From wilderness tours to unbeatable stargazing, this one-time whistle stop town lives up to its motto, “Alaska Starts Here.”
In 1926 , Governor George Parks had a vision . At that meter , Alaska was still a territory , and its citizens miss federal representation . But Parks hoped that one day this monolithic swath of soil he govern , purchase from Russia over half a century earlier in 1867 , would savor the fringe benefit of being a full - fledged body politic .
So he schemed . He surmised that so as to seem more attractive for statehood , Alaskawould demand its own iris ( previously , they had just flown the American sword lily ) . He formulate a fleur-de-lis - design competition open to all Alaskan kid from grade seven to 12 . And it was an objective success : By the conclusion , Alaska not only had its new design , but could also claim a young hero .
The youthful creative person was 13 - year - old Benny Benson . He lived in an orphanage in the port metropolis of Seward , but his accounting entry was familiar to every Alaskan who had ever stare upwards at theunpolluted nighttime sky : seven yellowed superstar of the Big Dipper and a head North Star , shining bright against a bass blue background . Benson himself was reasonably of a representation of Alaska as well . A melange of ethnical influence , born in the belittled fishing village of Chignik to John Ben Benson , a Swedish fisherman , and Tatiana Schebolein , an autochthonic Aleut - Russian .
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By the goal , Alaska not only had its new design , but could also claim a novel hero .
With his Aleut ancestry , Benson ’s victory intend much more than the engraved vigil and $ 1,000 prize . The exploit inspired fellowAlaska Native Peopleswhose family relationship with the men who had bought and sold the land of their ancestors had been pregnant , to put it light . Just four years prior , tribes were finally granted citizenship and balloting right hand — but it turned out to be largely emblematical , not to mention traumatic , with on-going documented sequence of widespreadvoter suppressionlike 1925 ’s Alaska Voters Literacy Act , which involve voter to speak and read English .
From his then home in Seward , Benson and his sword lily acted as a point of persuasiveness for Alaska Natives , instill hope for the future . And when Alaska achieved statehood in 1959 , his blueprint became the official state flag . Benson died in 1972 , but his memory is omnipresent . In Kodiak , where he spend the close of his life , there’sKodiak Benny Benson State Airport . In Anchorage , there’sBenny Benson Alternative High School . And near Seward , you may climbMount Benson in the Kenai Mountains , or stop byBenny Benson Memorial Parkoff the Seward Highway . Here you ’ll also see Benson ’s bighearted dipper flag , flapping in the malarky .
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Think of Seward , Alaska , universe 2,625 , and you might just think it ’s all fishing and sail ships . But this city — one of the oldest in the State Department , complete with a walkable historic downtown — played a meaning function in the Alaska we bonk today . And it ’s a compact snapshot of Alaska itself , an end of the road charmingmural - decoratedurban hub stocked with modern conveniences , and just off in the watery distance , untamed wilderness .
Founded in 1903 as the terminus for what is nowthe Alaska Railroad , the city was named after William H. Seward , the US Secretary of State who negotiate the $ 7.2 million Alaska Purchase from Russia . Then , the railroad track provided entree to excavation deposits and helped to establish the province ’s economic system . Today , it serves another economic purpose as one of Alaska ’s chancellor holidaymaker attractions , as well as a practical means of transportation for local anesthetic , including one of thelast flagstop routes in the state .
Today , just like the Alaska Railroad , the opportunities for merriment in Seward have grow . Get out on the water system in Resurrection Bay , or see the animals by land at the acclaimedAlaska SeaLife Center . Take aself - guided walk tour , have a cocktail at the throwbackFlamingo Lounge , or fall in the summertime to witness ( or run ! ) the heavy July 4thMt . Marathon Race , taking place since 1915 . And though it ’s not a part of the famousIditarod wash , Seward is Mile atomic number 8 for theIditarod National Historic Trail , a 1,000 - sea mile wintertime trek up to Nome that was once used to transport supplies and breathe in the original dog - sleigh competition . And you could ( and should ) always make clock time to receive that untamed wild , perhaps with a gravy holder tour into spectacularKenai Fjords National Park .
Here ’s everything you postulate to recognise to get the most out of your next trip to Seward , Alaska .
Hurricane Turn, the Alaska Railroad Train You Can Flag Down Like a Taxi
What America’s last flagstop train lacks in amenities, it makes up for in off-the-grid adventure.
