Chances are, if you’re coming to Seward, Alaska, it’s to see Kenai Fjords National Park. With information on the boat tours, a short hike, and a trip to the visitors center, we’ll help you cover all of your bases. Only in Seward for two days? You still have time to experience more than just the park. Tacking on some coffee shops, a historic downtown, and a picturesque drive, let’s hop right into the top seven things to do for a perfect 48-hours in Seward, Alaska!
Resurrect Art Coffee House
Previously a barista of six years and a lover of a cute Instagram picture opportunity, I’m always looking for aesthetically pleasing cafes. Being that Seward is a small, seasonal town, I had my expectations pretty low. Come to find out, our mere 48 hours there provided visits to two cafes that would make it on my list of my top ten favorites I’ve ever visited! The first of these is Resurrect Art Coffee House. I love a converted church, so Resurrect Art Coffee House already had me on board, but what made me fall in love was the intentional cozy atmosphere. With a fireplace, local artisan goods for sale, and comfy seating, this cafe is the perfect escape from the cold. After a bit of waiting in a well-deserved line, we enjoyed flavored lattes and gluten-free baked goods.
Kenai Fjords Boat Tour
Kenai Fjords National Park was not only one of the most breathtaking landscapes I’ve seen in the United States but the entire world. The true way to see this park is via boat. The two main operators, Alaska Collection and Major Marine Tours, both have amazing reviews. We chose the six-hour tour by Alaska Collection for its slightly cheaper prices and have no complaints! The lunches weren’t anything to write home about, but they were able to accommodate dietary restrictions (with advance notice). On board there were bathrooms, a snack bar, and both indoor and outdoor seating options. There are plenty of tour options and you can check the routes, prices, and length of each one to find which best suits your interests.
I don’t know if there will ever be a day where I stop raving about our Kenai Fjords Boat Tour. From start to finish, there were 360º views of the rugged Alaskan wilderness. My most anticipated part of the tour was seeing the stacks and sea cave at Spire Cove. It did not disappoint and we were also greeted by a few puffins. What ended up stealing the show though were the glaciers. Their awe can truly not be grasped until you’re right beside them, seeing their real size, hearing them cracking and falling into the ocean, and seeing seals lounging on the bobbing, floating ice. While we were promised one glacier, our captain took us to two and we even saw another poking out between two mountains. Keep your eyes peeled the whole ride to catch glimpses of waterfalls cascading directly into the ocean and to detect every animal possible, though your captain will point out any they see. Along the journey, we also saw sea lions, golden eagles, bald eagles, and sea otters. These made great additions to our growing list of Alaskan wildlife sightings!
Onto the less beautiful notes. As it is likely the entire reason you first booked a trip to Seward, you really cannot miss the Kenai Fjords Boat Tour. The tours do not go out if the conditions aren’t good, so try to go the first day of your trip so you have a backup day just in case. On our tour, they warned passengers prior that the seas were rough, and a number of people got sick. We all had to tightly fit into one part of the cabin of the ship for about an hour during the worst of it for safety. Heed their warnings and take your Dramamine in advance! Despite this, this tour was a stunning, once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Kenai Fjords National Park Visitors Center
Either before or after your boat tour, you should make a point of visiting the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitors Center, just a short walk from the boat launch. Though small, the visitors center is playful and well-constructed. You’ll have the opportunity to read further about the history as well as the flora and fauna of the park. They also show videos about the park and can stamp passports. Don’t forget to snap some fun pics and stock up on your souvenirs!
Downtown Seward
Though you’re in Seward for the nature, give yourself about two hours to explore the quaint downtown. With its historic buildings from the early 1900s, it feels a bit like a Wild West mining town — except it’s on the water and surrounded by mountains! The city offers a free, downloadable historic walking tour that you can find HERE. Many of these buildings are businesses you can visit. We had to stop by Sweet Darlings, of course — because who doesn’t love candy and gelato while on vacation?
Eating out in Alaska can be pricey, and our budget led us past the variety of tasty looking restaurants. Where we did end up was Wild Spoon, a local food truck. With smoked black cod, tarragon, brown butter, and fried capers, their chowder was truly the best we’ve ever had. As a pescatarian traveling with a gluten-free partner, we were extremely satisfied with this budget-friendly meal. Before leaving downtown, we stumbled upon a plethora of beautiful murals and popped into a couple of small shops. If you’re interested, walk over to Hoben Park to see the “mile zero” marker of the Iditarod trail. This historic sled dog run saved lives and is still run annually. While we simply didn’t have time for a visit, downtown Seward is also home to the Alaska SeaLife Center aquarium as well.
Miller’s Landing Cafe
Yet another beautiful spot to grab a coffee in Seward is Miller’s Landing Cafe. Located south of town and right on the beach, you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque and peaceful start to a day in Seward. Home base for fishing and kayaking tours, even the most casual of seafarers will appreciate the authentic decor. While the interior is lovely with its wood stove, nautical elements, and paintings, I suggest you venture outside. Let your coffee keep you warm as you pop from rock to rock over landmines of kelp and enjoy the view. Consider coming here for a sunset drink or dinner as well!
For a population of less than 3,000 people, Seward comes to play in the coffee world. An honorable mention that unfortunately we didn’t learn about until after our trip is Summit Sips. This new coffee shop is located in a converted train car and I’m sure it adds to the already impressive coffee scene of the town.
Exit Glacier Hike
The Exit Glacier Hike is probably the most popular hike in Seward and the best way to get your feet on the actual soil of Kenai Fjords National Park. No fee is charged and it’s a relatively easy loop just over two miles. While the glacier isn’t quite as impactful as the ones you’ll see on the Kenai Fjords boat tour, it’s a peaceful place to simply sit and take in the surroundings. The coolest, though saddest, part of this hike was the wooden markers along the way that showed the retreat of the Exit Glacier due to climate change. You can see how much more momentous the ice used to be even as recently as 2010. It acts as a stark reminder to travel when you can, while these beautiful places still exist, and to do it sustainably. As with all hiking in Alaska, you’ll want to bring some bear spray with you just in case. If you’re looking for additional hiking trails in the area, consider Tonsina Creek or the Two Lakes Trail. More extreme adventurers may enjoy the Harding Icefield Trail.
Seward Highway
If you’re arriving or departing Seward via the Seward Highway to Anchorage, make sure that you save extra time on your journey to stop along the way. There are various look-out points and hiking trails, but as always with Alaska, weather can be unreliable. We did not stop for a single photo on our way there — being that we were pressed for time — and fully assumed we could make all of the stops on our way back to the city. Alas, our day back was cloudy, so while it was still beautiful in its own way, you don’t fully get a grasp of how absolutely breathtaking the mountains are from these photos.
One stop along Seward Highway that you cannot miss is Beluga Point. While they can be hard to spot, as you can tell by this photo, seeing belugas in the wild on the side of the road was such a niche Alaskan experience. Make sure to bring a pair of binoculars for this exciting game of I Spy. Sure, you only see a little white hump in the water, but it’s a free whale watch and will truly have you giddy. Our second favorite stop was quite close to Anchorage at the Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk. We listed it as one of our top five suggestions for what to do in Anchorage, the rest of which you can find HERE!
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