Due to its ice free port Seward has been a natural tourist destination for hundreds of years. It started with the natives using the area as a crossroad, later the Russians took refuge here and during the gold rush this was a natural landing point for gold diggers headed north to the Hope-Sunrise area. In 1903 the town of Seward was founded as a result of railroad surveyors choosing Seward as the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad. Today the major industries in this small town is tourism and fishing.
The town of Seward has about 3.ooo residents, but during summer this number increases significantly as the city is a final port for many of the cruise ships going north to Alaska. So what is it that makes Seward so popular?
Exploring the Kenai Fjords National Parks
Kenai Fjords National Park was established in 1980 and its establishment boosted tourism in Seward. The park is best explored by boat and several tour companies offers daily trips from the harbour in Seward. You can expect a snow-covered mountains, a stunning coast line and tidewater glaciers. The Harding Icefield and its 38 glaciers carving down the mountains are part of Kenai Fjords National Park. If you are lucky you might also see whales, puffins and sea lions amongst other wildlife in the park. We were lucky enough to see a pod of orca on our trip.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Historic downtown walk
Seward is Mile 0 of the Iditarod Trail, known historically as the Seward-to-Nome Mail Trail, and you’ll find a historical monument downtown. A beautiful mural dedicated to Seward as Mile 0 of Iditarod Trail is also located downtown. Many of the buildings have been here since establishment of the city in the early 1900’s. One example is the Brown and Hawkins colonial which is the oldest continually operated business in Seward.
You will find some of the homes from the initial establishment of the city on Third Avenue. They were built and occupied by Alaska Central Railway officials and the street was called ‘Millionaire’s Row’. Read more about the history of Seward here.
‘The Iditarod Trail’ from 2002 by Jon Van Zyle
Brown and Hawkins Store
Mural capital of Alaska
One of the things I found charming was the numerous murals on buildings downtown Seward. ‘The Iditarod Trail’ shown above was one of my favourites in addition to ‘Seaward Bound’ and ‘Wildflower Garden’, photo of both below. Seward was officially designated “Mural Capital of Alaska” in 2008 at the completion of the town’s 12th mural. Check out the full overview and locations of all murals here.
‘Seaward Bound’ 2011 by J. Pechuzal & L. McElroy
‘Wildflower Garden’ 2006 by Gail Neibrugge
Take part in the combat fishing
From July to September the silver salmon runs happen. This period can best be described as ‘controlled chaos’. Seward has an annual Silver Salmon Derby as well, which normally happens in August. You can go with a fishing charter or you can line up along the shore and throw out a line. If you can find an open spot that is…
Combat fishing in Seward
Exit Glacier and the Harding Icefield
Seward offers one of the easiest accessible glaciers in Alaska. Exit Glacier Road is a spur road from Seward Highway and it will take you to about 1 km from the wall of the glacier. From the parking lot there is a pavel path to the glacier. Exit Glacier is the only part of Kenai Fjord National Park accessible by road. Be sure to stop at the look out to the glacier as this view point offers one of the best views of the glacier, unless you plan on hiking up the Harding Icefield trail.
If you like dog sledding you will find Ididaride Dog Sled Tours on the way to Exit Glacier. Ididaride is run by the Seavey family which is a well known name within the dog sledding business.
Exit Glacier from the Harding Icefield Trail
Follow us on the next two posts when we take a tour through Kenai Fjords National Park by boat and hike to the Harding Icefield. Want to read more about our Alaska adventures? Check out our post Denali to Kenai.
Wonderful. I have yet to visit Alaska.
Thanks Mani! 🙂
Combat fishing sounds interesting 😉 Love your post and photos, as always!
Thanks a bunch! It was fun watching the combat fishing, but a bit too crowded for me I think:) Risky business with some many hooks in the air!
Oh, that’s true, yikes!
Thank you so much for the beautiful and very interesting travel
Thank you so much for your sweet comment and you visit. Much appreciated. Come again! 🙂
I can’t believe how many fisherman are lined up. Looks like an interesting and beautiful place.
I didn’t try to count them, but it was pretty packed in the area where the salmon tried to go up the river. Don’t think too many made it across this war zone:)
Controlled chaos. Ha ha. I can imagine.
It was quite a blast to watch! RVs, campers, trucks and cars all along the shore line and it seemed like the whole family had come to take part in the fishing bonanza! Definitely seemed like a highlight for the locals.
Nothing on the greatest mountain race of them all, Mt. Marathon (held every July 4)? Nice pics.
I had no idea there was a mountain race from Seward. I’ll have to check it out:)
Yup, it’s a famous one (for Alaskans), though by no means the hardest one up there. Thousands come every July 4, rain or shine. http://mmr.seward.com/for-racer/course/
Great photos.
Thanks a bunch! 🙂
When we were at Exit Glacier, we had a bull moose right next to us on that trail! We didn’t stick around to take photos. 🙂
Wow, that is pretty awesome! Don’t think I have ever been that close to a bull moose. And to be honest I think I am ok with that:) They can be pretty scary.
