By Jen Kleinberg, Director of Strategic Accounts | August 13, 2019 ( Comments)
This is a review of Holland America's Alaska Cruisetour #Y4C, 11 Night Yukon & Double Denali.
Today was mainly a travel day. We boarded the motor coach at 8:30am and set out for the 9 hour trip to Dawson City. We did make several scenic stops along the way, including a lunch break in Minto at an RV campground along the banks of the Yukon River. The food was what you would expect at a campground in the middle of nowhere - adequate. If you’re a picky eater, you’re definitely going to want to pack some snacks.
My favorite sites along the route were the old abandoned cabins we’d come across. They made for interesting photography, and it helped us imagine the stampeders making our 9-hour trip in 9 months. Our bus driver Linda had a wealth of knowledge about the gold rush era that she shared with us during the trip, and we watched a PBS video aboard the coach about the frantic rush for riches that took place here. There are so many personal stories that can really draw you into the time period, even if you’re not the biggest history buff.
We pulled into Dawson City at about 5:30pm. The town seems to be in between Skagway and Whitehorse both in terms of size and modernization. The largest attraction is Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, Canada’s first casino, that also hosts 3 nightly cancan-inspired shows set in the Klondike-period style. It reminded me somewhat of the Hoop-de-Doo Review at Walt Disney World, if you’ve experienced that, only without the dinner.
We’re staying at another Westmark property, and I would compare this one to the Skagway Westmark. There is a small grocery store here, and a gas station / convenience store near the hotel that stays open til midnight.
We awoke on day 2 in Dawson City to more beautiful weather, warm enough even for tank tops. We walked to the visitors center and got some information about the hiking trails around town, as well as the recommended can of bear spray, and set off on a short hike. I have to admit, we were both more than a little nervous about a bear encounter, so we didn’t venture too far.
We spent most of the day walking around the town, visiting the shops and cafes as well as the Cultural Center. There is a really artsy cafe called Alchemy, where you can get fresh juices and organic snacks. In the afternoon we set off on the Klondike Spirit, an authentic paddlewheeler, for a short cruise down the Yukon River. It was a relaxing end to an active day.
Tomorrow we head to the airport for our flight to Fairbanks. Because of the time change, we take off at 10am and land at... 10am!
Click here to read Day 8 - Fairbanks
