Blogs from Seward, Alaska, United States, North America - page 2

Vancouver to Seward 21-31 May 2017 We boarded the Holland America ship Noordam by lunch on Sunday 21st with some trepidation as Jim and I were unsure we would enjoy the cruise 'experience'. However we were soon settled into our 'stateroom', cabin in other words. It was spacious with a queen size bed, small sofa, table, desk, TV, double wardrobes, ensuite with bath, and best of all, a private balcony with a table and two chairs complete with footstools. Getting to grips with the complexities of 10 decks, four entertainment venues, (in fact I think there are 5 but I did not see the last one until we were disembarking) numerous bars and quiet areas including a library, two pools, three hot tubs, a fitness centre and spa, medical centre, casino, shops, two main restaurants and ... read more

22 Aug 2016: Today we left Soldotna for Seward, a drive of approximately 120 miles. The route was easy to follow. North on route 1 to route 9, over Moose Pass and into Seward. The city maintains public campgrounds for a fee. We stayed at the one offering electricity and water. It afforded a magnificent view of Resurrection Bay and the surrounding glacier-clad mountains. To our left (North) was the boat harbor. Every day the view changed with the amount of sunlight and fog. We had two excursions here plus a visit to the Seward Marine life research center, an organization that rehabilitates young or injured marine mammals. Manny species were on display including fish and birds. We also took several scenic drives and a visit to a yarn store, which Jeanne likes to do every ... read more

The Kenai Fjords Glacier Tour was one of the first - and one of the most expensive - excursions that we had arranged for this trip, and it was easily one of the best. We were only minutes into the six hour tour of Seward's coves and islands when the captain announced that we had found our first whale. We headed to the deck just in time to see a Pacific humpback whale breach the surface just off the bow, only a few feet from where we were stood. There were two other humpbacks in the harbour and we spent at least half an hour watching them flash their tails and blow plumes of spray up into the air before heading out into the water. It was a bright, sunny day and everything was crystal clear, ... read more

Seward is a lovely port city nestled within Resurrection Bay on the southeast side of the Kenai Peninsula. It’s the self-proclaimed mural capital of Alaska and has a beautiful marine SeaLife Center. When we arrived, we drove out to the Silver Derby Campground but with large rocks on the narrow access road, we decided to return to the Waterfront Park campground in the center of town. This had its own drawbacks as the sites were crowded, many with large families. But the very worst aspect only became apparent at curfew; there was no one enforcing it. Vehicles came and went at all hours, groups loudly discussing their fishing exploits and kids playing basketball in the late light. We had paid for three nights. The second day was a rain-out so we spent it in the gorgeous ... read more

We left the Historic Anchorage hotel today. Of course the kids had to check out the souvenir shop next door, and came out with Alaska t-shirts, an antler slingshot and other assorted souvenirs. We drove along the Turnagain Arm, a long, narrow bay that Captain Cook traveled up in another attempt to find a northwestern passage. He reached the end and had to turn around. Again. So that's what he named it and the name stuck. Along the way we stopped at Beluga Point to try our luck with whales. No luck, but boy was it windy! Ethan's new slingshot was tested with pebbles. They go pretty far out to sea, but I still think it would be best to hang it up as a display in his room when we get home. A little further ... read more