Whitehorse

Vacation Time + Friend In Whitehorse + Mutual Availability = Trip North

My knowledge of Whitehorse was based more on stereotype than reality. My friend spoke well of it, but I wasn't sure what to expect. As my flight descended into the airport I knew she hadn't exaggerated - the land is beautiful! Whitehorse is a small city nestled in a river valley surrounded by forest and mountains. There's even an extinct volcano for some variety.

Whitehorse isn't big as cities go, but it isn't lacking for franchised stores and restaurants. The partial list includes Tim Horton's, Boston Pizza, McDonalds, Super Store, Walmart and Rogers Video. Driving through some parts of the city you might be anywhere in North America. Fortunately the city has less generic parts.

Downtown has a unique look. Though the streets are car centric the downtown is pedestrian friendly in spite of itself. It just isn't that big. Within a ten minute walk of Main Street are no less than four great places for lunch and coffee. Yup, I checked them all out. The Midnight Sun is the local coffee roaster and provides fair trade coffee and good food. Their coffee is featured on Air North, a regional air carrier, but if you drink it on the plane don't let that throw you off. It's much better at their cafe. In addition to good food there's an independent book seller with a first class choice of books and magazines, a great second hand book store, a large organic super market and nice independent deli/meat store.

But I've put the added extras before the main event: the country. Whitehorse has got to be the dream location for outdoor activities. Right next to town is Schwatka lake with a network of hiking, mountain biking and cross country ski trails. A ten minute drive in any direction and you're out of town. Canoeing and kayaking opportunities are also in abundance. The clear sky means you can see the Milky Way at the edge of the city, and the Northern Lights are there to put on a free show . . . when they feel like it. I missed seeing the Northern Lights but was treated to an excellent view of a lunar eclipse. Oh, and it wasn't that cold. During my visit the temperatures were comparable to Edmonton, Prince George and Saskatoon.

The "Great White North" is changing, at least in the Southern Yukon. Whitehorse may have been the boonies 20 years ago, it's much less so now. While not Vancouver's Commercial Drive there's a thriving cafe culture and with the franchise outlets most consumer thirsts can be satisfied. Add to this the natural surroundings and Whitehorse has my vote for first class outdoor get away.

And my visit? My friend and her significant other gave me the royal treatment, we drank way too much coffee, and we talked our heads off. Awesome.