Yellowknife

First, things in town are very quiet on Sunday. Very. But of course that’s why you’re in Yellowknife. Things are also quiet on Labor Day (and likely other holidays), but not quite like Sunday.

Old town is like nowhere else I’ve been. New town could be most anywhere.

It can be quite cloudy in the fall because of the lake. This can make it difficult to see the aurora. The full moon does not make it hard to see the aurora—it merely changes the sky’s color (so a photographer tells me).

When it rains, the water pools up everywhere instead of soaking into the ground, since there’s virtually no soil for the water to soak into.

Cameron Falls is probably not in the guide book, but it should be. Drive the whole length of Ingraham Trail. The falls are about 38 km in. The trail is partially paved and partially gravel and well-maintained for such a remote road.

Rental cars bill out mileage, but it’s not crushingly expensive. The airport is tiny, but you’ll still need plenty of time if you’re checking bags.

Yes, it’s true about the biting insects. There are lots of them, even in September. The worst time seems to be sunset.

Buy a bug jacket- it will be the best investment you can make to make life in YK and the surrounding area enjoyable during the summer.

summer is short, but quite strange. the sun hides at about 2am, and it rises at 6am, and even then, there’s a lot of light. true part about the mosquitos. it does feel like a mini-city.

the landscapes are beautiful

However, it has a very short summer. The insects are huge. There is not too much to do. The housing costs are astronomical because of the diamond mine. It is a quaint little place, looks and feels like a mini city. If you are interested in wildlife and rural activities you will probably love this city.

i used to live in yellowknife as a kid and i remember we were in this crazy house on woolgar avenue with the big spooky eyes. it was cedar and it smelled really good to me. i really hope it’s still there when i go back