A ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. This was created as a result of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, though it wasn't completed before the rush ended. The narrow-gauge train follows the path that pioneers in search of Klondike Gold climbed in order to get to Dawson's Creek in nearby Canada. The tracks wind around granite mountains, trundle across steep gorges and pass through two tunnels. Virtually all visiting cruise lines offer the train ride.
Historic walking tour of Skagway. Pick up a map at the Skagway Visitors Center (Broadway between 2nd & 3rd), which, in itself, is distinctive because its builder collected more than 8,800 sticks of driftwood -- and then nailed them to the building's front.
Historic driving tour of Skagway. Fast-talking guides in period garb lead the Skagway Street Car Tour, a two-hour look at the port's Gold Rush history onboard a restored yellow Mac Model B.
Learn about the Klondike Gold Rush at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center (2nd and Broadway).
Shopping in Skagway. Nestled between totally touristy "outlet" stores and shops full of cheap tchotchkes are veritable gems. For books, try the Skaguay News Depot (Broadway between 2nd & 3rd). The Quiviut Store (in Skagway Bazaar between 5th and 6th on Broadway) sells fine muskox yarns and fibers. The Train Shoppe in the White Pass and Yukon Route Depot (2nd & Spring) has tons of choo-choo souvenirs.
Hang out at the touristy Red Onion Saloon (2nd & Broadway), a Gold Rush-era gathering point (and former brothel).
Gold-panning at Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp. A stop at this recreation camp, which was set up by press men who were supposed to be reporting from the front lines of the Gold Rush (thus Liarsville), is often packaged with the train tour if you go one way by rail and one way by bus. As part of the setup, today's Liarsville also features a campfire, salmon bake and musician playing instruments of the time.