Seward, Alaska- Port to South Central Alaska and the Kenai Fjords
by Paul H. Green
Seward is usually the last stop on Alaskan cruises that enter Alaskan waters in the Ketchikan area. It is the port city of the Alaskan railroad, which runs 470 miles inland to Denali Park and Fairbanks. The small coastal town of Seward is known for its scenic views, numerous visitor attractions, and as a staging area for trips to Kenai Fjords National Park. Seward is located over one hundred miles south of Anchorage, and is also connected to points north by a modern highway.
The city serves as a transit point inland and a staging area for trips and flights to the Kenai Fjords National Park, but there are also sites worth visiting right in the Seward area. A happy day could be spent viewing glaciers and wildlife right in Seward and near the town. The Exit Glacier is the glacier closest to Seward. The only other glacier this accessible to tourists to Alaska is in Juneau. A short drive will take you near the glacier face and there is a hike from the end of the road to the main ice-field of about three and one-half miles. Be prepared to spend the whole day doing this, since it's a pretty treacherous trail. The half-mile Upper Loop trail is much easier and still brings you up against the 150-foot high glacier face. There are also plenty of hiking trails off of Exit Glacier Road. If you cross the Resurrection River over a bridge, there is the Resurrection River Trail. This is a 16-mile trail that connects to a series of other trails, for a total of over 70-miles. Try to be cautious about your trash disposal and your surroundings. If you have been waiting for your encounter with bears, this is the place.
An impressive attraction within the downtown area is the Alaska Sealife Center, right next to the Seward Marine Center. Also see alaskasealife.org. This facility all together is on about seven-acres and has a research side to it as well as exhibits open to the public. It contains rookeries, sea otters, sea lions and seals, that are being studied, or that are not ready to be returned to the wild. Birds have been drawn to the site too, and there are large tanks with different species of live salmon on display. The bird area of the exhibits even let you see puffins swimming underwater. This is an ideal place to get acquainted with marine life and birds especially for those without the time and inclination to brave the elements and go on cruises and helicopter flights. Even if you do go on these adventures, at least you will know what you are seeing after visiting the Sealife Center.
Seward is the gateway to other more exotic adventures. The most popular trip is a day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. Abundant marine wildlife and huge, magnificent glaciers make this an Alaska cruise that's a must do. There are cruises that include a stop at Fox Island and other ecological attractions such as the Chiswell Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Covering 120-miles, the trip is narrated by experts on the many scheduled cruises available, and your odds are great for spotting wildlife in the region, from sea otters to eagles and leaping humpback whales. The large glaciers at Kenai Fjords can be seen shedding giant blocks and slabs of ancient ice from a close distance. These cruises also offer the best opportunity for whale watching in Alaska.
The scenic drive to Seward from Anchorage provides countless views of mountains, inlets, lakes, rivers, glaciers and more. If you'd rather use your travel time to sit back and relax while you gaze at the spectacular sights take a bus or the Alaska Railroad, which runs passenger trains in the summer months. The highway to Seward is a national scenic byway as well. Seward is a main port for Gulf of Alaska cruises that travel to and from Vancouver, BC. Seward is the top fishing port, so unlike some other towns, there are some real job opportunities for the people besides tourism. It is unique among most small Alaskan coastal communities in that it has road access to the mainland. Cruise ship passengers get off the boats and take the train farther north to Denali National Park or other Alaskan attractions. The Alaska railroad takes you into the wilderness all the way to the northern city of Fairbanks. Some people drive up north to see one route of nature sights, and then take the railway on the way back. The train may be slow and expensive, but the views are incomparable of the real Alaska. The Alaska Railroad also runs a passenger service during the summer season, the Denali Star. It operates daily between Fairbanks, Denali, Talkeetna and Anchorage. Although Seward does have a small airport, the majority of visitors reach Seward by car, bus, cruise ship or via the Alaska Railroad. Also see www.travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-473886-seward_vacations-i .