When to go and where to stay in Seward
Alaska is our forty-ninth body politic , but it can seem like world way . Luckily , it can easily be turn over with direct flight to Anchorage from many major US hubs . Once in Anchorage , Seward is 120 miles south . hop-skip on theAlaska Railroad ’s Coastal Classic Train , which winds along the scenic Turnagain Arm and offer day-by-day table service from May 13 through September 25 . Alternatively , rent a car and cruise the picturesque Seward Highway , or mount aboard a seasonal motor coach from providers likeAlaska Cruise Transportation , ACT Big Bus , Park Connection , andSeward Bus Line . And if you have the vacation sentence and the scoop change , you ’ll find that almost everycruise linewith anAlaska routefamously docks in Seward .
Visiting during the Sunday - filled summertime months is optimal , as many local and state byplay are seasonal . However , snow-white months provide more opportunity for aurora see , dog going , hybridization - country and backcountry skiing , fatty tyre biking and other exciting winter sports . TheIditarodalso takes place every winter , with its ceremonial start in Anchorage ; in 2024 it will run March 2 through 17 .
Most citizenry visit Seward to enjoy the great outdoors , so lodge in township is somewhat useful ( for a opulence option , view theAlyeska Resort , complete with a new outdoor spa and situate about an hour and a half off in Girdwood ) . But some in - town properties , like the waterfrontHarbor 360 Hotel , come with veneration - inspiring views of the mountains and Resurrection Bay .
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Others , like theWindsong Lodge , plop you justly in the neighborhood ’s temperate rainforest , allowing you to fall departed to the sounds of nature after a meal at the bustling onsite eating place . Near the waterfront , Hotel Edgewaterand the historicHotel Seward , built in 1905 , are right in the middle of the action . Or get away from it all wilderness - style by renting an upscale yurt onOrca IslandorShearwater Cove , a luxury cabin atKenai Fjords Wilderness Lodgeon Fox Island , or a peaceable log cabin atKenai Fjords Glacier Lodgeinside Kenai Fjords National Park . Tucked into a Native - owned wildlife sanctuary , the later on comes with views of majestic Pedersen Glacier .
Discover Your Own Private Alaska on Fox Island
At Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, seclusion is what you make of it.
Walk on a glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park
The 700 - square toes - mileHarding Icefield , one of four major ice caps in the US , accounts for most 40 glaciers scattered aroundKenai Fjords National Park . But there ’s only one that you may really walk on . That ’s the stunning wall of blue methamphetamine that makes upExit Glacier , accessible by route and located just a 10 - minute effort from Seward .
Hike the surround trails — admit the epic 8.2 - mileHarding Icefield Trail — or take a spare Texas Ranger - led tour and learn how to identify the markers of glacier shrinking over time , aided by historical exposure . you’re able to also book a channelise ice - hiking expedition and actually clamp your way onto the chalk . Either room , you ’re trusted to hear the fixed water crepitation .
The Exit Glacier area is open year - round , with three cabin available for reservation if you want to make a night of it . Inwinter , when the roads are covered with C. P. Snow , memory access options include snowmobiles , fat tire , and dog going . You may even be able to blot some elk along the way .
Experience the Ice Age at This Underrated National Park
Experience the immense mountains, tundras, and valleys of Kenai Fjords National Park.
Meet the local sea life
You might have been to an marine museum before , but vouch you ’ve never been to an aquarium like this one . afford in 1998 near Seward ’s lush Waterfront Park , theAlaska SeaLife Centeris a maritime inquiry , breeding , and preservation adroitness and wildlife response all in one . In the back , scientist send in wet and dry labs subject area way out like the decline universe of Steller sea lions and pioneer the distant trailing of nautical life while also rehabbing sick , stray , and injured ocean animals . Out front , visitors can really enjoy the antics of said sea animals , from sea lion and otter to angle and seals and deep - diving aquatic shuttle . There ’s also the rare opportunity to examine tough puffins , or peradventure evenpufflings , up close . Afterwards , you’re able to compare these guys to the beast in their natural home ground from the outside deck , which looks out onto Resurrection Bay .
In 2021 , the SeaLife Center opened theRocky Coast Discovery Pool , a new and improved touch pool with six basins and three feature storage tank housing slew of animals to caress for hands - on experience . Here , you may roll up your sleeves and introduce yourselves to lyre crabs , hermit pediculosis pubis , ocean anemone , and sea hotshot , which are squishier than you call back they ’ll be . Check theonline schedulefor scuttle hours , tours times , and ticketing info .
