After spending two magical days in Denali, we took a long drive down to Seward for some totally different, but equally amazing scenery. The drive between Denali and Seward is long, beautiful, and a bit painful due to my having some unknown stomach sickness. We made a few stops along the way, one of the most lovely being Beluga Point, which offers a spectacular view with cold winds that will have you running back to your car. I absolutely love Seward, and I am sure that you will, too!
Seward: Day 1
Arrival
Even if I was suffering the whole way to Seward, that did not stop me from being super excited when we arrived. As we were driving towards our accommodations, I noticed something moving out on the water. I showed the first sign of life all day when I saw it again and shouted: “I think I see a whale!” Once I had everyone’s attention, we all stopped and gazed out as the whale again rolled just above the surface of the water. It was really incredible. I don’t think that seeing a whale will ever not be an amazing and humbling experience.
We had worried about not getting to see whales, but we saw plenty while we were in Seward. My family had dinner without me since I wasn’t feeling up to it. They went to a place called Thorne’s Showcase Lounge, which my dad described as “like eating dinner in Elvis’s library”. They split a Bucket of Butt (Halibut) and said it was pretty darn delicious. I stayed in and took in the spectacular view from our room.
Resurrection Lodge on the Bay
Resurrection Lodge is a major contender for my favorite place that we stayed in Alaska. It is a little way out-of-town, but it is so beautiful and the rooms are so nice it makes up for the distance. Just out our window, we could see Resurrection Bay in all its glory. If you gaze out the window long enough, you might see a whale, or some sea otters playing around, or an eagle, or a giant cruise ship filled with tourists. There is so much life right out your window. It is hard to be unhappy at this place.
Day 2: Still sick, but others have fun
My Day at the Seward Community Health Center
At this point I was having pointed stomach pains, so my Mother and I went to the Seward Community Health Center to make sure I wasn’t dying. Most stomach issues I can handle, but you should never ignore stomach pains. It could indicate a very real problem that shouldn’t be ignored.
Turns out I was alright. The lesson is, when you are traveling, if you start to feel sick, don’t be afraid to see a doctor. They can help you get better so that you can get back to enjoying your trip. If you ignore the problem, you may end up prolonging it and end up ruining your trip.
I had a wildlife cruise to be on the following day, so I was pretty darn determined to get better. After some professional advice and a trip to the store for some meds and super bland food, I spent the rest of the day resting, recovering, and staring longingly out the window.
The Adventures of my Kin
While my mother and I were lying around and seeing doctors, my father and brother were off seeing Seward. They took a hike from our lodging to the Tonsina Creek Trail. They did not complete the trail but said it was a nice wooded trail that leads to (you guessed it) Tonsina Creek. The trail-head is near Lowell Point and is about 3 miles long with a gradual climb through lots of trees.
After the hike, they went over to Red’s Burger Bus for lunch. It’s basically a school bus that was converted into a dining area. They gave the food 3 out of 5 stars. After lunch, they drove to Exit Glacier. It is not far from Seward. They LOVED the trails and said it was a really awesome experience. We made another stop to see it when we left Seward so that Mom and I could see the glacier. It really is beautiful. The viewpoint gives you an excellent panorama of the glacier.
After walking near glaciers, they headed back into Seward for dinner at Ray’s where they enjoyed cedar plank salmon and crab cakes which made me wish that my stomach worked properly.
Day 3: Back in the Game in time for a Cruise
Though not 100% better, I was able to eat a small amount of food and go long periods of time without needing a bathroom, so this was my day. This was the day we were going out on the water to see some (MORE!) wildlife. It seriously never gets old.
We went with Major Marine Tours and chose their Wildlife Cruise. There are SO many options for boat tours in Seward. I doubt that any of them are bad. Just floating on the water in a tiny fishing boat would probably be awesome.
My dad and brother paid extra for the salmon and prime rib buffet that was served shortly into the trip. My mom and I didn’t think we would get our money’s worth, so we just tried their food and packed our lunches. That was a good plan for us, but if you have a fully functioning stomach, pay extra for the buffet. It’s so worth it.
Our Major Marine Cruise
We saw so much of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords from aboard the Star of the Northwest(our ship). There are several glaciers, which were smaller than I imagined. I spotted at least four or five whales, which was amazing.
There are so. many. birds. Kittiwakes, which are basically Alaskan seagulls were everywhere. We saw multiple bald eagles and felt fiercely American in their majestic presence. My personal favorite was the puffin, horned and tufted, which were described as flying potatoes. When I saw one fly, it sure did look like a little potato flapping its wings desperately(they aren’t awesome flyers, but rather awesome divers).
We also saw some Stellar Sea Lions, which are an endangered species. On another beach, we saw some Harbor Seals that were flopped out like little sausages. Apparently, there were some Dall Porpoise swimming around, but I missed them. Too fast! We even saw some mountain goats on one of the more mountainous shorelines.
It is also really cool to see some old World War II structures on the shore and on islands in the Bay. I wasn’t too familiar with the role that Alaska playing during the war, but now I am aware. Look it up. It’s interesting stuff. If you are interested in taking a day cruise while in Seward, check out Major Marine Tours. You can find the package that we purchased here. Obama used Major Marine as his tour company when he visited Seward, and that’s a ringing endorsement if I ever heard one.
That’s all folks
Such concludes my time in Seward! I will definitely have to return again when I am feeling less terrible. I still enjoyed it to the best of my abilities! It’s really an incredible experience. We didn’t make it to the Alaska Sealife Center, but we heard that it is an excellent experience, so if you have time check that out.
Our next stop was in Girdwood as we headed back to Anchorage. If you haven’t already, check out my other Alaska related posts about my time in Palmer and in Denali!
What wildlife would you like to see during your travels?
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I think I could live forever with a view like that at Resurrection Lodge on the Bay! Breathtaking scenery!