FRAMED BY THE DEEP WATERS OF TAIYA INLET and the rugged Coast Mountains, Skagway sits atop and marks the northernmost point of the Inside Passage. Perhaps more than any other place in Alaska, the frontier town of Skagway still embraces the pioneer spirit of the Last Frontier. Even today, the sounds of barroom pianos, boomtown crowds and train whistles echo through the streets of a town that sprang to life on the backs of gold-crazed miners and the entrepreneurs who profited in their midst. This historic port of call still beckons travelers to visit the turn of the century, when the Klondike Gold Rush transformed Skagway from a tiny hamlet into a lawless bastion of gold seekers, painted ladies, con-artists and gamblers preparing for the long trek toward the fields of the Klondike.

Homesteader William Moore, who moved to present-day Skagway ten years before the Gold Rush, long believed that the White Pass would prove the best route to the Klondike fields. His vision proved prophetic when nearly 30,000 would-be millionaires later flocked to Skagway on their way to the White Pass and Chilkoot Trails.

Many treasure seekers never made it to their destinations, but succumbed to the elements or to the temptations of the lawless frontier. Others, including Moore, established thriving businesses, some of which can still be found today amongst the colorful, false-fronted buildings that line the boardwalk.

Skagway's dedication to preserving its unique history means that much of the town looks the same as it did during the Gold Rush era. The downtown area comprises a seven-block-long historic district known as the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where turn-of-the-century shops and saloons are still open for business.

The best way to explore Skagway is on foot, and most visitors find there's plenty of fun and excitement to be had just by strolling down Broadway. A festive atmosphere and some of Alaska's best shopping are there for you to enjoy, all within an easy walk from the cruise ship.