This is Seward, Alaska!…read more Although it was mostly rainy for the 3 nights and 4 days I was here visiting back in the month of June, I did not let that deter me from getting out, seeing and doing the sights. Seward is home to amazing Kenai Fjords National Park. Here are 3 activities/tours I highly suggest partaking in while here in Seward.... 1. Explore the Exit Glacier area. Exit Glacier is a real accessible landmark to discover. It's located off Exit 3 of Seward Highway. After making the turn...drive 8 miles and you'll arrive at Exit Glacier. Now...you can walk to "The Toe" of Exit Glacier which I recommend and also, I believe it's imperative to hike the rugged, though strenuous 8-mile roundtrip path called the Harding Icefield Trail. You'll be afforded wonderful views of Exit Glacier and the snowcapped mountains of Kenai Fjords from high above! 2. Do an all-day boat cruise out on the waters of Kenai Fjords. I did an 8.5-hour excursion with Major Marine Tours. Along the journey I witnessed tons of sea life. I also got an up-close perspective of incredible Northwestern Fjord Glacier and Cataract Cove, with epic waterfalls sliding off cliff faced walls. These two spots along my boat tour were the star attractions and some of the most memorable stops along my entire Alaskan vacation! 3. Simply explore the terrific harbor coast town of Seward. Here Seward is located right on the banks and waters of Kenai Fjords. Just walking around and appreciating the overall setting with massive mountains surrounding my every sight was so beautiful to see. My only problem was once again...grrr, the unfortunate rain! :( Also...Seward is obviously a wonderful seafood destination. Don't forget to try some of the cozy/charming restaurants that are emblematic of the type of cuisine you can expect from a waterfront place such as this. Also, you can purchase souvenirs in the downtown area and capture memorable photos along the pedestrian walkway section. In total, Seward, Alaska and Kenai Fjords National Park are necessary Must-Do's when visiting glorious Alaska!

Worth a stop, although more for the wildlife boat tours than the town. The sea life center is…read morepretty great, although a lot of that for me comes from the fact that my friend and I did the puffin encounter, which was awesome--we got to feed the seabirds for probably a good half hour, right in the enclosure. Anyway, the town itself doesn't have much, including food, and I wouldn't spend more than 2 days unless you p,an to hike--I hear there are some great hikes of varying lengths, including e marathon hike and an intertidal hike. The food situation seemed pretty dismal to me. You won't starve, but I wouldn't go back for the grub, and if I did go back I think I'd seriously consider bringing a cooler of pb&j for at least some meals. Anyway, this is the launching point for wildlife tours of the kenai fjords and its glaciers, as well as a 20-minute or so drive to Exit Glacier, to which you can hike up (about 1.5 miles from the parking lot). The hotels seemed exorbitantly priced to me, and. Wished I'd researched camping, as there's a nice site right by the water about 3 blocks off of main street. Main street is 4th ave. and the whole town is less than 2 miles long, I'd say, with bustling sections at either end, downtown and the harbor.

Going into this experience I was very skeptical how I was going to feel. Dogs chained up, pulling…read moreme on a sled? Living in outdoor facilities. Not for me ‍ My little heart wouldn't be able to handle it. I was so wrong and am so grateful for this experience. Personable and knowledgeable staff, impressive history, and the dogs...so amazing! So talented! The staff thoroughly explained the operation of dog sledding in Alaska and its vast history of the sport. It was obvious without explanation that the dogs are in great hands, treated with the utmost respect and that they live fulfilled, happy lives. And puppies! The cutest puppies! Loved every second. Don't pass this experience up.

I absolutely loved this! Dan Seavey really knew his stuff. Never a dull moment. The scenery is to…read moredie for and the puppies were so much fun! The best part was riding with a dog team. Really shows how much power each of them has. This was good for young, old and elderly alike! Will be recommending it to everyone I know! True Alaskan Adventure!

Absolutely awesome hike on the Harding Icefield Trail. They had trekking poles and snow gaiters for…read moreus to use, a lunch packed for us (which was great, even as a vegetarian!) including hot cocoa, and our guide was super knowledgeable and had bear spray so I felt safe the whole time. This was such a great experience, and my guide Mary was great the whole way through -- friendly, helpful, encouraging, taught me how to glissade (slide down a snowy hill safely!), and even brought a little shelter for us to stay warm at lunch.

