# Things To Do in Skagway Alaska On a Cruise Ship Visit *By James Hills, cruisewestcoast.com — Updated March 2025* Written by: [James Hills](https://cruisewestcoast.com/james-hills.html) Published: 31 July 2020 Last Updated: 12 March 2025 Evergreen BlogHits: 13326Reading time: 02:59 Glorious Skagway Alaska lies on the Alaskan panhandle. This small settlement in between the sky and the mountains is an understandably popular tourist destination. People from all over the world come here to admire the magnificent scenery, clean air and explore this part of the United States. Skagway is a particularly popular destination for cruise ships. If you're heading up north and want to stop here on your planned cruise, you'll find many a great many things to do once you embark. From exploring the region's history to shopping and charming gardens, it's all easy to admire even in a few hours. ## Jewell Gardens Skagway has long been noted for its fertile soil, abundant water and prolonged summer growing season. This translates into a beautiful area with lots of fabulous plantings everywhere you look. If you want to see what's so special about the area's blooms, head off to Jewell Gardens. The lush gardens are on full display here with flowers large and small. Inhale the scent and admire the colors of this classic garden. When you're done, you'll find a local restaurant on the premises. Have a taste of locally grown produce that makes a very tasty lunch. ## Eating and Drinking For many residents and visitors alike, one of the greatest things about Skagway is proximity to incredible local seafood. Seafood like crab and salmon are found in the region's waters. Chefs take glee in turning these amazing products into some of the best seafood dishes in the world. Places like the Skagway Fish Company offer a chance to sit down and directly appreciate it firsthand. When you're done, you can also find lots of places to grab a great cup of local beer. The Skagway Brewing Co. has been serving refreshing cold beverages for a century. ## Exploring History This part of the world has been settled for a long time. If you're interested in learning about who's been here before, head off to the Skagway Museum. Here, you'll see dozens of exhibits devoted to the region's culture and history. The museum offers insights into all periods of Skagway and Alaskan history. There's exhibits that show off Native American handicrafts and life. You'll also find material about the Gold Rush period that brought many settlers north in search of adventure. This is one way to feel part of a special place. Do You Love Cruising As Much As We Do? [MANTRIPPING Cruising Alaska with Norwegian Cruise Line on NCL Jewel   Read More →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/api/flowads/click/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mantripping.com%2Ftravel%2Fcruising-alaska-with-norwegian-cruise-line-on-ncl-jewel.html&id=430&type=blog&site=cruisewestcoast) [MANTRIPPING What To Expect on Your First Viking River Cruise   Read More →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/api/flowads/click/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mantripping.com%2Fromantic-getaways%2Fwhat-to-expect-on-your-first-viking-river-cruise.html&id=1040&type=blog&site=cruisewestcoast) [CRUISEWESTCOAST Ward Cove Alaska: Authentic Tlingit Culture & Tongass Wilderness Adventures   Read More →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/api/flowads/click/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcruisewestcoast.com%2Fthings-to-do-ward-cove-alaska-cruise-port.html&id=621&type=blog&site=cruisewestcoast) We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. ## Take in a Show A local theater is happy to present some of the region's most interesting past with a show devoted to one of the area's most notorious outlaws. The Days of '98 Show is all about the wild times of Soapy Smith. His life comes to life again in this hour long show. Relax and enjoy the dancers as you listen to live music from the period and watch as he made this part of the world his personal fiefdom over a hundred year ago. It's an experience you can only take in right here. ## Explore the City Government officials have created a special route through the city just for visitors. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is a collection of varied sites in the city that you can follow. Presentations from rangers help visitors see what life was like in the area a hundred years ago. Take a guided walking tour of the town. Guides will show cue you in the history of the many beautiful buildings in the area and efforts that are being made to restore them. If you're here in the evening, look for late at night presentations designed for the area's late summer nights. --- {"html":""} --- ## Shopping Fun One of the most delightful things about spending time in Skagway is how many shops there are to discover. The centrally located shopping district makes it easy to window shop or head inside. Look for the Made In Skagway program. This is dedicated to promoting the art and crafts of regionally trained experts. You can find items ranging from hand crafted jewelry and textiles to magnificent artwork and stained glass to fit in your purse. They make great gifts to give out or just a cherished memento of your fabulous trip here. Book Your Next Cruise With Heather at Flow Voyages! She is our prefered travel advisor for cruises and all-inclusive resorts. Call: 630-779-9301 or click here ... [Book Now →](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/transfer.html?id=617&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flowvoyages.com%2F&site=cruisewestcoast) We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. --- ***Thanks for reading. We hope this was helpful!