Day Twelve (Wed) - Haines & Skagway, AK

The ship is docked in Haines -- which is quite small and has nothing of interest.  We have made arrangements to take the fast ferry to Skagway about 14 miles north by water.

It is a nice ride -- about 45 minutes.   We go right to the National Park Service Visitor Center and sign up for the 11 am walking tour.   Skagway is much more commercial than when Phil and I were here in 1999 -- lots of shops with all the same stuff.   

It is a cute town with wooden sidewalks and apparently the National Park Service is buying buildings and restoring them.   They have done so with the Mascot Saloon in operation from 1898 to 1916.  The Mascot closed after a new Skagway law banned the sale of all but medicinal alcohol.  It was one of the first permanent structures in Skagway replacing the Tent City of 1897.   The home of the Moore Family is another property restored by the National Park Service including their original log cabin which sits next door to their Victorian home.   

After our tour -- it was time for lunch.  We spotted a place which looked local -- The Station at the Morning Wood Hotel.  It was excellent.  One of the waitresses noticed Dave's Red Sox hat and stopped at our table to see if we were Bostonians.  She is originally from just north of Boston --- has been in Alaska for many years --- but she said there are many die-hard Red Sox fans in these parts.

We make the 2:00 pm ferry back to Haines -- really windy so it takes a little longer.   Skagway was also very windy.   

Back on the ship we have some good reading and relaxing time before dinner at 8:00 pm.

Another good day.

Thanks for Reading!

Pat