Seward - Day 6

Mon. June 29

So, we thought Anchorage was beautiful and breathtaking and then we started the trek down the Seward Hwy . . . all we can really say is WOW, it was absolutely AMAZING! This scenic hwy. winds along the Cook Inlet down the Turnagain Arm and thru the Kenai Peninsula for 127 miles to the town of Seward. This drive has to be one of the top 10 most scenic drives in the WORLD. It was breathtaking. We had spectacular views of the Chugach and Kenai mountain ranges, multiple lakes, rivers, glaciers, waterfalls and valleys. Although the drive is only 127 miles, it took us over 4 hours to complete the trek because of all the scenic look-out points along the way . . and we only stopped at about half of them. Beluga Pt. is the place to spot killer (Orca) and Beluga whales, however today we didn’t see any. Bird Pt. was really incredible with a scenic boardwalk to view the bore tides; a rushing wall of water up to 6 ft. high. Upper and lower Trail Lakes provided panoramic views of the mountains and glaciers. There were numerous hiking trails, campgrounds and small lodges along the way, but no real towns, just remote wilderness.

We arrived into Seward about 4 pm and immediately went to the Waterfront Municipal Park to look for a RV site on Resurrection Bay. All the front row sites were taken, but we were able to get the last spot along the second row about 50 ft. back from the waters edge. The entire campground is packed with RV’s, trucks, tents and they even have a special area for caravans which was packed as well.

After we got the “Romantic Voyage” (aka RV) into its spot, we went to the front pay station where you check-in and pay on the honor system. You just fill out an envelope with your site number, check the overnight rate on the board and then add your cash and drop it into a lock box. You tear a portion of the envelope off and insert it in the window box post at your site. After signing in, we took a 4 block walk along the waterfront path down to the Alaska SeaLife Center, a one-of-a kind research, rehabilitation and education facility. We saw sea lions, seabirds (Puffins) and harbor seals in naturalistic habitats. It was a really cool place and we spent about an hour or so there, then walked along Main St. where all the restaurants, bars and shops are located. We decided to go to the famous “Ray’s Waterfront” restaurant for dinner so went walked back to pick up the RV. On the way to Ray’s we saw a dump station so we decided to “dump” . . .our very first dump! We knew it was time because there are gauges inside the RV that turn to red when its time to take action. Santos put on his latex gloves and handled the whole dumping thing like a pro . . .it took all of about 5 minutes and we were on our way!

Dinner at Ray’s Waterfront restaurant was our best meal so far on this trip. It was a cool place done in a nautical motif and the entire back wall was all windows looking over the small boat harbor (you wouldn’t believe the fish we saw coming in on the boats here . . .tons of them!) Santos had the seafood jambalaya and I had the seafood fettucini, with a Glacier Brewhouse Blond. . . . we were in heaven and didn’t leave a spec on our plates. It’s now 11 pm and there is fog rolling in on the bay. We head back to our campsite and call it a night. It’s a little less bright tonight so we won’t have to cover up the windows and skylights like we have been. Tomorrow is a full day boat trip to the Kenai Fjords National Park.

*Sandwiched between the Kenai mountains and the waters of Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward is one of Alaska's oldest and most scenic communities. A spectacular 2.5 hour drive south from Anchorage brings you to this seaside village, which offers a bustling harbor, quaint shops and galleries, and many different ways to tour Kenai Fjords National Park.

** I uploaded this post on Tue. June 30 at 7 pm Alaska time. We pulled the RV right next to the Seward public library in town and got free wi-fi!

Temp: 72 & very sunny
RV Miles: 140
Wildlife Sightings: Sea Otters and a Orca whale!