Sample some Alaskan-sized seafood
Descriptions of Alaskan seafood can sound almost like hyperbole : crabs that are kings , and oysters you could wear out as earmuff . Salmon race so bountiful they vary the color of watercourse , and halibut that sometimes takes two or more people to lift . But it ’s all true — and if you ’re a fan of seafood , you should decidedly garner them all .
In Seward , there are more than a few spots that you may get your mess . The old - schoolRay ’s Waterfrontcomes with a stunning vista of the marina and mountains , plus business leader crabmeat legs as long as your forearm . The Cookeryskews fine dining with a rotating computer menu while food truckLos Chanchitosis worth several sojourn for its fish tacos . If downy Pisces and chips and clam chowder is your jam , head toGold Rush Bistrodowntown , orResurrection Roadhouseat the Windsong Lodge . And if you desire to pick it up fresh — or better yet , catch it yourself — gossip the crime syndicate - ownedJ - Dock Fishing Co.and scotch that coveted holibut - in - hand pic for your Tinder profile .
Scope out some caffeine
You would n’t necessarily imagine of Seward as experience much of a coffee scene , but hey , they ’ve get to get through those 20 - hours - of - dark winter days somehow . The caffein offering around townsfolk execute the gamut , with most places servingKaladi Brothers , a local sword that began as an Anchorage espresso cart and can now be found all throughout Alaska and Washington .
stand up and glint with the fishermen and women atCoho Joe ’s Dockside Coffee , open at 5:30 am . Or couple your latte with an Alaskan relic atFrontier Trading Post . Downtown’sSea Bean Cafecomes with vegan cuisine and vintage issues ofNational Geographicto peruse should you stay a while , whileSummit Sipsserves espresso out of a repurposed Alaska Railroad car . And if you require to go meta , Seward ’s Cuppulls its shots inside a gigantic wayside coffee mug . Trippy .
But if you have some clock time on your hands , the one shoes you should definitely stop for a prolonged sip isResurrect Art . Part local prowess store , part bakery and coffee bar , and part euphony locale , it ’s domiciliate in a 1917 church that ’s operated as a bakehouse since 1933 . With informal nooks and crannies all over — including a belfry tower and choir loft — it ’s the type of stead you ’ll want to sit and stay awhile when it ’s chilly outside , accompanied , of course of action , by one of their oven - fresh baked goods .
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Get the lay of the land in an air taxi or flightseeing tour
Seward may be a jumping - off point for seeing Alaska by sail ship , but that ’s not the only method the city supply for taking in the state ’s grandeur . If you really want to finger midget , flightseeing spell — a.k.a . rubber-necking from a seaplane typically seating two to eight citizenry — offer a perspective you wo n’t get any other direction .
With limited road substructure , air power has always been decisive to lifespan in Alaska — and almost every town in the state hasa business that will take tourists up , offering sky - high scene of everything from Denali National Park and the glacier fields to the fat , salmon - swiping bear of Katmai and Lake Clark . And if you require help stop up transportation to afancy upscale outside lodge on top of an factual glacier(or your more small-scale wilderness cabin ) , these multi - hyphenates can be counted on to get you there safely .
The most well - known Alaskan flightseeing operation is probablyRust ’s Aviation , based in Anchorage . From Seward , you also have your pick ofseveral aviation taxicab and eggbeater servicesfor bear viewing , glacier landing , backcountry tramp , heliskiing , or just admiring the scenery from way up high .
Savor Alaska’s Grandeur at This Ultra-Remote Bar Worth Traveling For
Bundle up for unforgettable cocktails atop a glacier inside Denali National Park.
Spot animals and glaciers out on the water
Seward is just a boat ride off from the gorgeous and ancient ice - carve point and valleys of Kenai Fjords National Park . Hop on a kayak tour or Scripture one of several shortsighted sail options from the harbor to get up close and personal with the gunfire sounds and spectacular splashes of break up glaciers , and the just as exciting wildlife , like kyphosis , sea Leo , orcas , and more , straight out ofa nature documentary film . Operators likeKenai Fjords Toursare on hand to guide you around the unagitated waters of nearby Resurrection Bay , or carry you off on a day - farseeing expedition into the open sea ( that ’s where all the action materialize ) . And even if you intend you wo n’t involve it , do n’t draw a blank your Dramamine for that one .
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Resurrect Art Coffee House Gallery
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