Nothing quite captures the gold rush fever and spirit of Dawson better for me than this poem entitled "The Spell of the Yukon" painted on the side of a building.
Dawson is full of weird and wonderful things, including this sign:
Dawson has a lot of hotels and restaurants to choose from. Maybe I should specify what I mean by "a lot". Coming from Inuvik, where there are really only 2 hotels and 4 eateries at best, Dawson's generous choice of about a dozen hotels and even more restaurants and pubs makes it seem like visitors are spoiled for choice.
Below are some of the options for accommodation, starting with the Aurora Inn, where we stayed. It is owned by a lovely couple who just moved from Switzerland just last year, and they do a great job making you feel like you're at their home in the Alps.
The above picture demonstrates what happens when spring comes to the Yukon -- mud! This is a good segue to show you the boardwalks that line every street in Dawson and help keep your ankles out of the mire...
Another colourful place to stay and eat is Bombay Peggy's, which served as a brothel in the gold rush era, but has since cleaned itself up and become respectable and trendy!
For some of the best food in town, you must stop by the Drunken Goat Taverna and Billy Goat pub, which has an impressive mural and live music on occasion. We ordered the pizza and it was amazing.