Another wonderful article with great photos. We really enjoyed the day we spent in Seward. Took the boat tour out to Kenai Fjords NP and enjoyed every moment. We went early in the season and were the only 2 that took the whole trip. They take kayakers out to stay in cabins in the NP and then in several days come back for them. Great trip and a fun place to visit. Thanks for the great article. Jim
That sounds awesome Jim! We went in September and the boat was pretty much packed. Staying in the cabins and kayaking sound great – we’ll have to try that next time. Thanks for stopping by!
Great writing and images!!!
Thanks a bunch! 🙂
Alaskaaaaaaa! When do I get to see you? 🙂 Really beautiful photos!
Thank you so much Aryan. Hope you get to see Alaska soon, it is beautiful:) Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment!
You are most welcome. Yes, I really do hope that I could someday hike in Alaska.. I’d love that. (cross fingers)
P.s. You have a really wonderful blog BTW
I never knew that Alaska would look so colorful! Beautiful!
I know! I was stunning with all the fall colours – check out my newest post. Those colours blew me away:)
Will go now 🙂
Wow, outstanding scenes!
Thanks Phil! I loved the scenery in Alaska, endless photo opportunities:)
Truly breathtaking..I feel like I have to visit Alaska whenever reading your post 🙂 Thank you so much for excellent travel story!
Thanks a bunch Indah! I feel like going back every time I pull together a new post:)
You are giving me such good ideas for our trip to Alaska. Combat fishing would not be my cup of tea. Looks like a good way to get a fishing lure in the back of your head. 😉
Haha that is a good point LuAnn! I am sure there must have been some incidents where fishing lure got stuck where it shouldn’t have. I was contempt just watching the combat:)
Love the murals but that line of fishermen looks dangerous. We plan to take a road trip with our RV to alaska one summer. There is just so much to see. Great photos
You could probably spent months in Alaska and still not have time for it all. It was lovely – hope I get the chance to go back one day:) And yes – I kept a safe distance to the combat fishing:)
Fantastic post Inger, from seeing a pod of Orcas (a highlight…and another dream of mine) to see combat fishing in action 🙂 The Silver run is one of my favorites, as I am usually back in the States and Seattle gets a lot of these great tasting salmon. Great write up and matched with photos that add to the story even more.
Thanks for you generous comment Randall! Seeing Orcas is always such a wonderful experience, makes me feel so grateful! I was satisfied with watching the combat fishing, looked a bit dangerous with the high density of fishing lures! I do like fishing, but guess I prefer the solitude.
Combat fishing! Well that is a new term for sure. I have visions of fish being used to slap faces. Gorgeous photos as always!
Your comments always makes me laugh Sue, fish face slapping. I can just imagine how that would look like!
Somewhere to visit on my next trip to Alaska!
Yes – it is well worth a visit. And make sure you take one of the Kenai Fjord National Park tours, that was awesome (post with photos of all the wildlife we spotted coming soon…).
Oh, excellent! I really do guess I’ll have to go back (I know, tough things to have to do…).
I very much enjoyed your Seward tour, Inger. I’ve been to Seward and as I was reading through your post I wondered to myself, “How did I miss this?” and “How did I miss that?” My answer was that it is such an incredible view at all times looking out toward the water that I didn’t see some of the downtown murals. It is such an awesome place, espec. when you’re ON the water. Your photos are exquisite, as usual. Great post!
I agree Jet, the surrounding views are absolutely beautiful with the mountains and the fjords. And glaciers off course. When you see it from the water it is even more magical, so much that is deserved a separate post (coming soon…). Thanks for stopping by!
Gorgeous photos as always, Inger. I find the Exit Glacier quite amazing. Glaciers are of course very, very weird and beautiful for someone who lives in sunny Queensland. The murals are also very interesting. Prettier than the graffiti I often see here. It’s amazing to think that with so many people fishing that people can catch anything! Looks like fun though. Another lovely post. Thank you. 🙂
Thanks for you sweet comment Jane! We have glaciers in Alberta, but you get so much closer and they are so much larger in Alaska. The tidewater glaciers are especially impressive I find with the calving and cracking and popping!
I thought the murals was a pretty addition to the village – it gave it that charm that made it more personal I though.
With regards to the fishing – you should have been there to witness it. There was so may silver salmons it was pretty amazing. There were one jumping in the water every 2-3 seconds! More then enough for all the fishermen.
Inger: Great series and very interestunf and informative. I tried to reply to your commenr on Muffin on the Deck but the updated version of WordPress on my Nook HD Android won’ t let me add one…it says I can but it does not happen. Anyway, Thnks for the Comment.
Thanks for you comment and visit Dan! Muffin is such a cutie:)
Great story, Inger! This Seward trip looks like an amazing adventure. I love the murals too! The Exit glacier is so impressive looking. I have never seen one. I know they are slowly melting and it is no good, but I am also curious of what secret do they hold inside?
Thank you for sharing!
I haven’t though of it that way – I guess it could be all sort of secrets hiding within the glaciers:)
Absolutely!
What an incredible place.
One of many beautiful spots in Alaska! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
Love the final image of the glacial tongue, great colours and composition 😀
Funny – I actually wasn’t that happy with the last one and changed it before I saw this comment:) I felt it was a bit too blurry and went with another photo of the glacier:) Guess we all see thing differently!
Wow! This one is even better!!
Such impressive landscape!