Fun Things to Do With 3 Days in Seward Alaska

When I started researching our 10 day trip in Alaska, I realized that spending time in Seward was a must-do for many reasons. Among other things, it is home to Kenai Fjords National Park, glaciers, and abundant marine life. Seward is about two and a half hours from Anchorage by car, but you would want to make time for stops along the way. It’s also a busy cruise port during the summer season. Whether you travel to Seward by the Alaska Railroad, bus, or car, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery along the way. After arriving by train, our first view of Resurrection Bay and the snow-covered mountains gave us pause to stop and take it all in. We spent 3 days exploring Seward, which gave us a chance to enjoy activities like a wildlife cruise and kayaking during the day and the local restaurant scene at night. The jaw-dropping scenery on a Kenai Fjords National Park cruise is one of the top reasons to plan a visit to Seward.  

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Top on the list of things to do is exploring Kenai Fjords National Park. We’ve been to many national parks over the years, and the scenery at Kenai Fjords is definitely in our top 5. The park is home to a portion of the Harding Icefield, the source for dozens of glaciers. In fact, over half of the park is covered by ice, which makes it inaccessible by car. Fortunately from Seward, there are several ways to explore Kenai Fjords National Park. 

See Kenai Fjords by Boat

Don’t miss an opportunity to view the spectacular landscape, glaciers, and marine life of Kenai Fjords National Park from the water. Options for boat cruises include a four, six, and eight and one-half hour tour. We chose the six hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise with Major Marine Tours, a locally owned company. It was the perfect amount of time to be on the water and included narration by the boat captain, a boxed lunch, wildlife sightings, and unforgettable scenery. Upon boarding the Spirit of Matushka, an 87-foot catamaran, we were given a shared, assigned table inside where we could hang out and/or temporarily store our stuff. While writing this article, I learned that the catamaran was named for one of the better-known orcas in the Gulf of Alaska and was designed specifically for the rough waters in the area. The stadium-style standing area on the front deck gave everyone a better chance to see. I spent most of my time enjoying the views on the covered outside back deck, while my husband roamed around between the windy top deck and the front and back of the ship. 

Pictures can’t do justice to the jaw-dropping views! Starting in Resurrection Bay and moving past the fjords, with towering mountains and blue-green water, we were surrounded by nature’s beauty throughout the cruise. One of our favorite parts of the day was the moment we entered Spire Cove. The cover photo above gives you a sense of the unworldly scene, with the green water, moody clouds, and tall tree-covered rock spires. As the cruise continued into Aialik Bay, the Aialik Glacier came into view. Seeing this large, tidal glacier up close was an experience to remember. Photos can’t adequately capture the massive size and depth of the glacier but here are a few! 

Our timing to see orcas was off by a day, but we saw sea otters, bald eagles, puffins, Steller sea lions, and seals throughout the cruise. If you are concerned about seasickness, consider the 4 hour cruise which stays in more protected waters, or taking seasickness medicine prior to boarding. Our tour operators were recommending this in anticipation of rough waters when the boat traveled into open water for short portions of the cruise. Being outside in the fresh air helped a lot, and honestly the only time I felt a bit off was when I entered the cabin to grab lunch. You’ll want to dress in layers, and bring a hat and gloves for extra warmth. During our late August visit, I was comfortable being outside almost the entire time. There’s always hot drinks available inside to warm up if you need one.  Hands down, taking a full or half day Kenai Fjords boat tour is one of the best things to do in Seward. 

Head Out on a Sea Kayaking Excursion

After spending a spectacular day on the boat tour, it was hard to imagine another excursion that could match that experience. But our kayaking adventure the next day with Sunny Cove Kayaking in Resurrection Bay ranks as the most beautiful place we have ever kayaked. Our small group of 4 kayakers were shuttled from Seward to Lowell Point. Upon arrival at our launch site, we were outfitted with everything we would need to stay warm and dry. Our rain pants and waterproof gloves came in handy. Plus we were given rubber boots and a hefty kayak skirt to keep the water out. After some safety instructions from our guide, she launched our tandem kayak from the shore, where we immediately were wowed by the views from this new perspective. Surrounded by scenic mountains, with the occasional waterfall, harbor porpoises, salmon in the shallows, and a bald eagle swooping over our heads completed the experience. Seeing the area from the quiet perspective of a kayak was truly a memorable Alaskan experience. They also have kayak tour options for glacier viewing. 

