7 Reasons Why Seward Alaska is Worth Visiting

Seward is one of the most visited cities in Alaska, and for good reason. There are plenty of reasons to visit Seward, from the incredible views and the marine wildlife, to the amazing adventures and delicious foods - there's always something for everyone in Seward. Named after William H. Seward, the man who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia, this small city in the state of Alaska should be at included in everyone's itinerary, and it's definitely worth visiting.

*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Alaska related questions directly!

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip to the 49th State.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.

Getting to Seward & Where to Stay

Getting to Seward is very easy, and you actually have quite a few options if you're coming from Anchorage. You could either rent a car (which is my personal favorite recommendation so that you can make a road trip out of it) or you can take the Alaska Railroad! This option can be quite slow and pretty spendy, but it's a unique experience that most visitors seem to want to include during their visits.

During your journey, make sure to take in the views. Turnagain Arm and the Portage areas are two stunning stops that I recommend enjoying on your way down. If you're lucky, you might even see some beluga whales in the waters! Once you get to Seward, chances are they'll have the Free City Shuttles up and running (only during peak summer months) and this is a great way to get around if you don't have a car with you when visiting Seward.

If you're visiting Seward and looking for a place to stay, you also have quite a few options. Personally, I've only ever camped at the Harborside Campground, but I've got quite a few bucketlist stays on my list like the Orca Island Cabins, Shearwater Cove, and the Salted Roots Cabins.

If you're looking for something closer to town, I recommend checking out the Harbor 360 Hotel! If you're planning to camp, then the Harborside Campground or KOA Seward Journey (near Kenai Fjords National Park) are both great options too!

My Favorite tour in Seward :
- Major Marines Kenai Fjords National Park

7 Reasons to Visit Seward

1. The Wildlife
The wildlife in Seward is unlike many other places in the entire world. From the water you can see animals like whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, puffins, etc., and from land you can see animals like bears, moose, and even mountain goats. If you want to experience wildlife during your visit to Alaska, then joining a wildlife cruise or driving down Nash Road are your best bets!

2. The Food
​Seward sits right on the water, meaning many of their restaurants serve some excellent seafood. In addition to yummy fish 'n chips, there's plenty of other excellent options as well, and I've listed my all time favorites below!

• Mermaid Grotto Cafe - they have great breakfast options and sandwiches, my personal favorites are their Nutty Otter & Avo Deluxe (make sure to grab some musubi on your way out too!)
• 13 Ravens Coffee & Books - this unique cafe is located inside an old train cart!
• Alaska Seafood Grill - this is my favorite place to stop for some seafood baskets (I swear they have the best fish 'n chips in town) and in the summer months they have a great outdoor patio!
• Lone Chicharron Taqueria - I'll be honest it can be hard to find a delicious Mexican restaurant in Alaska, but this is one of the best!

3. The National Park
One of the most popular National Parks in Alaska is located right next to and around the city of Seward. There are two main ways you can explore Kenai Fjords National Hike, by hiking or by taking a cruise. The easiest option is the wildlife cruise we mentioned above which brings you through some areas of Kenai Fjords National Park. If you're looking to explore a bit more on your own, then I recommend heading towards the Exit Glacier Area. You can explore the Visitor Center & gift shop, and head out on some hikes! Just remember to follow Leave No Trace principals and stay on the designated paths.

• Exit Glacier Hike - a fairly easy 2.2 mile loop to an incredible glacier viewpoint, you can see the landmarks for the receding glacier along the way
• Harding Ice Field - a challenging, 9.2 mile loop to some incredible views overlooking the harding ice field (essentially an entire horizon of ice with a few mountain peaks poking out)

4. The Cruise Tours / Sailing
Like I mentioned above, the wildlife in Seward is truly incredible, meaning this is the place you'll want to take a wildlife or sightseeing cruise - or if you're feeling more adventurous, sailing! I only recommend wildlife cruises through Major Marine Tours, like the one linked here, and I always say the longer the cruise that you can fit into your itinerary the better chance of having an amazing wildlife encounter.

If you're looking for something a bit more unique, I recommend trying a sailing tour through Resurrection Bay Sailing Charters! I haven't personally done this tour yet, but it's on my list for next time!

5. For Adventure
​Seward is one of a few areas in Alaska that has plenty to do, especially for the adrenaline junkie! You can head out on a Ziplining Tour with Stoney Creek Canopy Adventures, hitch a ride on the Alaska Railroad, hike across a glacier, try snowmobiling or axe throwing, explore on an e-bike, and even go rafting or kayaking near glaciers.

6. Or Shopping
In the small downtown area of Seward along 4th Street, there are a few places to go shopping to grab some local gear or get a souvenir to bring home! Some of my personal favorites are AK Starfish Co. and Forest Tides & Treasures - both of which are also very close to the cruise port!

7. The Sea Life Center
I'll be honest I don't typically enjoy or recommend zoos and aquariums, but I took my mom here a while back and she loved it! We were able to touch starfish & urchins and see how sea lions, seals, and puffins swim underwater - so it's the perfect family excursion! They also focus on rescuing local wildlife, and this nonprofit center is the only permanent mammal rescue & rehab center in the entire state.

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Other Alaska blog posts you might be interested in : 
-> 15 Easiest Alaska Glaciers to Visit
-> Where to Rent Bear Spray in Alaska
-> 7 Best Tours in Alaska

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