Yellowknife Canada Travelers Guide

Yellowknife Canada offers a northern adventure in a pristine environment. As the capitol of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife is a thriving mining community that draws thousands of visitors a year who enjoy nature, winter sports and summer festivals.

With a population of over 20,000 inhabitants, there are plenty of lodging choices for travelers. Two of the more affluent hotels in town are the Explorer Hotel and the Yellowknife Inn. Both hotels offer a wide range of amenities that fit any budget. Historic Old Town is easily accessible from most of the local lodging destinations.

Since the early 1900s, gold and silver mines have been a rapidly growing business in Yellowknife. Today visitors can enjoy mining exhibits and even a hike through The Prospectors Trail. The trail is approximately two and a half miles long and takes trekkers on a visual exploration of the early mining and geography.

More recently, the diamond industry has flourished in and around Yellowknife. The Diavik diamond mine invites travelers to their visitor center, to discover the history of diamond mining in the area. If you still can't get enough of the diamonds, The Northern Frontier Visitors Centre offers diamond-polishing demonstrations that teach enthusiasts about cutting techniques as well as local diamond history.

Winter revelers in Yellowknife enjoy the annual Snowking's Festival. This winter festival is celebrated each year in March near the Great Slave Lake. Wide ranges of events are scheduled each year with local exhibitions, plays and musical entertainment. The highlight if this festival is the castle of the Snowking himself. The castle is made entirely of snow and ice. The design changes each year to the delight of children and adults alike.

If you're in town for the Snowking festival in March be sure to stick around for the Caribou Carnival that runs during the last week of March. This event challenges visitors with a wide range of competitions for all ages. A fireworks display lights up the sky for the event and numerous vendors offer hot foods from local ethnic cuisine to more mainstream foods.

The Yellowknife Dog Derby takes place for three days each March and challenges some of the worlds most seasoned dog sled racers. This grueling race is one of the most popular races in Canada, with thousands of dollars worth of prizes offered for top finishers.

If your itinerary involves a more leisurely pace, you might want to explore the numerous fishing escapes Yellowknife has to offer. With several lakes to choose from, you can enjoy some of the finest fishing in the world, while enjoying the pristine environment.

A relaxing day of golf at the Yellowknife golf club caters to all levels of golf enthusiasts. This 18 hole course offers a driving range and a clubhouse and hosts the Midnight Classic golf tournament each year in June.

The Northern Lights are visible from September until April and are a must see for anyone visiting the Northern Territory. This dazzling natural wonder draws thousands of people each year to Yellowknife. Tours are offered throughout the winter months.

Yellowknife is a winter wonderland filled with a wide range of activities sure to please the entire family. No matter what time of year you plan to visit, Yellowknife has a lot to offer.