Things to do in Seward, Alaska

It’s been a month since we returned from our trip to Alaska, and our eyes are still full of stars! What can we say about this month-long road trip between the Yukon and this magnificent territory? It was extraordinary. I’m going to start this first article by telling you what to do in Seward, Alaska. Since then I’ve written a little guide to things to do and see in Haines, a magical place we were lucky enough to visit for a few days!

To be honest, we hadn’t originally planned to go this far into Alaska, as we arrived by road from Dawson City (in the Yukon) via the famous Top of the World Highway. It’s a particularly well known route for crossing the border from the Yukon and taking your first steps into northeast Alaska.

A full day’s drive from the border brought us to the famous Kenai Peninsula in the southern part of Alaska. We had our doubts about other places, but decided to spend about ten days on this peninsula, visiting a number of sites and natural treasures around the town of Seward.

Here’s a round-up of what we did and what not to miss when visiting Seward!

We spent four days in and around Seward, taking time to walk around the town. Between us, we weren’t very lucky with the weather, as it was pouring when we arrived and didn’t make you want to wander around the town center. The city of Seward is actually divided into two parts. The first part is at the airport and along the road, and frankly it’s not much to write home about. Here you’ll find shops and supermarkets, but also (because it’s worth stopping here) the Seward Visitor Centre.

As you continue along the waterfront, you’ll see the town’s harbor on your left, which is well worth a look. It doesn’t have the charm of Homer (where we also spent a few days), which I’ll tell you about later, but it’s well worth walking around and admiring the beautiful boats. It’s also the starting point for most boat trips, kayaking, paddling, deep-sea fishing and so on. It was from here that we set off on our day trip to explore the Kenai Fjords National Park (an unspoilt park with a natural heritage that’s simply breathtaking to behold).

The city centre, and especially the waterfront, is pleasant to walk around, but not extraordinary. When the weather was good, we were able to enjoy some great views of the surrounding area, but this was obviously not always the case, as it must be said that the weather here is very fickle. Take the time to wander these streets for an hour or two and discover all the little nooks and crannies. If you’re looking for souvenirs, there are plenty of shops selling a lot of tourist stuff, not exactly the most authentic of things.

We didn’t take the time to go there, and between you and me, it’s not really our cup of tea, but you can visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, which is entirely on the waterfront. The feedback I’ve had and read is pretty good. It’s a quick way to see the region’s wildlife (humpback whales, sea lions, seals, otters, puffins, etc.). Admission is around $30. You will be able to observe many marine mammals in their natural environment.

To be honest, this is probably the most extraordinary boat trip I’ve ever done in my life. I won’t take the time to describe it in detail here, as I’ve written an entire article about exploring Kenai Fjords National Park. I really invite you to read it, get inspired by the photos and I’m sure you’ll want to treat yourself to a day that will stay with you forever.

It’s a day that combines the discovery of flora and fauna with the magnificent and spectacular panoramas that surround us. The highlight will be our approach to the glacier, with the startling sound of blocks of ice falling into the icy water below, all in what I consider to be a heavenly setting. You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, with each landscape more spectacular than the last.

I’m repeating myself, but I’m sure that if you can afford this cruise, you won’t regret it. Between glaciers, cliffs and more, you’ll discover Alaska’s wide open spaces! Here’s the incredible excursion we had the chance to do.

The small town of Seward is also a paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Of course, we didn’t get to do as much hiking as we would have liked as we were keen to explore other parts of Alaska. But clearly, if you’ve got time and love walking, hiking and adventure, you’re in for a treat!

Here’s a hike I was tempted to do when I was there, but after a bit of research, it turned out to be too complicated to do with two kids… This beautiful hike of over 6km and 900m of climbing starts from the town of Seward towards Mount Marathon along the Skyline Trail. The views from the top are truly spectacular and majestic over the town of Seward and Resurrection Bay. However, I’d only recommend this hike to experienced hikers as the up and down can be quite exhausting. Dogs are not allowed on the trail.

For our part, we went to one of the region’s must-sees. I say “must-see” because it’s very well known and therefore very (too?) touristy. We went in the late afternoon but it was still very busy. The walk takes you from the visitor centre to several viewpoints on the Exit Glacier. What’s special about this hike is that you can actually choose between several hikes, depending on the level you want to go for.

