Skagway, Alaska

Red Onion Saloon: You can get a brewed-in-Alaska beer at this historic drinking hole, which has been the town's honky-tonk since 1898.

Wilderness Surrounds: Grab a map at the National Park Service office and take a hike right from town, including one up to the turquoise waters of glacier-fed Lower Dewey Lake (3.6 miles round trip).

White Pass & Yukon Route Railway: Travel in the vintage parlor cars of this famous narrow-gage railway up the same steep route followed by the gold stampeders of 1898 — except they had to make the treacherous journey on foot. You can take the train round trip, though active types may prefer to ride up and bike down.

Families: Kids will enjoy such excursions as gold panning with a chance to meet sled dogs, as well as attractions like the glassblowing experience.

History Buffs: The area's past includes a lot more than just prospectors (see the wooly mammoth tusk at the Skagway Museum for proof), though of course there are many opportunities to satisfy your gold rush curiosities as well.

It Can Get Very Touristy: The town has fewer than 1,000 residents, but in summer that number swells when jewelry and souvenir vendors arrive to cater to the cruise ship passengers. It's a gold rush for the tourist buck.