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What to do in Seward, Alaska

Planning your getaway and trying to find the best things to do in Seward, Alaska? Discover the amazing activities available in Seward and Miller’s Landing below and figure out what to do in Seward on your stay with us!

Hiking

Hike or water taxi to Caines Head State Park: Caine’s Head is a five-mile coastal trail and was voted one of the top 10 hikes in Alaska by Alaska Magazine.  This is a beautiful hike to a remote area, also accessible by boat or by water taxi at Miller’s Landing (unless you hike the coastal trail on low tide).

While hiking in Seward, you often see salmon leaping, eagles soaring over you, and sea lions, sea otters, and abundant marine life everywhere.

Learn more about Caine’s Head Hike or  hikes in the Seward/Lowell Point area

Visit the Kenai Fjords National Park: This is the highlight of the Seward area. Explore the waters in the park by tour boat. Watch for whales, marine wildlife, colorful seabirds, and spectacular glaciers calving – up-close. Tours are narrated, and meals are often included on these comfortable and heated cruising boats.

Learn more about our partners Alaska Saltwater Tours and Major Marine!

Local Tours 

Visit The Alaska Sealife Center: See sea life up-close, visit research and rehabilitation areas for marine wildlife, visit the 15 aquariums for viewing, and see puffins, sea lions, and other marine wildlife. A unique blend of research, rehabilitation, and education takes place in this state-of-the-art facility. Watch stellar sea lions and river otters play, see harbor seals, walrus, puffins, and beautiful sea birds. The Sealife Center is just two and a half miles from Miller’s Landing.

Learn about Alaska SeaLife Center 

Visit Exit Glacier:  Learn about the geology and natural history of Kenai Fjords National Park.  Enjoy a walking tour along the Park’s nature trails to the face of the glacier. Friendly, knowledgeable Park tour guides escort you on this nature tour.

The valley handles the waters of Resurrection River plus the run-off from the glacier and the gravel bed can be completely covered with water during spring thaw!  Exit Glacier originates in the Harding Icefield – the largest icefield in the US –  and it has repositioned itself over the years.

Learn about Exit Glacier 

Miller’s Landing Tours

Go on a beautiful adventure through Resurrection Bay or Kenai Fjords National Park on our four-hour 1/2 day Fishing and Sightseeing tours, Full Day Fishing and Sightseeing Tour, or Best of Alaska Tour.  Looking for something more flexible?  Check out our Elopements and Custom Charters!

For more information, explore more Miller’s Landing Tours

Rentals

Take out a rental Boat and cruise Resurrection Bay on your own with your family in Miller’s Landing Stabicraft with outboards on them, or go fishing!

Learn about rentals of all kinds, from boats to kayaks.

Kayaking

Go kayaking: Miller’s Landing has Alaska kayak rentals for experienced kayakers and kayak self-rescue lessons for those who want to learn how to keep themselves safe out on the water. We provide water taxi transportation there for your convenience. We also do kayak drop-offs with our charter boat to the Aialik Bay area of the Kenai Fjords and the Northwestern Arm area. Full-day trips, half-day trips, overnight, and multi-day Seward kayaking trips are available. Experience Alaska by paddling amongst whales, sea lions, sea otters, and more. See beautiful Kayaker’s Cove, Caines Head State Park, Spawning Salmon Streams at Thumb Cove and Tonsina Beach. Fox Island and Aialik Bay of the lovely Kenai Fjords are favorite kayaking trips too, and you can even paddle from Miller’s Landing to the Alaska SeaLife Center!

Learn about Kayaking in Seward

Fishing

Go on a Seward fishing charter!: Miller’s Landing has two fishing charter boats ready to go every day for halibut and salmon. Heated comfortable boats with all gear and full electronics (bathroom too) are awaiting you. We specialize in private charters with six or less, but can take larger groups. If our boats are already full, we can recommend several good fishing boats that may have openings.

Explore fishing charters from Miller’s Landing.

Fish off the beach for salmon:  Try Tonsina Beach or just out in front of Lowell Point for good results. The Lowell Point waterfall is another good area for king salmon!  Check in with the Miller’s Landing staff to learn what species may be running while you’re in town!

Water Taxis

Take the Miller’s Landing water taxi:  Explore remote hiking, fishing, kayaking, and camping areas only accessible by water. Visit our water taxi section of the website for ideas on destinations. The water taxi leaves Miller’s Landing every two hours. Or, just ride the water taxi around for a great view of the bay!

Learn about Water Taxis

Adventure Tours

Go flightseeing:  Enjoy a day of hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, flying over glaciers in a floatplane, landing in a glacier fed lake, and paddling among the icebergs in a kayak. It’ll be the highlight of your entire Alaskan holiday!

