Seward Boat Harbor

From seafood eateries, art galleries, and shops to activity check-ins for adventures like ziplining, the Seward Boat Harbor has plenty for travelers to do. Many tours that set off from the harbor usually include Kenai Fjords National Park cruises, as well as whale-watching and wildlife cruises. Walk the harbor, enjoy the natural views, or see what fishermen have caught at the fish-cleaning tables. Plus, the Alaska SeaLife Center is within walking distance, too.

• Grab a bite to eat at many of the seafood eateries on 4th Street, such as Alaska Seafood Grill, the Porthole, and Chinooks Seafood and Grill.

• The harbor features easy-to-grab, conveniently placed pet waste–bags at stations at the top of every harbor ramp, along with life jackets for children under 13.

• It's a great place for families. Even if you don’t have a tour booked or plans at the harbor, it serves as a great spot for wildlife sightings such as otters, seals, or sea birds or watching fishermen with their salmon catches.

• Dress in layers and bring a light rain jacket, as it can get chilly by the harbor. The city's average highs only reach up to 61°F (16°C), even in Seward’s hottest month, July.

• You can stay overnight onsite at the Seward Boat Harbor by booking a room in advance at the Harbor 360 Hotel, which offers 360-degree views of Resurrection Bay.

• You can easily find public restrooms in more than four areas around the harbor if you need one while exploring.

The Seward Boat Harbor is one of the easiest spots to get to in the city. It’s only a mile (1.6 kilometers) from most of Seward’s popular attractions and activities. Most travelers walk the area, but biking and driving are also simple options. A daily parking pass at the harbor will set you back US$10. If you’re coming from another city, such as Anchorage, the Alaska Railroad offers a train that drops off one block from the harbor.

The best time of year to visit the Seward Boat Harbor is between April and September when there is more active wildlife to see and more suitable weather. However, the city’s annual Polar Bear Jump is in early January, and its annual Beers by the Bay beer and wine tasting event is in mid-November.

Just one block from the Seward Boat Harbor on Port Avenue lies a train depot where you can buy a ticket to Anchorage (about a 4–hour train ride). Along the route, Anchorage offers some of the most beautiful views in the state and is a prime viewing area for the northern lights. The Seward train line only runs from mid-May to mid-September, so booking in September is your best bet for seeing the aurora borealis.