Seward Boat Harbor — Attraction in Seward

It's difficult to rate a boat harbor, but this had our cruise ship so we loved it! If you are getting on a cruise, this is where you board. And go through customs. On most tours your luggage will already be in the queue to go on board. Just really need your passport to go through here. If you are beginning the land portion of your tour, this is where you will probably board a bus. Again, the tour company should handle your luggage. Some tours drive you from Anchorage directly to the cruise ship. Others take you one or two days early. If you go early, you probably have signed (or will signed up) up for an optional cruise or whale watching tour. Our lodge did not have any food concessions so we went into Seward to eat. There are several nice places downtown to eat that are open when the ship(s) are in port. Our choices ran us about $10 per meal, per person, unless you share. Some tours arriving will have you board a bus and head north right then. But others will keep you in a hotel or lodge a day or two for the same optional tours. We walked all over the town. The city runs a free shuttle bus which will come in handy as it goes everywhere you might want or need to go (laundry for example). Even stops at the Catholic Church so you won't miss Mass. If you are not Catholic you won't care, but the ships usually will all have a priest who performs Mass daily. Find him, and sit yourself next to him at any of the formal meals. Then just enjoy listening, as these men travel more than most anyone else. They can be a lot of fun, but also have a wealth of information about each stop. We sat next to one and learned so much that isn't in any of the booklets! Find the man and go get educated! The boat harbor has the most eating, drinking, and 'stuff' businesses in Seward. Several ones you've never heard of that pack in crowds and provide excellent sea food. Think Halibut! Trinkets and tees are available with lots of typical Alaska wordage. Have a good camera? For shots across the harbour I used a 55-250mm on my Canon and all shots were perfect. In town I used an 18-135mm and got pretty much anything I was aiming at. We were there the third weekend in July. Nice weather, not to cold nor too warm. We wore sweaters in the am. Finally, if you are sailing out, you should check in and get your room first, then eat for free on the ship second, then take the free shuttle anywhere you want to go third. The more you plan ahead the more fun...

If you're looking to launch your boat or watch some wildlife then the Seward Boat Harbor is a great place to visit.

The Seward Boat Harbor is a great place to launch a boat or even a kayak. The boat launch is located near the Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center on 4th Street and the kayak launch is located at the Northeast corner of the Seward Boat Harbor. Parking is a pain, so you will need some coins or a credit card to pay for time.

The Seward Boat Harbor is home to wildlife including sea otters. If the sun is bright you can see fry swimming in gigantic numbers below the catwalks. Occasionally a bald eagle will sit on a tall light pole looking for fish too.

The Seward Boat Harbor is a great resource, but the sad reality is the expansion many years ago removed a significant amount of beach. The beach was a great place to snag King Salmon. While the fishing near the Seward Boat Harbor isn't the same the expansion did modernize and expand the Seward Boat...

One of the most scenic harbors, even with the commercial stuff, in Alaska. Plenty of restaurants (recommend The Smoke Shack for breakfast and Coho Joe's), shops, fishing charters, Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center, and boat excursions for Kenai Fjords among other outings. The surrounding mountains are beautiful.

Close to Seward's cruise ship terminal and other shops and restaurants not directly on the waterfront. All within walking distance.

Sea otters, jellyfish, and eagles are in...