We have your next vacation planned for you: a train ride on Alaska’s White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, offering some of the most beautiful—and extreme—views in the world. The railroad takes travelers up nearly 3,000 feat for over 20 miles, writes Harper’s Bazaar, and has been around since the late 19th century.
By the time the railway was finished in 1900, the gold rush was basically over, writes Harper’s, but it remained open as a freight railway until a local mine shut down in 1982. In 1988, it reopened as a scenic railway and is now an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
The 40-mile roundtrip takes you to the summit of the White Pass, which is at 2,865 feet. You also go through two tunnels, travel over Dead Horse Gulch, and pass by Bridal Veil Falls.
The ride is fully-narrated and takes about three to three-and-a-half hours. It runs from early May till late September, so you’ll have to check it out soon or wait till next spring. It departs twice a day from Skagway—a common stop on Alaska cruises—at 8:15 a.m. or 12:45 p.m., and it costs $122 for adults and $61 for children.
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