Skagway

This morning we arrived in Skagway, which we learned President Harding called the armpit of America. They then named a mountain after him. Go figure. But the city is in the Alaska panhandle and has about 900 year round residents. It swells to more than double during the summer, catering to the cruise tourists which is around 1 million a year!

In addition to learning they have no hospital and love McDonald’s, we learned that Skagway was an important port city during the Klondike Gold Rush and the Yukon Route crossing into Canada’s Yukon Territory.

In order to go on our last excursion of the cruise, we had to meet in the theater early as they organized us into groups for the small boats that brought us to shore. There had been a rock slide, so the boats couldn’t dock normally - you can see the orange boat in the distance navigating the harbor:



Once on dock, we met our tour guide and driver C.J. from Utah who has come up the last few summers to work as a driver. We also all remembered our passports, because we were crossing into C-eh-N-eh-D-eh again. Here are a few members of C.J.’s wolf pack as she howls at us when we need to gather on the bus…



The bus drove us through town first, and then up along the Klondike Highway, along the route used by prospectors during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. Our ears popped as we ascended 3,290 feet to White Pass Summit. A sign on one of the buildings in town:



The photos do not do the scenery justice and we learned that this amount of fog was very little in comparison to other days. The pine trees are tiny too due to the climate and wind, and we drove through valleys and passed by waterfalls:





After holding our passports next to our faces, the Canadian immigration officer cleared us and we finally arrived at the Yukon Suspension bridge. The swaying walkway is 57 feet above the Tutshi River which has the pretty glacial hue we learned about yesterday:













The viewing platforms had some props to help take fun photos:







Also on the platforms were various signs and exhibits explaining the area and history. Clearly we’re still in Bear Country as we are continuously reminded:



We learned about native rock sculpture:



Log cabin life…



We also could see Mount Logan, the tallest mountain in Canada, but the 2nd tallest in North America as Denali is #1…



Someone had opened a local pine cone - not so pretty on the outside but it’s the inside that counts!



After seeing some woolly mammoth parts like a tusk and a tooth, we were ready to leave and make our way back across the border.



This time we stopped at the international bathrooms that’s in between the US and Canadian custom houses and heard a bunch of cheesy jokes from C.J. While waiting during this 10 minute stop, many of us headed down to this small and clear lake:



Then we were back in America and on Alaskan time, but none of us had bothered to change our watches:



On the way back into town, we stopped in Liarsville, a Gold Rush Trail Camp that recreates the 1898 tent city:







But the real draw here was the salmon bake buffet. The salmon was smoked over Alder wood logs and very fresh! The cheesy potato au gratin and chicken were also delicious!





My buffet plate along with corn bread, blueberry cake, and lemonade:



Instead of being dropped off at the dock, we opted for the town stop, so we could explore the national park and re-creation of Skagway city life as a mining town. We ran an errand at the drugstore and checked out the grocery store too. My mom thought the grocery store was bigger than expected, but I reminded her it’s only for 900 people year round!








On the way back to the dock, we saw the train station area and the train tracks. Many taking an excursion actually opt for the scenic train ride up to the summit versus us who took the bus. I picked the bus option as the train ride didn’t package a salmon bake - for my family, we clearly prioritize food. Here’s my cousin in front of the train:





Back at the dock, we boarded a shuttle boat and then the our cruise ship where we rested for the remainder of the afternoon. We reconvened for dinner and decided to try the burger joint near the buffet. Afterwards, we headed to the production show in the theater and listened to the singers and dancers put together a medley of Motown and soul music.

At the end of the show, the emcee explained the highlights of the Glacier National Park that I’m excited to see tomorrow. As my mom says, “she wants to see a really big glacier!”

