The tiny town of Seward, located 126 miles (200km) south of Anchorage, isn't much to shout about in terms of architecture or nightlife; Seward's main attractions are the glaciers that surround it, home to spectacular vistas and abundant wildlife that includes whales, sea lions, otters, puffins, eagles, bears and more.

The town itself is a charming and photogenic slice of old Alaska, and is best experienced with a slow stroll past the bustling harbour through the historic downtown with its interesting little shops and art galleries.

Seward is a popular stop on Alaskan cruises, and sees more than 100,000 visitors brought in on cruise ships each year. Many cruises start or end here, as the town is in close proximity to major highways, train stations, and airports. Cruise ships dock at the Dale R. Lindsey Alaska Railroad Seward Intermodal Terminal, about a mile (2km) from downtown Seward.

Contact

Seward Chamber of Commerce Conference & Visitors Bureau
(907) 224-8051
seward.com
visitseward@seward.net

Transport

During the summer a shuttle makes a half-hour loop between the cruise ship dock and the Alaska SeaLife Center. A $5 ticket is good for the whole day. If you want to go exploring on your own, there are taxis available or you can hire a car or bicycle.

Attractions

Seward's attractions are almost entirely out of town. The city is surrounded by national parks and glaciers, offering a near-endless variety of outdoor activities that includes hiking, kayaking, dog sledding, fishing, helicopter flips and catamaran tours.

Restaurants

Exit Glacier Salmon Bake - casual restaurant near the highway with great seafood

Smoke Shack - humble-looking restaurant with good ribs and pulled pork

Thorn's Showcase Lounge - great halibut fish and chips in a retro setting

Best Dish

Alaskan King Crab

Shopping

Seward isn't exactly a shopper's paradise, but you'll find some small gift shops and art galleries downtown. Not surprisingly, many shops stock cold-weather gear: something to be grateful for if you didn't pack warm enough!

Best Buy

Berry bark and homemade candy

Excursions

Take a hike on Exit Glacier or the Soldier Icefield

Spot seabirds and otters from a kayak in Kenai Fjords National Park

Go dog-sledding on Godwin Glacier

Try your luck fishing for salmon and halibut in Resurrection Bay

See porpoises, sea lions and other undersea creatures at the Alaska SeaLife Center