Getaway idea: Seattle's Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Individuals heading to Vancouver to enjoy the Winter Olympic games may consider a stop in Seattle on the way to explore the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park.
The park commemorates the experiences of the thousands of men and women who traveled to the valley of Canada's Yukon River to look for gold in the late 1800s.
The city of Seattle formed a point of departure for many northbound gold rushers. Some of them found lodging in the Cadillac Hotel, which is situated in the Pioneer Square National Historic District and now houses the park museum and visitor center. In the hotel, you can take advantage of the park's interactive features, view exhibits about the gold rush and trace the stories of several men and women who sought gold. Touch screens show visitors passages from the journals and personal accounts of gold rushers.
This destination comes from the National Park Getaways series, which helps people find new places to reconnect with nature, history, family and friends.
Each Wednesday, the National Park Service posts a new getaway idea on its website, nps.gov/getaways. There's a new park idea every week and most of the activities listed are free, so they're good, budget-friendly vacation options.