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Seward, Alaska
Almost everything in Seward is within walking distance. From the southend of town at the Alaska SeaLife Center to the northend of town at the Small Boat Harbor. It's just a little over a mile about 20 minute walk. A Seward Walking Map is available in pdf format that shows points of interest and historical sites that can be easily printed for your visit to Seward. There is also free summertime shuttle bus service in Seward. Schedule and Map For destinations outside the city center or if don't want to walk or take the free bus shuttle, there are a couple of taxi services in town.
The Alaska SeaLife Center - The SeaLife Center is a non-profit marine science facility dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation and public education. The Center's research facilities and naturalistic exhibits immerse visitors in the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska and provide opportunities to watch animals in naturalistic habitats as well as research settings. Whale Watching Glacier Cruises - No trip to Seward is complete without a visit to Kenai Fjords tidewater glaciers, and seeing the wildlife and looking for whales. Backcountry Safaris offers a number of different glacier and wildlife viewing day cruise options including day cruise options with transportation from Anchorage.Sea Kayaking - The Seward area is perhaps the most amazing and diverse sea kayaking location in Alaska. Backcountry Safaris offers a variety of sea kayaking options, both guided and unguided, sea kayak rentals, and water taxi in Kenai Fjords National Park, Resurrection Bay, and Bear Glacier. Come see why others are saying Seward is the greatest sea kayaking location in Alaska. Backcountry Safaris sea kayaking adventures. National Park Kenai Fjords Information Center - The Park's Information Center is located at 1212 4th Avenue in Seward, next to the Small Boat Harbor. The Center offers maps, publications, interpretive displays and other information. The Center is open daily 8:30 am - 7 pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Kenai Fjords Park videos are shown in the auditorium. Seward Museum, Resurrection Bay Historical Society - Located at 336 3rd Avenue. The museum presents Seward's history through photographs, artifacts and documents. There is also a fine collection of Native baskets and ivory carvings on display. During the summer there are evening programs consisting of two slide/tape shows: The History of Seward and The History of the Iditarod Trail. Museum shop carries books by local authors and other items relating to the local area. 1964 Earthquake Movie - The Seward Library offers showings of the movie 'Waves Over Seward, The Good Friday Earthquake" during the summer months. The movie is shown Monday - Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The cost is $3.00 per person and children under 12 are free. The Seward Library is located on the corner of 5th and Adams. Fishing - Seward offers world class sport fishing. Backcountry Safaris offers fishing charters for halibut, salmon, and salmon and halibut combination fishing trips. Please contact us for more information. In June there is the halibut fishing tournament and in August the annual Seward Silver Salmon Derby draws anglers from around the world who try their luck at catching silver salmon and winning prizes totaling over $100,000. Dog Mushing - Alaska helicopter glacier tours offer flightseeing, a glacier landing on Godwin Glacier, and a dog sled ride that makes this triple adventure a unique and unforgettable experience and the highlight of any Alaskan adventure tour vacation. Call Backcountry Safaris to make reservations at 907-222-1632 Flightseeing - Backcountry Safaris' 30 minute helicopter flightseeing adventure includes a glacier landing for a short walk on a glacier and breathtaking views of Kenai Fjords National Park that will highlight your Alaskan adventure. Call Backcountry Safaris to make reservations at 907-222-1632. Horseback Rides - At 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, a 2 hour trail ride will take you to the shore of the bay where the wild flowers meet the ocean. We will ride through part of the old town of Seward that was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1964. You will hear the stories of the people who lived through it. Birders will appreciate this area that has a very diverse bird life. Also, overnight horse pack trips are available that take you high up into mountains of the Chugach National Forest. For more information and reservations contact Backcountry Safaris. Seward, Mural Capital of Alaska - For in-town explorations, see if you can find all of the hand-painted murals. Seward was named the Mural Capital of Alaska in 2009. CLICK HERE: A Seward walking map is available that shows locations of the murals. There are a few new ones that are not on the map - see if you can find them. Benny Benson Memorial - Benny Benson was a 13 year old boy in Seward when the American Legion hosted a statewide contest to design the Alaska State Flag. Benny's design was selected and his memorial stands just off 3rd Avenue (Seward Highway) and Dairy Hill Lane. Bird Watching - Bald eagles are quite common in downtown area of Seward. Along the beachfront is one popular area to look. Another great place next to 3rd Avenue (the Seward Highway) and the Benny Benson Memorial on Dairy Hill