Five Things To Remember When Planning A Trip to Seward, Alaska

#1 Seward Tour Operators are Seasonal

Most Tour Operators in Seward generally run from May 15th to September 15th. If you happen to find yourself in Seward outside of those dates don’t worry; this small town is jam-packed with fun things to do like hiking, kayaking, cross country skiing, and biking. If you aren’t sure if someone is going to be operating, call first.

#2 There Are Lots Of Awesome Hikes To Do

Looking for something budget friendly? Consider one of the many amazing hikes in Seward. Seward has beautiful walking trails on the waterfront if you are looking for something low-key or venture into the mountains for something a little more challenging. Hikes can range from a short 45 minute hike to Exit Glacier or 2 mile round trip Hike to Tonsina Bridge or can be a full day adventure up the Harding Icefield trail or Mount Alice.

#3 The Mount Marathon Race is Held July 4th

On 4th of July the Mount Marathon race is held and Seward has a street fair with a few local Alaskan artists and food vendors. Fireworks are at Midnight. This is a big event for the small town and can be a lot of fun. Don’t like crowds? Don’t worry, all the locals will be watching the race so you’ll be safe visiting the harbor or going out on a tour.

#4 Wildlife is Spotted More Frequently at Dusk

The best place and see wildlife is in Kenai Fjords National Park near dusk. Drive along the road slowly once you are in the park and keep an eye out for bears and moose. Another great place to also look for wildlife is along Nash road. On Nash Road, drive to Mile 1 and look to the right. Sometimes Moose can be seen in the large swamp. Another great location to look for wildlife is at the Seward Airport. The large fields make for excellent grazing for moose. If you are looking for marine life, walk the harbor docks for a chance to spot sea otters and sea lions. Marine life is also frequently spotted by driving down Lowell Point Road. Be careful driving this road as it is narrow and has moderate traffic.

#5 Watch Salmon Leap Upstream at the Bear Lake Weir

The Bear Lake Weir is a little-known secret to out-of-towners. Drive a short way down Bear Lake Road to visit a small picnic area where you can watch salmon swimming upstream to spawn. The Bear Lake Weir collects salmon eggs and harvests them for local hatcheries. They also do various study on the salmon to ensure a strong, healthy salmon stock.

And Our Extra Secret

Hobo Jim, Black Water Railroad Company, and many other awesome bands are featured Thursday-Saturday nights at the local bars. There is nothing more Alaskan than dancing the night away to your favorite folk-band. If you are in Seward on a weekend, make sure you check out the local watering holes for some fun live music and a unique Alaskan scene.