Go flightseeing in a helicopter or airplane.

Visit Godwin Glacier:  This is the adventure of a lifetime! Take a beautiful, breathtaking, and narrated tour over the lovely Kenai Fjords in a helicopter, and then… land on Godwin Glacier (inaccessible other than by air). Meet Iditarod dog racing mushers and visit their dog team operations. Then, go on a dog mushing ride on the Glacier! Miller’s Landing can make your reservations for you at no extra cost.

Dogsled on Godwin Glacier today!

Visit the Seavey’s Iditarod racing team summer dog sled rides and Iditarod sled dog tours:  Take a look behind-the-scenes at Mitch Seavey’s Iditarod Racing Kennel where 60 sled dogs are undergoing training for future Iditarod races. The enthusiasm of the huskies delight you as each one is harnessed and brought to the team. Their power and spirit will amaze you. Step aboard their custom wheeled sleds and your real Alaskan adventure begins. Your musher discusses training and racing techniques along the trail. A visit into the puppy kennels allows for great photo ops and a chance to cuddle an adorable husky pup. Stand on the runners of a winter sled and try on the actual racing gear as your guide imparts fascinating information about all aspects of mushing. Imagine yourself in the mukluks of the men and women who master the most physically and mentally demanding sport known to man. All Alaskan dog sled tours are guided by Iditarod and Junior Iditarod racers.  

Learn about Iditarod tours.

Go on the Real Alaska Tour with The Seaveys: Spend a day exploring the best of Seward by land. A short drive brings you to the Seavey Homestead, where three generations of Seaveys race and train sled dogs. Experience the thrill of mushing through the forest behind a team of world-class sled dogs. Learn why the Iditarod truly is “The Last Great Race on Earth.” Puppies eagerly await your arrival.

A hearty lunch is served at the nearby Resurrection Roadhouse before heading out to Exit Glacier, a major attraction of the Kenai Fjords National Park. Enjoy a short guided walk along the nature trail that takes you to the face of the glacial ice. Keep a lookout for mountain goats, moose, or a bear high up on the mountainside. Your next stop is the Alaska SeaLife Center. A unique blend of research, rehabilitation and education takes place in this state-of-the-art facility. Watch stellar sea lions, river otters, harbor seals, walrus, and puffins play. Lastly, take in the local sights and history as your tour guide takes you through Seward before returning to your hotel, ship, or the Alaska Railroad Depot. Miller’s Landing can make all your reservations for the Real Alaskan Tour.

Learn about dogsled rides.

Transportation

Ride the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic Train from Seward to Anchorage: This is listed in many of the well known tour guides as one of the best trips in Alaska for viewing wildlife and scenery.

Learn more about the Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic.

Special Events

Participate in the Annual Seward Salmon Derby: It is one of the largest sporting events in Alaska. It is held over nine days (begins the second weekend in August and lasts for nine days.). The Derby has been going on for over four decades. There are more than $250,000 in prizes for the Derby, including $10,000 in cash for the largest fish. Also part of the Derby are the sought-after tagged silver salmon worth as much as $100,000. Prizes are sponsored by merchants and the Chamber Of Commerce. Miller’s Landing is donating $2,000 in prizes for the Derby. The town fills up fast for the Derby so make reservations! Boat rentals, full and half day salmon charters, water taxi services to remote fishing sites, and Derby tickets are all available at Miller’s Landing. Many of the winning fish over the years have been caught right from the Miller’s Landing area on Lowell Point. See past results and learn more about this annual Seward event HERE.

What about the Mount Marathon Race and 4th of July Festivities?: Seward goes all out on the 4th of July with parades, festivities, bands, contests, and their famous Mount Marathon Race. This is a grueling test for athletes to the top of Mount Marathon (elevation 3,022 feet) and back down. The descent is so steep that it’s part run, part jump, and part slide. The race attracts competitors from all over the world, and thousands of spectators line the route each year.

Learn about the Mount Marathon Race and other 4th of July Festivities.

Additional Info

OTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION ON HIKING, CAMPING, AND FISHING:

Kenai Fjords National Park Local Information Line: (907) 224-2132 or their website CLICK HERE

Chugach National Forest Local Information Line: (907) 224-3374 or their website CLICK HERE

Find out When Fish are In on the Kenai Peninsula
What’s that fish?  Fish ID & Regulations

Miller’s Landing hopes to make your stay as memorable as possible. Please feel free to contact us by email or phone for any questions you may have. Our friendly staff can assist you in planning the perfect charter, outing, hike, kayak trip, water taxi, or Seward tour.