Wild Roses & Rusty Rails

These rusting tracks are remnants of the White Pass & Yukon Railway as it enters downtown Whitehorse, Yukon. Construction of this 3-ft gauge line began in 1898, at the height of the Klondike Gold Rush and carried passengers and freight from Skagway, Alaska to Whitehorse until 1982. Since 1988, it's operated as a summer tourist run from Skagway to Fraser, British Columbia. Having taken that trip a couple of times, I'd recommend it to everyone.

Another excursion I'd strongly recommend is renting a car and driving from Whitehorse to Skagway along the Klondike Highway. It's a perfect day-trip. The scenery along Tagish Lake is spectacular. The route heads over the Continental Divide at the border with Alaska and down a narrow 30 mile road that hugs the cliff as it descends toward sea level. Don't forget to take your passport and be aware that Skagway can be overrun by cruise ship passengers in the summer.