Had a trip booked for MONTHS and they cancelled on us 4 days before our trip. Got a call that…read morelasted 40 seconds saying that we had been cancelled and we should expect to see our refund come through. No explanation given whatsoever. Talked to neighboring ice climbing charter and they said they were running the trip all week and that weather was not a factor, so I know it couldn't have been that. By the time we were told we've been cancelled, it was too late to book anywhere else. Extremely frustrating as this was the highlight of our trip and very disappointed.

The Seward Depot is the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad. The Depot was constructed in…read more1917 at what is now Adams Street and Ballaine Boulevard to serve the railroad line and the all-weather port at Seward. Gayle and I recently took the train here for a 3 day visit to Seward. Shuttle buses were waiting for us as we arrived. We took the one to our Hotel (Windsong), while headed out for various water and glacier tours. And when it was time, we headed back on the same train back to Seward. It was all very efficient, albeit a little disorienting at this relatively far end of town. The Depot looks a bit on the plain side, at least compared to the Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks Station, but it's a nice facility, with friendly agents, comforable seatin, and public restrooms. A special thank you to Depot personnel who found my lost item and arranged for it to be mailed back.

So while I stand by my initial review of the campground, the trail here is incredible. It's one of…read morethe most bang-for-your-buck hikes I've ever done in Alaska. The first mile and a half is fairly flat and has a spectacular view of the creek, mountains, flowers and berries I've ever seen in such an accessible location. It then shifts to an gentle uphill hike without boreal shade. I recommend a machete if you plan on going further. The Devils Club is wicked beyond this point unless it's fall. There is absolutely no cell service here so be sure to bring emergency supplies and appropriate preparation for Alaskan animals and volatile weather.

Gaft, I cannot pronounce this place!!…read more Ptarmigan is part of the Chugach National Forest off Mile 23 on Seward Highway. If you're on your way to Harding Icefield/ Exit Glacier or back to Anchroage, Ptarmigan is worth a stop! So thanks to my hyper active bladder and my constant imbibing of crisp glacier water, I really needed to pee!!!! Thankfully, toilets were not far off and found ourselves here. Toilet is standard outhouse thing. Nothing fancy. But what IS cool is that there is fish viewing from Aug-Sept!!! FREE OF CHARGE!! We saw some tours wanting to charge for this, psh!!! Anyway, we got to the side of the creek... and saw red sockeye salmon swimming against current... waiting to mate, lay eggs and die =(. There were so many of them too!!! Here's something I didn't know...salmon gets its red color when they are spawning (so you don't want to eat these since they are old). When they are young, they are silver in color. Huh! =) Also (didn't know this), but apparently there is an abundance of rainbow trout during mating season. They come and eat up the salmon eggs (roe). Luckily, people are able to fish for rainbow trout and dolly varden fish (june 11 - may 1st). Absolutely no salmon fishing all season!! We did see some fishers there, but they told us that they were there for catch & release only.

Very nice flight to glazier by helicopter- saw big horn sheep and moose on the way ! We only did…read morethe 90 minute tour and dog sled- my wife was glad - no way she could spend the night there - it was snowing and sleeting on us and freezing cold - I fucking loved it too - dogs are well taken care of and very awesome too