Alaskan Adventure

The plan for the morning was pack and check out of our hotel and head to Chinatown for dim sum brunch. My aunt had invited back her friend’s daughter who had picked her up at the airport and for lunch, to join us. She met us at the hotel and we walked about 15 minutes west to Chinatown. Here’s a photo of us at the gateway to Chinatown:



In researching the best dim sum places, it seems that many are actually in Richmond, just south of the city and back towards the airport. But I wanted something walkable and in Chinatown, so had found Jade Dynasty. We enjoyed our meal as the dim sum came out in waves:







Walking back to the hotel helped us digest and we picked up our luggage and called an Uber XL. The minivan that arrived was a good test for our luggage capacity as we will be driving one to Denali, but unfortunately one person couldn’t fit - this won’t be a problem as we wouldn’t have the driver then. 

So since my cousin and I were the only ones with international data, I walked with the family friend down to Canada Place, the cruise terminal. But unbeknownst to me, taxis get dropped off underground and routed towards the specific cruise’s baggage drop off. But with the help of a friendly guard and a few calls, we all reunited at the check-in hall. Indeed our Alaskan cruise started off with a little adventure!

Based on a recommendation, I had booked on Princess and the ship is the Grand Princess. Check-in was a breeze as I had our medallions which are used as keys to the room and charges, delivered ahead of time to New York - indeed vacations are priceless:





We then took a photo in front of a nice boat, but only realized afterwards it wasn’t ours!



We went through security and snaked through the long customs line and took the obligatory souvenir photo, but it’s actually included in our package:





We found our respective rooms which were on the same floor - deck 8 and rested before our dinner. I reserved dining slots most nights of our seven night voyage and our first night was in the Michelangelo room. They seated us by the window and the boat departed as we began our meal:





After dinner, we toured the ship and enjoyed covers from an electric violinist and the karaoke lounge. The first song was called “North to Alaska” which was appropriate:



Mama Kim found herself in the cruise casino and playing her beloved blackjack and we enjoyed some covers from the piano lounge singer.

What an adventurous day as we head north to Alaska!

Vancouver

After handling some work, my brother, cousin, and I walked over to Equinox Vancouver which is my 63rd club! We enjoyed working out at the spacious and beautiful gym and for Sang Nim’s (상님) first EQX experience!



On our way back to the hotel, we stopped in Bread x Butter to pick up various egg toasts - I had read these were delicious. Indeed they were as I forgot to take a photo before we ate all of them! After brunching in our hotel suite and showering, we then Uber’ed to Stanley Park for the famous totem poles! I had visited back in 8th grade as part of a summer camping trip which explored the Pacific Northwest, so it was fun to see them again and take fun photos…









We then walked along Stanley Park Drive taking in the view of the port and where we saw a seagull sitting on top of the “Girl in the Wetsuit” statue:





There was also a replica of the figurehead of the SS Empress of Japan - a famous ocean liner built in 1890 known as the “Queen of the Pacific” on our walk:





And Lumbermen’s Arch:



We decided to stop into the Pavilion Bar and Grill and relaxed with summer refreshments and the fragrant garden that was setting up for a wedding:





As my cousin needed new sneakers, we then Uber’ed to the Robson street shopping area and popped into a few stores. My mom and aunt had also wanted to see the Cathedral on their morning walk when we were at the gym, but it was closed. So they suggested going back for the late afternoon mass at Holy Rosary Cathedral:





Outside was a replica of the “Homeless Jesus” by the Canadian sculptor, Timothy Schmalz. There are hundreds of these casts around the world (I saw one in Israel in 2007) - definitely makes you think:



After returning to the hotel and reuniting with my aunt’s luggage, we rested before walking over to The Fanny Bay Oyster Bar and Seafood Market. The seafood was super fresh and we enjoyed a British Columbia Sauvignon Blanc with oysters, mussels and clams in white wine sauce, crab-onara, lobster poutine, and scallops and pork belly. We were still hungry and added on fish tacos, but I forgot to take a photo of the tacos…





We then had their 2 desserts which were a lemon fruit tart and a white cheesecake:



We digested as we walked back to our hotel, and decided to return to Gastown, where we had dinner last night to see the famous steam clock. You can really see it steaming!







Gastown is filled with lots of lights - here’s a photo of the revolving restaurant called the Vancouver Lookout from the heart of Gastown:



What a day and night of enjoying Van City - the food, the many walks, and of course, all the Canadian memories!