Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon Territory is home to remarkable outdoor adventures and fantastic queer-owned businesses.
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Dawson City is home to remarkable outdoor adventures and features a downtown straight out of a 1950s Western.
I chose to stay at the queer-ownedDawson Lodge, a boutique property right in the heart of downtown.
Behind the unassuming western facade lies a funky hotel with an industrial vibe and a focus on sustainability.
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The new spa will include more treatment rooms, a cafe, and a private courtyard.
Wandering the town, I saw multiple examples of Dawson’s City’s culture of acceptance.
I enjoyed a fantastic lunch at queer-ownedBonTon, heralded as one of the country’s best new restaurants.
Paul Heney
And I happened upon the “Queer Newfoundland Hockey League” traveling exhibit at the ODD Gallery.
Artist Lucas Morneau cheekily crocheted 14 fictional hockey jerseys, imagining team names that reclaim LGBTQ slurs.
Through local outfitterThe Klondike Experience, I watched for aurora borealis in relative comfort.
Paul Heney
From there, we hiked through a pristine evergreen forest to a well-equipped yurt.
There, the wood-burning stove was roaring while coffee, hot chocolate, and sweets awaited.
It was the perfect mix of creature comforts and accessibility to the cold, clear skies.
We could pop outside every few minutes to look up, and then duck inside for warmth as necessary.
There, we sped along the riverbank, mimicking the same route a dogsledding race had taken days earlier.
Dogsledding is popular here, and I ventured out with Wild-Country Dog Sled Adventures.
Matty, the musher, explained how much positive reassurance the dogs need throughout the journey.
Our 10 dogs, an assortment of mixed breeds howled and barked with excitement until we left.
Once on the trail, they were silent, focused on the task and listening for Matty’s encouragements.
I finished the trip with a term I hadn’t even known before coming to Dawson City: Flightseeing.
OutfitterGreat River Airtook us up on a perfect, cloudless day, and we soared over the town.
Dawson City, I’ll be back soon wearing my Pride shirt and anticipating even more adventure.