This review is from our experience two summers ago with the Overnight Stay Tour. Let me preface…read morethis by saying if you are not accustomed (or willing) to spend the night in a cold tent without running water and room service, this is probably not for you. Accommodations are a bit misleading in the sales materials. Sleeping quarters and bedding are some unleveled tents placed on wood pallets with a few cots covered in dog hair. It's cold at night and the tents are not sealed well, so you'll need to run the propane space-heaters but if it runs out of fuel in the middle of the night be prepared to grab some vise-grips and swap the tanks out yourselves (if you can find one that is not empty). Be prepared to hang out with some less-than personable loner-types who are not much of tour-guides. You are basically on your own to do as you like; which is mostly hang out with the dogs and ask questions about them. The staff in the office was helpful but since the helicopter is on a schedule some of the preparations did feel rushed. Food is minimal; they send up a pizza (dinner), bottles of OJ, and some danishes with you for the morning. I suggest getting into Seward early and eating a late lunch in town. Drinking water was also an issue, we had to reuse juice bottles as not bottled water was available. The actual sled ride was a bit of a disappointment although they gave us two trips as we spent more time up there then originally planned. You do about a mile loop of the base camp and it was a pretty slow pace due to the morning sun beginning to melt the snow. You do not 'drive' the sled, you either sit in front of the musher or stand on a second sled behind him. Seeing how disorganized and 'wild' the dogs were when hooked up made it evident that they animals are not trained monkeys, they are hard-working, eager-to-please, love-to-run little machines. And the worst part of the trip: We were supposed to be flown back out around 9AM weather permitting. Weather was beautiful but noon rolled around and no chopper yet. At this point we discovered the only means of communication they had with the rest of the world was a radio which did not work because their antenna was down at the airport being repaired! They sent us up there with no working means of modern communication; I found this to be unacceptable as if an accident occurred things could have gotten ugly quickly. So other than hunger coming around we had plans for that day to meet people in Anchorage and were becoming concerned. Finally around 3PM (6 hours late!) the helicopter appeared. The staff became the most helpful of the entire trip right around this point, probably looking for a tip which at this point I had decided was not earned. They seem unconcerned with the 'missing' helicopter nor the inability to communicate with the base. The helicopter ride was awesome. The pilot was by far the best employee. He was really cool and was giving guided tour of the area on the way up. He even took us on a side-trip to hunt down some bear, which we found in a valley near the glacier's base; a mother and her cubs. Seeing the land from vantage point was incredible. The trip back was even more exciting as we literally had to shoot an opening in the mountains to get back to the airport; due to terrible cloud cover below. He had made several unsuccessful attempts earlier to get to us that morning. And then there were the dogs. Any dog lover should drop everything at the chance to hang out with these animals in the environment we were in. I will leave out a lot of detail here as it's something which should be experienced. A full-night's sleep is probably out of the question but I didn't mind waking up every couple of hours to 50 baying dogs breaking the erie silence up there. The dogs were quite friendly and many loved to be petted. Some were shy, and a few were best left alone. By far the most entertaining were free-roaming puppies Jane, Stella and Beamer. Incidentally we picked a good time to go as this was their last day of freedom and were in the process of joining the chain-gang that afternoon as we prepared to leave. So with the unexpected 'extra time' that morning I learned most of the dog's names by the time we left and really enjoyed myself. Realistically, what your money gets you is access to the glacier and the camp with limited survival requirements (food, water, shelter). So if you go expecting to camp-out and be pretty self-sufficient you'll love it. Otherwise opt for the normal Dog Sled tour and get the safer, abbreviated experience. Here are some photos from this trip: http://schertz.name/photos/0806-Alaska/Seward http://schertz.name/photos/0806-Alaska/To%20Trappers%20Creek

JJK Campsites is nothing short of perfection! From the moment we arrived, it was clear this place…read morewas going to be a summer of relaxation.Location & Scenery: Nestled in a pristine forest with breathtaking mountain views, the natural beauty here is unparalleled. The sunrise over the peaks was a daily highlight, and the tranquil snow capped mountains nearby provided a perfect backdrop for relaxation and reflection. Facilities: The campgrounds facilities include a water station and 30/20/15 Amp electricity. Our site was well maintained, with generous space, a sturdy picnic table, and a well-placed fire pit. There are no restrooms or dump stations at the campground but the city offers a free dump station. Activities: Theres something for everyone in the area. We enjoyed miles of well-marked hiking trails that cater to all skill levels, and the fishing was fantastic with Bear Creek Salmon run just a short walk from the campground. Downtown Seward is only 3 miles away which offers shopping, sightseeing tours and restaurants. Service: The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, providing great recommendations for local activities and ensuring our stay was flawless. Their dedication to maintaining the campgrounds high standards was evident throughout our visit. Amenities: JJK Campsites also has cabins for rent that offer a great place for visitors to come visit while you are staying here. Overall Experience: JJK Campsites offers an idyllic escape from everyday life. The perfect blend of natural beauty and outstanding service make it a perfect destination for both novice and experienced campers. We left feeling rejuvenated and already planning our next visit!

Great RV park with cabins with an amazing view of the mountains. Short drive to Seward.read more

Beautiful location for a campground. Good for families and people who like camping next to all the…read moreamenities. The campground is in town, with a beautiful view of the mountains and water. Sites are very close together. So if you are looking for solitude and a natural experience, this is NOT it. However, if you prefer a campground with all facilities, a playground, beautiful views and you want the safety to be in town, this is an excellent spot.

Loved it. Extremely beautiful. Although Everyone's first option is waterfront campground but this…read moreis far more beautiful , right at the middle of the jungle , serene and quite. There are also sites available late at night.