Complete Guide To Seward, Alaska
Seward is the land of the indigenous community called the Alutiiq
Where glaciers, mountains and ocean meet, this charming little town on the water was a constant weekend trip for me. Here are all my top recommendations of things to do in Seward, Alaska!
Walking Along The Coastline in Seward, AK near Lowell Point
*Be aware Seward, Alaska is THE place to be for July 4th. Fireworks are usually the night before on July 3rd, with a race up Mount Marathon on July 4th. There are lots of people and activities so if this is something that interests you be sure to book your lodging well ahead of time otherwise I would avoid Seward on those dates.
WHERE TO EAT
Now there’s not much to choose from here so it’s safe to say I’ve tried almost every spot. If you plan on staying an extended period of time here I would get lodging accommodations that have a kitchen to allow you to cook so you don’t eat out every meal!
Resurrect Art- arguably one of the most scenic coffee shops in Alaska. This coffee shop is located inside an old church in downtown Seward. They still have remnants of the old church with the pews, altar and stained glass windows. They sell local art as well as the best coffee & pastries in Seward! Once you’ve finished perusing the shop my favorite thing to do is walk along the shoreline with my coffee admiring the beautiful landscape.
The Cookery- if you’re looking for a delicious cut of wild Alaskan salmon cooked to perfection this is your place. While the Cookery is only open during the summer, they get enough business to make sure you book your reservation as soon as possible. My favorite part about this restaurant is how fresh and foraged everything is. They have a farm located in Kasilof where most of their produce comes from and their oysters & fish are all fresh and local. *Absolutely make sure you have a reservation because they sometimes cannot take walk-ins!*
The Lone Chicharron- From the owners of The Cookery, this restaurant brings the flavors of Mexico to Seward’s first taqueria. The quality of this food is incredible and they really executed the cuisine well.
Seward Brewing Company- In my opinion this place is the best post hike burger joint in town as well as the best craft beer!
WHAT TO DO
Kenai Fjords Wildlife Cruise- I am all for off the beaten path experiences but as “touristy” as this may seem, it is incredible. I recommend doing the 6-hour tour through Major Marines (compared to 4 or 8 hours) as you will get the full experience without it being too long. Definitely bring warm clothes as it can get really windy and chilly and you don't want to be stuck inside missing out on the wildlife because you aren’t warm enough! You can get the opportunity to see orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, puffins and more! The tour also takes you to a glacier that meets the ocean and the views are just breathtaking.
Alaska Sealife Center- If you want to be more up close and personal with Alaska’s sea life without being on a boat, this is the perfect alternative! The goal of the center is conservation, protection of the animals and research. Visitors have close encounters with puffins (very difficult to get close to these guys in nature since they steer clear of humans), octopus, harbor seals and sea lions!
puffins!
Sea Kayaking- For anyone wanting an adventure filled day with lower impact, I highly recommend this experience. With a guide, you will get the chance to kayak along the coast of Resurrection Bay and learn about the history and the landscape of the area. We even docked our boats on the beach and took a little walk along a hiking trail and got to witness several bald eagles flying around us! I was a little intimidated by the kayaking in the ocean but the tour guide companies will cancel if the water is too choppy and keep you along the coastline where it is more calm.
Hiking- If you are interested in hiking I highly recommend downloading the AllTrails app to help guide you towards what trail would be best for you. Be aware that you always have the chance to encounter a bear so it is important to hike in groups, carry bear spray, and do NOT go off the path. Here is an additional guide provided by the National Park system that I encourage you to read before hiking anywhere in Alaska. Please practice “Leave No Trace” so we can sustain the environment for everyone else who wants to enjoy these beautiful hiking trails! Here are some of the trails I recommend
Exit Glacier- One of the most iconic glaciers because of its easy access, this is a short walk through the woods to the end of Exit Glacier and is feasible for almost all age groups. It’s eye-opening to see how much the glacier has receded as they mark the years along the route where the glacier once extended out to. If you’re looking for a longer hike, I highly recommend taking the route past Exit glacier up to the Harding IceField which I will talk about next.
Harding IceField- Be prepared to spend most of your day hiking this trail as it can take 6-8 hours, and trust me you will want to stop to take in the views! This is one of my favorite hikes In Alaska because of how unique it is. Not only can you see stunning views of Exit Glacier but the end point takes you to a view of all of Harding IceField. You will see miles of vast glacial ice covering the tops of the mountains and you can see peaks poking through on the very far end. It can be very windy at the top so be prepared for all weather conditions!
Tonsina Point - If you’re looking for a hike through the woods with ocean views, this is the perfect trail. Parts of the trail will take you through beautiful mossy woods and will weave out to the ocean.
Fishing- If fishing is something that interests you, there are plenty of charters out of Seward that will take you deep sea fishing for all sorts of species such as halibut, salmon, rockfish and many more. It can take about 2 hours one way to get to most of the deep sea fishing so make sure that you are someone who is okay being on a boat for that long and just come prepared with medications in case you are prone to becoming sea sick! Here is a link to several charters that depart out of Seward.
Explore Glaciers - One thing I recommend anyone do while they are in Alaska is explore glaciers. There are less and less places that have these opportunities and with a tour guide, there are many options to choose from when exploring glaciers. You can either do the wildlife tour with Major Marines that includes glacier viewing, hike along side glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park or hike on a glacier with a guide!
Kenai Backcountry Adventures is a company that will take you hiking on glaciers with all the proper gear and a guide. They have multiple options from a day hike on a glacier, hiking in ice caves or multiple-day treks across glaciers, they have it all!
WHERE TO STAY
Salted Roots Cabins- more than just a place to sleep, this boutique style cabin also offers stunning Mountain View’s of Resurrection Bay as well as interactive community spaces. The owners are locals who are passionate about connecting guests with an authentic Alaskan experience.
Airbnb & VRBO- there’s plenty of cabins and other options to choose from these websites
Camping- there’s plenty of camping options all over Seward if this is what you’re interested in. I personally loved my experience camping at Miller’s Landing because it felt more secluded. Other options include camping right along the water in Seward Waterfront Park or the KOA Seward
Camping in Miller’s Landing
HOW TO GET THERE
You can either rent a car and drive from Anchorage (roughly 3 hours) and take the beautiful Seward Highway, take a bus that offers a motorcoach ride or take a train (roughly 4.5 hours) via the Alaska railroad! Here is a link to the website to book either the bus or train. If I was visiting, I would ABSOLUTELY do the train option as it takes you through many scenic areas inaccessible by car and you get the opportunity to ride the iconic Alaska railroad! Here is a detailed description of what your route will look like on the train.
