Karen16 - one more time - advice?

[Davida]

Karen16 - I am trying to finalize Skagway excursions. I have helicoptor/dog sledding booked with Temsco but I am still undecided about the rest of the excursions. I have two kids 9 & 5 and my three choices that I am considering are: 1) White Pass RR 3hr tour 2) Frontier's 4 x 4 Chilkoot Adventure 3 hr tour or 3) Yeshua 2 hr Scenic Chilkoot and Historic Haines Fort Seward Tour. On the third one, do I really have time to do this( must account for ferry ) and the dogsledding excursion? Please recommend one and put me out of my misery. I have went back and forth on these for almost a month. I still do not know which one would be the most enjoyable for the family. Finally, if none of them are worth while, what else then. ARghhhhhh!!!!!!

[Karen16]

How long are you in port and what time is your Dog sledding??? Your 5 year old probably won't be interesed in any of them and only a possible interest of the 9 year old. Do they LOVE trains?? My kids did and the White Pass RR was a high point, but I have also seen a lot of bored kids. I really like Haines, and Yeshua runs an excellent tour but it is not probably of interest to kids. I can't recommend the 4x4 trips, they are not enviromentally sound for Alaska in my opinion. You may be overlooking other options- any chance of a scenic hike? Lower Dewey Lake would be doable with good views and an adventure for the kids, as well as some sound excercise?? The National Park service has plenty of free stuff, museum, movie, ranger talks, ranger walking tours. Another option if your 5 year old has some stamina- is the level 1 1/2 mile (one way) back to the Gold Rush Cementery. You could walk through Skagway, pass the train sheds, etc.

[Davida]

Karen16 - our dog sledding trip is at 4:00 (this is movable). We get in at 6:30am into Skagway. Kids have never been on a real train - just commercial trains. I just wish that they gave you time to look arround when you got there before returning. Can you tell me more about the Lower Dewey Lake idea. Is that a excursion or are you saying just walk there and look arround? I also saw plenty of excursions that ride up (car) to the summit and then go to a place called Liarsville. Is that a worthwhile trip? Thanks so much for the useful info....

Karen16,

Are you Budget Queen on Crusie Critics board? You sure write like her. Just wondering.

[Karen16]

Yep, I'm Budget Queen- look at my email. Anyway, Lower and Upper Dewey Lake trailhead is at the tracks between 3-4th Ave. You may want to consider a one way train and bus return, goes to Liarsville which kids will enjoy with sure success panning for Gold. Or consider renting a car, I would reserve one anyway now from Avis, and cancel later once you have decided. There is not much to keep you at Fraiser- the turn around point of the White Pass RR, so that is not really a negative not being able to get out.