The Big Trifecta in Seward Alaska – Fishing, Glaciers & Whales
Spending time in Alaska can really skew one’s expectations of nature. It’s such an abundant place with seemingly endless possibilities. I would imagine some people could easily knock off half their bucket list in as little as a week up here.
I mean where else would you expect to see glaciers, whales, and catch fish like a pro all in one day? It sounds ridiculous to even expect such a thing…but not at Resurrection Bay here in Seward. We wanted the full Alaska trifecta and we weren’t the only ones.
Fellow RV’ers and Seward locals Ben and Rebecca of His and Hers Alaska knew Jason’s family was in town and offered to take us all out for a day on the water (I know, so nice)! There were still a couple of seats open on the boat so we offered them up to fellow RVing friends Lynn and Jeanette who were also in Seward and wanted to get out on the water (It’s a big state but there are only a few roads, so you’re bound to run into friends more than once up here).
We knew it was going to be an action packed day and we all had high hopes…but none of us were prepared for what was in store.
Pretty unbelievable right! Not only did we get our Alaska Trifecta, we got seals, porpoises and eagles, oh my! Eagles are as common on the coast of Alaska as pigeons in New York City. In fact, bald eagles are found only in North America and are more abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the United States. So Grab a flag & a frosty pint and say it with me now, ‘Merica!
Kenai Fjords National Park
This park is only a little older than Jason, having been established in 1980, in order to protect the Harding Icefield and the incredible marine life found in these bays. To give you an idea of size, the park is about 88% as big as Yosemite National Park and it’s home to one of the largest icefields in the U.S. with nearly 40 different glaciers flowing from it.
The easiest way to visit the park is by driving the few miles from Seward to Exit Glacier (where we had our awesome ice climbing adventures) or hop aboard a boat in Resurrection Bay (or do both like we did). There are lots of tours operating out of Seward and some have park rangers for guides (you can find a wealth of information on the National Park website).
If you want to see marine wildlife, the view from the water can’t be beat! There must have been hundreds of stellar sea lions perched on the floating icebergs scattered about. We also spotted some puffins, porpoises, tons of jellyfish and of course our very enthusiastic humpback whale!
Seeing all these amazing sights and incredible creatures in their natural environment reminds us of how important our parks are and how important it is to protect and preserve it all. The park rangers and park visitor center do a great job of teaching, and showing, how climate change is affecting our planet and reminding us to be responsible inhabitants.
Just in case you didn’t gather, we had one helluva day out here on the water!
Honestly, sitting here now, looking back at it all as I type these words, select the images and watch the video…I’m overwhelmed with warm fuzzy feelings. Jason’s next to me editing the video and I can see tears rolling down his cheek from laughing so hard! It was all so much fun!!! And the best part is we had the opportunity to share the experience with friends old and new, family and now you, which makes it all that more spectacular. We truly hope you’re enjoying these Alaska Adventures as much as we love sharing them.
Now here’s the big question, when are you going to Alaska? Or maybe you’ve already been and want to go again. Share your tales and tips with us in the comments below, we enjoy reading every experience and comment that’s shared.
Road Report
Fuel Prices – Fuel was about 20 cents more per gallon in Seward than in Anchorage, so fill up before you head down.
Road Conditions – The Seward Highway is well maintained and was in great shape. However, traffic on Fridays & Sundays can get a little crazy with the locals coming and going. Travel during the week was light and pleasant.
Weather – Highs in the mid 70’s with lows in the mid 40’s. We had a mix of sunny and rainy days during our visit.
Dates Visited – July 22 – 28