*** Why stop now? [Participate In Our Polls](index.php?Itemid=1275) | [Ask or Answer A Cruise Question](index.php?Itemid=1262) | [Contact Heather to Book Your Next Cruise!](index.php?Itemid=828) --- Written by: [James Hills](https://cruisewestcoast.com/james-hills.html) Pro-BloggerWest Coast Cruise ExpertThought Leader James is an avid fan of all types of cruising but especially enjoys exploring the Pacific coastal regions since it perfectly captures the elements that he is passionate about, including natural beauty, conservation, opportunities to explore new cultures, and meeting some fantastic new people too.  ### 🚢 Ready To Book A Cruise? #### How to Get Kicked Off a Cruise Ship in 2026: Behaviors That End Your Vacation Early [How to Get Kicked Off a Cruise Ship in 2026: Behaviors That End Your Vacation Early](https://cruisewestcoast.com/things-that-will-get-you-kicked-off-a-cruise-ship.html) [Plan Your Next Cruise Today!](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-a-cruise.html) ### Latest Cruise News #### Princess Cruises Goes All-In on Zero-Proof Cocktails with New POURS Beverage Menu [Princess Cruises Goes All-In on Zero-Proof Cocktails with New POURS Beverage Menu](https://cruisewestcoast.com/pours-princess-cruises-zero-proof-beverage-menu.html) ### Cruise Gear & Shopping Guides #### These Huk Classic Brewster Shoes Will Help You Avoid Slipping On A Wet Cruise Ship Deck [These Huk Classic Brewster Shoes Will Help You Avoid Slipping On A Wet Cruise Ship Deck](https://cruisewestcoast.com/huk-brewster-deck-shoe-review.html) #### 10 Best Gifts Cruise Lovers Will Actually Want For Their Next Alaska or Mexican Riviera Cruise [10 Best Gifts Cruise Lovers Will Actually Want For Their Next Alaska or Mexican Riviera Cruise](https://cruisewestcoast.com/best-gift-ideas-for-cruisers.html) #### Wiley X Boss Sunglasses Kept My Eyes Protected On Our Alaskan Cruise [Wiley X Boss Sunglasses Kept My Eyes Protected On Our Alaskan Cruise](https://cruisewestcoast.com/wiley-x-boss-sunglasses-kept-my-eyes-protected-on-our-alaskan-cruise.html) [Ask Cruise Questions Here!](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-questions-and-answers.html) #### Things To Do In San Francisco On A Cruise Visit [Things To Do In San Francisco On A Cruise Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/san-francisco-california.html) #### Six Best Places To Watch For Whales On Your Cruise Without Leaving The Ship [Six Best Places To Watch For Whales On Your Cruise Without Leaving The Ship](https://cruisewestcoast.com/best-places-to-watch-for-whales-from-a-cruise-ship.html) #### Things To Do In Juneau Alaska On a Cruise Ship Visit [Things To Do In Juneau Alaska On a Cruise Ship Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/juneau-alaska.html) #### Planning An Alaska Land Tour? What Holland America’s Denali Lodge Expansion Means For You [Planning An Alaska Land Tour? What Holland America’s Denali Lodge Expansion Means For You](https://cruisewestcoast.com/alaska-cruise-land-tour-holland-america-denali-lodge-expansion.html) We are dedicated to supporting a community of west coast cruisers from ports including [San Diego](index.php?Itemid=838), [Los Angeles](index.php?Itemid=839), [San Francisco](index.php?Itemid=840), [Seattle](index.php?Itemid=841), and [Vancouver](index.php?Itemid=842) as they set sail to destinations worldwide. We offer cruise news, tips, and deals to help make cruising to our favorite West Coast and [Canadian destinations](index.php?Itemid=1812) an amazing adventure! ### Cruise Community Login: {"html":""} --- ### Need help planning? **Heather** is a cruise and travel specialist at cruisewestcoast.com with over 15 years of experience in personalized trip planning. She specializes in Alaska cruise itineraries and can help you choose between Inside Passage, Gulf of Alaska, and expedition-style sailings based on your priorities — wildlife, glaciers, port towns, or all three. **Get in touch:** - [Request a personalized quote](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-with-heather?ref=agent) - Email: heather@flowmediamarketing.com --- **About cruisewestcoast.com:** West Coast cruise travel authority since 2015. Expert cruise reviews, port guides, and personalized trip planning. *Source: [Things To Do in Skagway Alaska On a Cruise Ship Visit](https://cruisewestcoast.com/skagway-alaska.html) — cruisewestcoast.com* **Related content you may find useful:** - [Alaska cruise port guides](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ports/alaska/) - [Alaska cruise tips for first-timers](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-tips-advice/) - [Cruise ship reviews and comparisons](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ships/) - [West Coast cruise port guides](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ports/)