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Seward, Alaska Port Reviews
Seward On Your Own Shore Excursion
By Tom Ogg
Seward, Alaska's Cruise Ship Terminal and
Surrounding Mountains
Overview:
Downtown Seward Alaska
Seward is a
waterfront town that was founded and grew as an ice-free
port that ships could call on year around. At the end of
Resurrection Bay, Seward's important location was critical
to the development of the Alaskan interior. When
construction started on the Alaskan Railroad system, it
started in Seward. Seward continues as a major tourist
destination because of its proximity to the Kenai Peninsula
and Anchorage.
Cruise
Port Location and Information:
Docked in Seward
Seward's
cruise ship terminal is within easy walking distance to
the small yacht harbor and train station.
The Cruise Terminal
In fact, it is
only about a 5-minute walk from the train station to the
entrance to the cruise ship terminal. The terminal itself is
very efficient and can handle two ships at a time.
Exploring on Your Own:
The Seward Train
Station
Right as
you depart the train station area you will see a shuttle bus
that will take you not only to the cruise terminal, but all
over Seward.
The Shuttle Bus
The cost to
ride the shuttle bus is $5.00 per person, but it is good for
the entire day and you can hop on and off all that you would
like. While Seward is not all that large, the shuttle is an
excellent way to explore it on your own. It runs from the
cruise terminal through the small boat harbor area and into
downtown Seward making several stops.
Shopping Tips:
4th Avenue, Seward,
Alaska
Downtown
Seward's shopping district is located on 4th Avenue.
Alaskan Clothing For Sale
Mixed in
with shops that are focused on serving Seward's residents
one finds several shops that cater to visitors.
Everything Alaskan
You will
find local arts, clothing, tee shirts, Alaska souvenirs and
much more.
More Items for Visitors
While there
are a good number of shops, everyone felt that the shopping
in Anchorage was far superior with more competitive prices.
The Brown & Hawkins
Building
There are
several small boutiques that sell jewelry, carvings and
cultural art items.
4th Avenue "Main Street"
Looking up
4th Avenue from its foot reveals that it is the main street
in Seward. It is well worth a visit.
Harbor Shops
There is
plenty more shopping to be had in the harbor area.
More Harbor Shops
The harbor
area is within easy walking distance from the cruise
terminal, but don't miss the downtown area for shopping as
well.
Port
Highlights:
The Alaska Sea Life Center
The Alaska
Sea Life Center is more than an aquarium. One can study the
local sea life that is being nurtured to reenter the wild
and also being studied by scientist to increase their
knowledge of the various aquatic sea life. While the $20
admission fee kept us from visiting the center, those that
did really enjoyed it.
A Seaward Church
Just
wandering around Seward's residential community rewarded
us with some outstanding sights. We found this church up
one of the side streets.
The Seward Museum
The Seward
Museum documents the history of Seward and also offers a
wonderful collection of native baskets and other items.
The Seward City Hall
Seward's City
Hall is small, but offers a lot of information for visitors.
As you might imagine, Seward is pretty laid back.
The Small Boat Harbor
Located
across from the cruise terminal the small boat harbor is
quickly becoming a destination in itself. It offers
wonderful restaurants, shopping and plenty of recreation
options.
Off the
Beaten Path:
Seward
is the jumping off point for the Kenai Peninsula and
offers tons of opportunities for adventure and
sightseeing. Seward is known for its fishing and that
would be one of its most popular attractions in my
opinion. Kayaking, dog sledding, hiking, mountain
biking, horseback riding, sailing, fishing, hunting and
just generally enjoying Alaska at its best are all
possible from Seward.
Dining
and Drinking Suggestions:
Ray's Waterfront
If you are
going to have lunch in Seward, I would strongly suggest that
Ray's Waterfront Restaurant is the place to go. I have dined
there on three separate occasions and never had a meal that
was anything other than excellent. It has a great location
in the small boat harbor and excellent service to boot. You
will love it.
The Train Wreck Restaurant
While I
have not eaten here, many that have swear by its Bar B Q
menu. Look for the derailed train cars near the train depot
and give it a try. Let us know if it was everything you
thought it should be.
Must Do
List:
Can't really
think of anything here other than taking the train from or
to Anchorage.
On Your Own
Reviews
(How to Venture On
Your Own with Detailed Information)
Taking the
Train From Anchorage to Seward (Or Seward to Anchorage) On Your Own By Tom Ogg:
Here is a great article on exactly how to arrange and
take the train from Anchorage to Seward and see more while
paying less.
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