Everything is clearly explained in the visitor centre. We opted for the classic family walk, the Exit Glacier View and Overlook Loop, which is a 3.5km loop that is not too difficult, even for children. The Harding Icefield Trail, on the other hand, is a much more complicated hike, but apparently worth the detour as it takes you to higher ground and offers better views and scenery of the glacier below. You can do it on your own or with a guide.

Either way, it’s a very pleasant ride, even if we would have preferred to see far fewer people. This was also the case with another hike we preferred for its more secluded nature, the observation of Byron Glacier, not far from Whittier.

I’ll tell you more about this in our article on the Exit Glacier hike.

The Tonsina Creek Trail is a popular 5km round-trip hike that starts at Lowell Point State Recreation Site (just south of Seward, accessible by car). The trail is easy and fairly flat and can be hiked all year round or snowshoed in winter. The trail leads through a beautiful forest to a secluded beach with panoramic views of Resurrection Bay.

If you want to stretch your legs in the middle of the forest, this short 1.5km trail will give you a break from the city!

Just north of the town of Seward, from the outskirts of Bear Creek, this is a great hike of over 20km through a magnificent spruce forest. The photos I’ve seen are superb, and the views of the surrounding mountains are simply magnificent, even grandiose. Be warned, this is a very long walk, but the difficulty is fairly moderate given the gentle incline. Depending on the weather, the trail can get muddy.

From Lowell Point State Recreation Site (south of Seward), this is a great 20km walk that follows the waterfront for much of its length. The photos and feedback are excellent too, and if you’ve got the time, it’s definitely worth considering. You do have to pay attention to the tides, though, otherwise you can’t get around the whole beach, and frankly, that’s a problem. The views along the coast are unbelievable and breathtaking, and the passages through the undergrowth are apparently excellent. You can ask for help on site to find out the tide times.

I think I’ve given you the basics of what to do in Seward, but if you’d like to consider other outdoor activities, here are a few more ideas:

• Flying over the area to see the sights: We weren’t lucky enough to do this, but I know from driving by that it’s worth considering a flight over the fjords and glaciers by plane or helicopter. From experience (in Polynesia), once you’re up in the air, it’s incredible;
• Go fishing: Let’s face it, we’re not big fans of big game fishing, but Alaska, and this region in particular, is renowned for its fishing. So if you’re interested, you’ve come to the right place for salmon or halibut fishing (the halibut is excellent, by the way);
• Summer hiking with sled dogs: Here’s an activity and excursion that can be great fun for the whole family, allowing you to discover and visit the region at a more leisurely pace, for example for an hour or two.
• Rafting on the Resurrection River: This is definitely an activity I want to try on my next trip, without the kids of course. The feedback I’ve had from Seward on this activity has been excellent.
• Snowmobiling in the area: In winter, you can take a snowmobile tour of the area for several hours, which is a refreshing experience.

As we’ve always done, here’s what you need to know about getting to Seward, Alaska.

That depends on where you are coming from, of course. We came from the island of Guadeloupe, so it’s a bit of an obstacle course to get here. Seward and the Kenai Peninsula weren’t really our original destination. We flew from Pointe-à-Pitre airport to Montreal, then on to Vancouver and finally to the capital of the Yukon, Whitehorse, Canada. We then travelled by camper van, which I’ll tell you more about below.

But if you’re in France, for example, it’s easy to find flights from Paris to Alaska with a stopover.

I might as well be blunt: I wouldn’t have much faith in public transport in such a vast area. We decided to rent a motorhome for the first time in our lives and, frankly, it was an extraordinary experience.

Alternatively, check out Discovercars, which also has some great deals at really interesting prices!

I won’t go into detail here as we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to the best places to stay in Seward. I’ll leave it to you to check it out, but you should know that there’s something for everyone: beautiful villas a little off the beaten track, nice establishments or even camping in the middle of nowhere! It all depends on the type of holiday you’re looking for: authentic, unusual, comfortable and so on. Whatever you choose, you’ll have stunning views over Resurrection Bay.

Written by Sylvain PONS

Twice, over a period of about 2 months, I had the opportunity to explore several corners of the United States, taking advantage of the best it has to offer. I decided to share some of my experiences with you!

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So, that’s it for this Seward City article. You’ve got the essentials and a good overview of must-sees, activities and itineraries! See you soon for another article on this beautiful northern destination: Alaska.