A Day in Whitehorse

The beauty of Whitehorse is that everything in the city, (and the surrounding cities too) are all relatively close to each other and most often, only have one way in and out to get to them. This way, you have a chance to see most of the sites in a short amount of time. It's perfect to get a taste of the wonder, and it leaves you wanting more. In the city of Whitehorse, make sure to walk around and find some classic staples to the community.

• the Klondike Rib & Salmon Barbecue restaurant (oldest one in the city - open since the gold rush)
• Riverside Grocery (for the most amazing soft serve ice cream and it's open 20 hours a day)
• the Klondike ship

• Mont Simat (ski hill and a great local brewery on the way there!)
• Miles Canyon (great trail, beautiful bridge, and the water a colour I didn't know it could be).

You can either start with Whitehorse, or you can save it for the end of the day. Be aware that most things in Whitehorse close earlier (at the exception of the grocery store) even if the sun sets REALLY late during the summer months. But before you decide what to do first, know that you can make your way to a neighbouring town and see a number of attractions along the way. Make your way to the town of Carcross where you'll be able to see some amazing local art and shop some local artisans. You can also take the train on the White Pass and Alaskan trail, while making your way to Skagway. AND if you speak French, feel free to try your luck with the locals as there is a high population of French speaking people in the Yukon; the third highest per capita after Quebec and New Brunswick. 

But before you make it to Carcross, make sure you stop along the way and see:

• Mt. Lorne Lake
• the Robinson Roadhouse

• Emerald Lake 

• Carcross desert

The natural beauty in the Yukon is astounding. It's a real treasure to know that all of this is right in our home country, even if it did take 3 connecting flights to get there in the first place. It's good to pack warm and to pack light since the weather also quickly changes from the town to the trail, though it doesn't often stay the same for long. 

Now you've got a brief introduction to a beautiful city should you ever have the opportunity to visit (and spread it out a little more) or simply take advantage of stopping over before heading further up north, or across the US\Canada border into Alaska. There's so much potential, and yet so much of it has been untouched that the true essence of the region captures your heart. I completely understand the locals when they say that a lot of people visit the Yukon, but not a lot of them decide to leave since their hearts are finally home. Wander on fellow readers and follow your compass north; I can promise that you won't be disappointed. 

Kyla