Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA Dawson City, the "heart of the Klondike Gold Rush," bustles with the history of a wild era when prospectors rushed to follow their dreams. Taking a light-fi lled nighttime hike in The Land of the Midnight Sun at the summer solstice is something special to the North. Winter or summer, take a sightseeing fl ight by small plane or helicopter over the Kluane National Park icefi elds ( www.kluanehelicopters.com). Enjoy the magical aurora borealis—or northern lights—as brilliant colours shimmer across dark winter skies on a silent Yukon night (www.northernlights centre.ca; www.northerntales.ca). Try a quirky Sourtoe Cocktail in historic Dawson City (www.downtownhotel.ca). SCENIC DRIVES The Golden Circle Route's 600-km (373-mi.) begins in Whitehorse and circles to include Skagway, Alaska and Kluane National Park, showcasing spectacular alpine scenery. The secluded Top of the World Highway, open seasonally only, hugs the top of mountains for outstanding scenery. At the east end of the unpaved drive, hop on the free car ferry and cross the Yukon River to Dawson City. Bring your passport—the crossing from Yukon to Alaska is the most northern international border crossing in all of North America. The breathtaking and bumpy Dempster Highway, an iconic wilderness highway, is best travelled in summertime. The 736-km (457-mi.) gravel roadway is Canada's only all-weather road across the Arctic Circle. The Alaska Highway, one of the continent's great wilderness drives, stretches from Watson Lake near the British Columbia border to Beaver Creek at the Alaska border. FAMILY FUN Travelling with kids twelve and under? They can learn and walk the streets of the Dawson Historic Complex and the S.S.Keno National Historic Site with the Xplorer activity booklet. Booklets are available at the Parks Canada Desk at the Visitor Information Centre on Front Street in Dawson City. PARK PICK IVVAVIK NATIONAL PARK Look on a map at the very north- west tip of Canada and you'll pin- point ivvavik national Park, a true Canadian wilderness experience and the fi rst Canadian national park to be created as a result of an aboriginal land claim agreement. Summer is a special time to visit with warm weather and 24 hours of sunlight. Hikes are a popular way to explore a treeless tundra that is fully alive with colour. trails leave from the imniarvik base camp. for a watery wilderness experience, book with an outfi tter to raft the beautiful firth river. arctic wildlife inside the park includes bears, caribou, mus- kox and Dall sheep (www.pc.gc.ca/ eng/pn-np/yt/ivvavik/index.aspx). More info on National Parks and Historic Sites: www.pc.gc.ca • 1-888-773-8888 S.S. KLonDiKe nationaL HiStoriC Site • CtC BaCKCoUntrY HiKinG • CtC/PaDDY PaLLin