12 Best Family Vacation Ideas In Seward, Alaska

Seward Wildlife For the Win

A photography-specific land tour during your airport transfer shows off the best of the Alaska Scenic Byway. View, photograph and learn about resident moose, wolves and bear species enroute at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Alaska Photo Treks specializes in off-the-beaten-path tours from Seward to Anchorage with several chances to stretch your legs in nature and stop in historic Hope for lunch. Tripod use is included, and you’ll even get some photography tips along the way.

You can also try the Salmon Berry Travel & Tours’ trip from Anchorage to Seward, which focuses on Turnagain Arm and the All-American Road. It includes stops for trails at AWC to photograph land mammals and to spot Cook Inlet Beluga Whales in summer and autumn.

Chill Adventures With Nature-Bound Thrills

Fun things to do in Seward, Alaska with kids don’t always need to be high-intensity adventures. Plenty of relaxing activities let families recharge and reconnect outside the hustle and bustle of real life. Max out the memories with laidback opps to delve into Alaska’s wildlife:

● Packrafting Kenai River.

● Icefield trail hiking.

● Bridal Veil Falls kayaking.

● Exit Glacier snowshoe trek.

An excellent transfer option to Seward Cruise Ship Terminal is the 114m Classic Coastal Scenic Ride on the Alaska Railroad between Anchorage and Seward. Ride through critter-filled Potter Marsh on the southern end of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Reserve, Trail Glacier and emerald green Kenai Lake. The train’s top-level all-glass dome boasts incredible views with full-service chef-designed meals offered below.

Seward City Sights And Alaskan Bites

Charming Seward, Alaska is home to 3,000 year-round residents. The waterfront city swells in the summer with visitors exploring its rugged natural beauty. A sweet assortment of shops, cafes and galleries serve their combined needs.

Take a walking tour of Seward’s 30 murals depicting unique local events, historical characters and regional landscapes. Stop into Resurrect Art Coffee House, “Seward’s living room,” built in a century-old Methodist church for a hot cocoa, a pastry and a look through local art. Forests, Tides & Treasures and Once in a Blue Moose offer quality local products and unique Alaskan items. When the bellies rumble, classic harbor views at Ray’s Waterfront and The Cookery’s chef-driven menu highlighting local fresh seafood and oysters, are tough to beat.

Live Like A Lumberjack

Part of enjoying a true Alaskan experience is staying at authentic lodges and waterfront inns that offer nature-immersive digs.

● Sourdough Sue’s Bears Lake Lodging: A collection of 24’-30’ family-friendly yurts that sleep 5-6 with well-equipped cooking facilities, just 15-min drive from downtown Seward and walking distance from the Bear Creek Weir Salmon Run.

● Resurrection Lodge on the Bay: This beachfront Seward property lures outdoor enthusiasts with fishing from the shoreline (bring gear), a cooler and outdoor barbecue waiting for your catch, an outdoor heated deck and a free cruise port shuttle.

● Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge: This chef meal-inclusive lodge on Fox Island in the middle of Resurrection Bay is only reachable by an included glacier and wildlife boat tour from Seward, with waterfront cabins and a cozy main lodge lounge.

Plan Your Seward Vacation to Alaska’s Family-Friendly Frontier

Seward’s family-friendly experiences center around Alaska’s natural beauty, featuring scenic waterfronts, wildlife encounters, hands-on nature centers, coastal trails and nearby small towns that families can explore before or after their cruise vacation. The journey to this gorgeous wild beauty deserves more than an overnight stay before an Alaskan cruise. If one particular adventure calls to you, check the dates before booking.

Pack layers, good mittens or gloves and sleep masks to avoid unwanted all-nighters in the land of the midnight sun. Outfitters will provide the necessary gear and outerwear for tours.

Cruise planning makes perfect and Royal Caribbean ships offer families the ultimate way to explore Alaska’s charms. Bucket list activities require good sleep earned through family-specific cabin layouts and bellies fueled by up to 23 international cuisines with dozens of dining and drink venues. When it comes time for parents to steal some R&R or sneak in a date night complete with dancing to live music or Broadway-style shows, enjoy included childcare with engaging kids clubs for sailors from 3-17, with nanny and infant care also available. 

Book an Alaskan Family Cruise Vacation From Seward