Lane where a creek flows under the road into the small lagoon. Eagles are often seen here sitting and feeding on salmon. Also looking north from Benny Benson Memorial on Dairy Hill Lane there is a nesting site. Birding is quite common among the locals, just ask the locals you see for the best areas. Another options the Small Boat Whale Watching Glacier Cruise (http://backcountrysafaris.com/alaska-saltwater/kenai-fjords-small-boat.php). This tour is tailored to people's interest who are onboard; just tell the captain you have real interest in seeing the birds and they will make an extra effort to take time to show you the sea birds in the area. Also custom birding charters are available for hardcore birders. The ever popular Puffin is quite common once you get out into the bay a little. And don't overlook the Alaska Sea Life Center. It has a avian habitat for up-close Alaska sea bird views both above and below water. A behind the scenes "Puffin Encounter Tour" of the avian habitat is also offered. Bike Rental - Seward Bike Shop at the corner of 4th Avenue and Port Avenue at the Train Wreak. Seward Bike Shop rents bikes by the hour or day. There is a bike path along the water from the harbor to the front of town. Internet Access - Sea Bean Internet Cafe located at 225 4th Ave. Cozy little cafe with Macs and free Wi-Fi. Locally owned and operated. Espresso, specialty coffee, loose leaf tea, smoothies and ice cream. Iditarod Park - Located at the corner of Ballaine Boulevard and Railway Avenue. Not all visitors to Seward are aware that the National Historic Iditarod Trail originally began in Seward, Alaska. We are proudly Milepost 0. We commemorate the start of "the last great race" and this important trail with the Iditarod triangle memorial in a small park shared with the Founders' Monument, at the corner of Ballaine Boulevard and Railway Avenue. You will also see a very artistic tribute to dog mushing and a local musher. Hop up on the sled for a unique photo opportunity. Waterfront Walk - Historic Iditarod Trail Waterfont paved path begins at the monument and interpretive sign located at Mile 0 in Iditarod Park, Founders' Monument, at the corner of Ballaine Boulevard and Railway Avenue. The trail fronts Waterfront Park all the way to Van Buren Street. From there, it crosses 4th and 3rd Avenues to the lagoon Boardwalk. Along the way you will find a number of interpretive signs that range in topics from history, flora, fauna, weather, views, the Seward Meridian and the Gold Rush. Two Lakes Hike - Two Lakes Trail is a quiet nature loop, just a bit longer than one mile. Located behind the AVTEC Administration building on 2nd Avenue, at the end of "C" Street. Mt. Marathon Hike - At 3,022 feet, Mt. Marathon provides a breathtaking backdrop for Seward and a great day hike. Mt. Marathon is also the location for the Mt. Marathon Race, the second oldest footrace in America. The first race was run in 1908 on an informal bet between a local bartender and a geologist and was first run as an organized race in 1915. Exit Glacier and Harding Ice Field Hike - Seward area offers a myriad of close-by hiking trails and one of the most popular is the Exit Glacier trail. Hourly shuttle service is available from downtown Seward to the trailhead. Contact Backcountry Safaris for more information on the Exit Glacier shuttle. The trailhead is located about 11 miles from downtown Seward where you will also find the Exit Glacier National Park Visitor Center. The Exit Glacier hike offers a several options from the visitor center. An easy 1 mile walk brings you to the face of of Exit Glacier or if you're more adventurous you can continue on up to an overlook for a spectacular view of the Harding Icefield. This section of the trail is more strenuous, about a 7.4-mile round trip. Hikers gain approximately 1,000 feet of elevation with every mile and there are several rocky sections in the first mile that may require a bit of scrambling. The Harding Icefield covers about 700 square miles, the largest ice field in North America, and is the source of at least 38 glaciers that flow off it. Allow at least 6-8 hours for the hike. Although the view from the top is well worth the effort, you need not hike all the way to the top to experience the wonders of this trail. Also offered are Ranger-led walks to Exit Glacier at 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM daily. These walks are approximately 1-2 hours in length. No reservations are required. Meet outside the Exit Glacier Nature Center. Exit Glacier Ice Climbing - Guided five-hour Exit Glacier ice hiking tour is the perfect experience for outdoor enthusiasts who really want to dig in and explore what Alaska has to offer. And for the more adventurous also offered is a 6-8 guided ice climbing adventure. The opportunity to learn basic Ice Climbing and to spend hours exploring an ever-changing glacier. You don't need any experience or special equipment to come climb, just a sense of adventure. Donning crampons, we first find a gentle slope to learn the basics of climbing, crampon usage and safety. Then it's on to the crevasse fields where we will ascend bigger walls and explore some of the more remarkable physical features of the glacier. For more information and to make reservation call Backcountry Safaris 907-222-1632.
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by James A. Michener
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