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YUKON

The Yukon’s towns were established during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800s, and the province has never lost its freewheeling spirit. Feel the frontier vibe as your head north into a fabled region known for saloons, riverboats and rugged landscapes that yielded treasure.

 

Dawson City

Preserved as a National Historic Site, Dawson City’s dirt streets and ramshackle boardwalks still ooze gold rush-era charm. For a brief time in the 1800s, Dawson City was second only to San Francisco for the title of the West Coast’s largest city. Walking tours, conducted by Parks Canada, provide entry to 26 restored buildings and National Historic Sites, including a gold dredge, the Jack London cabin, poet Robert Service’s house, saloons and quirky boutiques.

Music and Nightlife

During the summer, locals compensate for the long, brutal winters and take every advantage of the midnight sun. Most saloons, lounge bars and pubs in town feature fine live music. As the final frontier before civilization gives way to wilderness, Dawson City entertains travelers and eccentrics at local restaurants, bars and cafés.

 

Watson Lake

This city of around 1,500 residents just north of the British Columbia border is more than just Mile 635 on the Alaska Highway: it’s a vibrant community.

 


Regional Recipe

Dutch Oven Scalloped Potatoes

The simple potato sustained miners during the Gold Rush of the 1800s. Recipe by the Good Sam Team.

getty images

Ingredients:

  • 6 potatoes, pared and sliced
  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 4 tbsp butter or margarine

Directions:
Season potatoes with salt and pepper and layer in cold Dutch oven, alternating with cheese. Dot each layer with butter. Beat eggs into milk, add nutmeg.


Signs of the Times

One of the most popular points of interest in town is the Sign Post Forest, a collection of 72,000 signs from around the world mounted on posts. The forest has its origins in directional signs set up by U.S. Army engineers to orient military drivers. One day, U.S. Army Private Carl K. Lindley felt homesick and posted a sign to his hometown of Danville, Illinois. Lindley unknowingly set off a trend, and to this day, visitors regularly add their own contributions to the array of signs.

City of Lights

Check out the Northern Lights Space and Science center, which educates visitors about this phenomenon with state-of-the art full dome video and 100 seats. Don’t miss a matinee showing of “Yukon’s Northern Lights,” which simulates the shimmering lights during the summer season.

 

Whitehorse

The town of Whitehorse may be considered a breath of fresh air — literally. It holds a Guinness World Record title for being the city with the least polluted air. Named for roaring rapids in the Yukon River that resembled a white horse’s mane, Whitehorse, like Dawson City, grew to prominence during the Klondike Gold Rush. The Klondike and Alaska Highways bring travelers to the town, which serves as the capital of Yukon.

 

For More Information

Department of Tourism Yukon

800-661-0494

www.travelyukon.ca

Dawson City

867-993-5566

DawsonCity.ca

Watson Lake

867-536-8000

www.watsonlake.ca

Whitehorse

www.yukoninfo.com/whitehorse-yukon