Whitehorse: 21,732
Temps: 16/8 C
Food: Excellent
Arriving in Whitehorse by air gives me an automatic sense of release, of peace, of serenity. Below, the mountains, valleys, and rivers look back in softened geographic relief.
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| Approaching Whitehorse © Dan Silas 2017 |
Even I wasn’t planning on this trip in the strict sense of that deliberate word. But when a Westjet seat sale clinched the deal and the time window coincided with my work schedule, I couldn’t say no.
The Yukon has been on my bucket list for 37 years (see About). My dear wife and lifelong travel companion was surely getting tired of hearing me wax on about my Yukon desires all these years. Maybe she joined me just to see what I had been prattling on about.
A 6 am departure from Richardson International in Winnipeg meant an even earlier wake up call. After a plane change in Vancouver, we landed in picturesque Whitehorse right on time. Rental car pick up was smooth, but they did try to upsell us on extra windshield chip and tire insurance at $15.95/day. There are other less expensive insurance options your carrier or credit card provider might offer. If you plan on travelling up the Dempster, check with the car rental agency first.
Alert: Unlike in the south, where pretty much every car rental company offers unlimited free mileage, in the Yukon there’s an 1800 free km mileage limit.
Tip: I booked the rental car via a special offer from Westjet through its partner, Budget Car Rental, at the same time as booking our flights. With prior research, I quickly determined that this deal was about $100 less than booking directly with the rental agency. The savings may not be as great if travelling to a major city where competition is stiffer. Be sure to do your research first.
By now lunch was past due. We drove into Whitehorse and discovered the Burnt Toast Cafe. The name is typical northern self deprecation. We ended up eating here three times. Each meal was creative, unique, and flavourful (tip: try the Humble Salad with Maple Balsamic dressing). Service was excellent.
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| © Dan Silas 2017 |
Our B&B, the Red Door Inn is about 10 minutes from the airport - and everywhere else in Whitehorse. By the time we checked in, we couldn’t decide if a nap or a walk would serve us better. We opted for a lovely 5km walking trail that took us from the door of our B&B, through a forested area, and across the Yukon River (twice). It also happens to be part of the Trans Canada Trail. What a gift it would be to live close to such a trail!
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| Millennium Trail, Whitehorse © Dan Silas 2017 |
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| Yukon River, Whitehorse © Dan Silas 2017 |
We returned to our B&B ready for a short rest and, because we enjoyed the Burnt Toast Cafe at lunch and were too lazy to make a different decision, we returned and enjoyed a very fine burger with some unique toppings. But first, a worthwhile stop at the Whitehorse Visitor’s Centre yielded a free 3-day parking pass at all metered spots in town, along with some other useful recommendations.
Thanks to our host Mary Ann, our B&B room had black out curtains, otherwise the late night sun would have kept us up exploring.
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