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| Downtown Skagway visitors from one of many cruise ships in port |
The once fishing village of Skagway, inhabited by about
920 souls according to the 2010 U.S. census, is visited by cruise ships
carrying thousands upon thousands of visitors.
Population is likely to double in the summer tourist and
cruise season to accommodate the rush of visitors. Estimates of summer
visitation range from 900,000 to 1,000,000 people. Most of these, roughly
three-fourths, disembark from cruise ships to explore the town and take
excursions.
The downtown historic district with its wooden sidewalks
and colorful street-side window flower boxes has around 100 gold rush era
buildings, many of which are now restaurants, shops and other attractions for
visitors.
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| Skagway shoppers use their hours in port to buy Alaska souvenirs and mementos |
Its White Pass and Yukon Route railroad (WPYR)
claims to be Alaska’s most popular cruise excursion, and for summer scenic
drama, it packs in a lot. The lakes and mountains visible in this panhandle
region provide a great window on Alaska for visitors.
White Pass and Yukon Route
http://www.wpyr.com/
As an aside, reportedly, the Skagway border crossing
between the U.S. and Canada was once featured in an episode of the television
show Homeland Security USA, with its claim to fame as this: it is the
least-used international border crossing in the United States.
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| Fortunately for jaywalking visitors who are focused on shopping, Skagway vehicle traffic may be light |
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