an hour or so here before visiting the distillery and rest of the town. Fun fact: This library has won multiple awards. Only residents can check out books and equipment. When I was there they had some books for sale. I didn't have my backpack with me so didn't buy any books.

"She said last night she read those letters And they made…read moreher feel one hundred years old" (Bruce Springsteen) This statue was unveiled in 1997 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Skagway's founding. The city was named after the Tlingit Indian word for "windy place", where they hunted mountain bears and goats. They first encountered European Europeans in 1897 when they met a team of Canadian surveyors who were mapping the area. Within a few years, the discovery of gold in the Yukon brought in a stampede of hundreds of settlers looking to find their fortunes in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898. The sculpture represents a settler and his Indian guide in the early days of Skagway. The Tinglit Indian's clothes are made from moose hide and bear skin. He his backpack is made of mountain goat skin. The gold stampeder has a wooden box on his back and has a hunting knife, shovel and gold pan strapped to him.

Staff at this U.S.P.S. location are super nice. I stopped in to mail out a few post cards while in…read moretown. It's a small rural post, so like most small posts it's closed at lunch time. It re-opens at 12:30. If you show up at lunch time, there will be a line. If you are a guest to the city, be kind and let the locals go first, they have real things to do.

People mailing luggage and backpacks, I don't get it but I frequent the post office when I travel…read moreto mail postcards. I asked the counter person if it's common for folks to mail luggage and he replied, 'it is'. Not sure if there is a weight restriction on planes or ships/ferries, regardless there can be a long wait.