Seward, Alaska

Seward

A cute little town on the southeast shore of Kenai Peninsula, about two and half hours south of Anchorage by car. The town is located on the shore of the deep Resurrection Bay, with the lofty summits of Chugach Mountains overlooking it from both directions. The city is named after former U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward, who was in charge of the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867.

Seward is both a cruise port-of-call and a very popular among Alaskans, and many people from Anchorage and the region come here for the weekends during the summer. The city’s economy relies mostly on fishing and tourism, with many businesses operating seasonally in the summer months only.

Alaska Sealife Center

This marine biology research center is located in downtown Seward. Other than research and treating injured wildlife, the center also has aquariums and exhibits depicting indigenous mammals, fish and shore birds, with many of these exhibits aimed for children (who usually have a great time here). If you have the time, it’s certainly worth a visit. Sealife Center

Mt. Marathon Run

Legend has it that a few years ago (about a hundred or so) two guys sat at a local pub and made a bet: one of them argued he could go to the top of the mountain situated above the town and return within an hour. They tried and the brave guy lost the bet by a few minutes, but the event is commemorated in an annual festival ever since.

The festival takes place on 4^th of July, culminating in a race to the top of the mountain and back. The race itself is quite crazy: most contestants end up heavily bruised, and sometimes worse. Still, in recent years the race has become super popular and a lottery is needed to determine who could participate. The festival itself is great, too –  lots of greasy food and good music – and all in all it is a very good time to visit Seward. Of course, a few thousand Alaskans think the same, so if you’re thinking of visiting the town around July 4^th, you better book a room long in advance. That’s obviously true for those sleeping in hotels, but even if you’re planning to spend the night camping, it’s difficult to find a free turf around town during the event. Have fun! Mt. Marathon Run