Hmm, Dawson City, there was something to do with the Gold Rush – right? That about sums up ours and many others understanding of Dawson City, Yukon. Luckily, George and I were able to visit. Driving in from the west, you first have to cross the mighty Yukon river. Although the ferry crew have the crossing down pat, it was exciting for us first-timers.
The first thing that strikes you entering town is what a fantastic job Parks Canada has done there. In the visitors center, some helpful Parks Canada rangers will give the details on the tours to partake in during your stay. For such a little town, there are quite a few. We opted for a town tour complete with a period clad guide that took us through the preserved post office and saloon in town. We also got a chance to visit a dredger that was used in the area around Dawson City before it was closed to the public. Scanning the landscape, it seemed to us that the ground had been permanently scarred by these dredging devices.
The historic preservation in Dawson isn’t all serious though. We swung by the local casino for some drinks and a cabaret show. George quickly got pulled into the mix and embraced his good luck.
We couldn’t miss the annual outhouse race before handing north out of town. Now admittedly, when someone mentioned the ‘race’ to us, I couldn’t quite form a visual. I’m glad we decided to hang around for the festivities because it was one hell of a hootenanny.
