This little seaside town of almost 2,800 people is the most popular cruise port in Southcentral Alaska, and the gateway to beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park.
If you’re looking for a chance to fish, hop on a scenic Alaska Railroad train trip or get up close and personal with marine wildlife in a rehabilitation setting, this is it. Seward is also a great home base for several popular hiking trips.
Access to Seward, Alaska
Seward is on the road network in Southcentral Alaska, which you can drive here from transit hubs like Anchorage or Fairbanks — or even from the Lower 48 states, if you don’t mind going through Canada first.
Seward is also on the Alaska Railroad’s rail line; you can hop on a passenger train and find yourself in Anchorage (about a six-hour, scenic ride).
Although there is no statewide public transit service, there are a few bus/coach services that can get you from Seward to Anchorage if you don’t want to ride the train or rent a car (about a 2.5-3 hour ride).
Two things you can’t do are:
– ride the state ferry to Seward (the nearest port is Whittier, which is also on the rail line);
– ride the Alaska Railroad into Canada (it doesn’t connect).
You can’t really fly to Seward, either. There is a small airstrip, but it’s only used for private traffic — not commercial flights.
Getting Around in Seward, Alaska
Seward is small enough that you can easily walk the downtown area, and many of the hotels and B&Bs are located no more than a short stroll away. But if you’ve come on a cruise line, you might not enjoy the walk from the cruise terminal to downtown; ask about a shuttle service.
Speaking of shuttles, Seward City Tours offers a free shuttle service from mid-May to mid-September, connecting the cruise port with downtown Seward and other attractions of interest in town. The shuttles run every 30 minutes for much of the day, and offer a good alternative to walking.
Accommodations in Seward
There are no large chain hotels in Seward, but you’ll find several smaller hotels, a smattering of B&Bs, and a couple of quirky hostels. The most luxurious lodgings are at the Seward Windsong Lodge, located a few miles out of town.
If you’re into camping, the city campground — right smack in the middle of downtown — offers gorgeous seaside views from both RV and tent areas, where you can listen to the waters of Resurrection Bay shush you to sleep at night. No reservations are taken here and it fills up quickly during the summer, so show up early if you need a spot.
Popular Activities in Seward, AK
Seward is a quiet little fishing town so, as you might expect, fishing is one of the biggest attractions here. Sea charters are the name of the game, heading out primarily for halibut and salmon depending on the season. Whale watching and sightseeing cruises are also very popular here.
There’s a fun walking tour of the many murals in town, or check out Seward City Tours for a more comprehensive look-see.
One of my personal favorite activities here is renting a kayak or taking a water taxi to reach the North Beach in Caines Head State Recreation Area. There, you can either lounge on the shale, hike a very steep trail up to alpine beauty, or hike a couple moderate miles through the forest to WWII-era Fort McGilvray, which you can explore.
Other very popular activities include:
Mild: Stroll the rocky seashore, visit the Seward SeaLife Center, take a water taxi (kind of like a bus that just happens to be a small boat) to remote coves, or stroll the easy walking trails along the foot of Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Adventurous: Go sea kayaking, take a zip-line tour, catch a helicopter to go dog-sledding on a nearby glacier (yes, even in the summer) or book an ice climbing tour on Exit Glacier.
There are also some great hiking trails nearby (Harding Icefield, Exit Glacier, Lost Lake and Ptarmigan Lake/Creek), although the easiest way to get there is by car. Some taxis may be willing to take you, but cell service at the trailheads ranges from spotty to nonexistent depending on your carrier, so arranging for a pick-up is problematic at best.