Take a Hike to Exit Glacier

For a more traditional national park experience, head to the Exit Glacier Visitor Center for a hike. Located about 12 miles from the Seward small boat harbor, there is a shuttle from town that runs seasonally. Our guided hike with Exit Glacier Guides included transportation that departed just across the street from our hotel. In hindsight, we could have just taken the shuttle from town and hiked on our own. The lower trails are relatively short, and lead to views of Exit Glacier, with markers along the way that help you visualize how much the glacier has receded over the years. Some of the areas a bit further on the trail were not opened due to potential hazards. The Harding Icefield Trail, which we did not hike, is classified as a strenuous hike that can take between 6-8 hours. If we had been on our own, my husband definitely would have taken at least a short hike up the lower part of the trail to check out the views. There is an elevation gain of several thousand feet spread over 4 miles on the Harding Icefield Trail. Note that the trail conditions on the Harding Icefield Trail can be harsh, and require special equipment and training, even in the summer months.  

Other Things to Do in Seward

Eat Your Way Around Town. For a small city, Seward offered a nice variety of restaurants. We took advantage of the free breakfast at our hotel, the Seward Gateway Hotel, with its large, spread-out dining area. Once we discovered 13 Ravens Coffee & Books we made it a point to stop by for our morning coffee. It’s part of the “Train Wreck,” a collection of old train cars which also houses the Smoke Shack. You can grab a breakfast burrito with smoked bacon, eggs and home fries to go with your coffee! I was disappointed we didn’t make it to Resurrect Art Coffee House so will have to save that for a future trip. We only had one opportunity for lunch in Seward, and tried the burgers at Red’s just behind our hotel. It’s a small place where you place your order, then either eat outside at a picnic table or dine in the refurbished school bus! 

As far as dinners went, we did make one reservation in advance for The Cookery. It’s considered to be one of the top restaurants in Seward, serving locally sourced oysters, beef, and produce. We enjoyed broiled oysters, halibut, tender Tri Tip, and the carrot cake parfait for dessert. The next night we went to Ray’s Waterfront in search of Alaskan King Crab Legs, not realizing there is a current shortage impacting availability. Don’t miss the seafood chowder with Alaskan halibut and cod. For our last dinner in Seward, we enjoyed a relaxing meal with a view from our outside table at Seasalt Alaskan Grill. Try the Blooming Bread appetizer with melted Brie and jam oozing out of a round loaf of sourdough bread. It was perfect with the Salmon BLT. 

View the Murals in Downtown Seward. The downtown area is home to several blocks of restaurants and shops, along with over two dozen colorful murals! In fact, Seward was designated the Mural Capital of Alaska. Each piece highlights something unique about the area, including history and nature scenes. Check out this walking guide to help locate the many murals in Seward.  While our hotel was convenient to the Small Boat Harbor area, downtown Seward area was over a mile away. Since the town shuttle only ran until 7 p.m., and there were limited local taxi services, we made sure not to be downtown much later than 7:30 or 8 p.m. 

Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center. Although we did not have time to visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, with its beautiful backdrop of Resurrection Bay, I’m adding it to this list. It’s not a huge facility, but for kids it's a guaranteed sighting of Steller sea lions, spotted seals, puffins, and the giant Pacific octopus. The Alaska SeaLife Center is home to a Wildlife Response Program that provides rescue and rehabilitation services. If you are in the Small Harbor Area, you will need to take a shuttle or cab. The hotels can provide you with contact information for the local taxi service. Be sure to enjoy the views of Resurrection Bay from the downtown Seward area. 

Other popular excursions available in the Seward area include a visit to see Iditarod sled dogs, with summer dog sledding, and guided saltwater and freshwater fishing trips. Alaska Tour & Travel was the local travel company that we used to book our trip, including all our excursions and hotels. Their website makes it easy to search for different types of activities and has detailed information and suggested itineraries. It's a good place to start to discover all the things to do and where to go in Alaska. 

Where to Stay in Seward

For our 3 nights in Seward, we stayed at the Seward Gateway Hotel. We loved the free breakfast in the spacious dining room, and it was just a short walk for all of our guided tours. Closer to the train station and right on the marina is the popular Harbor 360 Hotel. The hotel was also the location for check-in for Major Marine Tours, so expect it to be more crowded. While the Seward Gateway Hotel is open seasonally, the Harbor 360 Hotel is open all year round. If you have a car and are looking for something quieter just out of town, you might consider staying at Resurrection Lodge on the Bay. Access is via a heavily traveled gravel road to Lowell Point. Other hotels are located in the downtown area, with walking access to restaurants and shopping but farther from excursions leaving from the Small Boat Harbor. The primary tourist season runs from May through September, when the majority of the tours and excursions are available. Pay attention to the weather, and note the rainy season is typically August. 

Find all the details of our 10 Day Alaska vacation here. 

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