Seward, Alaska is a bustling port town and the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Back in 1964, the Great Alaskan earthquake of magnitude 9.2 immediately sank the entire waterfront of the town. The town decided to not rebuild on the land that makes up the new waterfront.

Blog Alaska Seward

Instead of building on the waterfront, the land now is dedicated to oceanfront campsites. We had no problem getting an oceanfront site on this weekend in mid-July. No hook-ups for $15.

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

The view from our dining room was awesome.

Blog Alaska Seward

Glaciers, sea otters…

Blog Alaska Seward

… and bald eagles, oh my. (See it sitting on the 4th piling from the right?)

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

And internet was pretty decent… until the cruise ship showed up and the internet went to hell. Really fast. But good thing it was the weekend so work smork. Let’s go explore.

Blog Alaska Seward

But let’s eat a bite before heading into the national park.

Blog Alaska Seward

For today’s hike, we chose to visit Exit Glacier, the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park that is accessible by land. Before you even get to the parking lot, there are signs leading up to the visitor’s center that shows where the glacier used to end during the year displayed. It was amazing to get to see how much it retracted over the years.

Blog Alaska Seward

Some hikes start of great. And others start off with “why do we have to hike a WHOLE mile?!?!” from an certain somebody who will not be named.

Blog Alaska Seward

Sometimes the whining lasts for a bit and sometimes is disappears as soon as the adventure begins.

Blog Alaska Seward

Lucky for us, today was the latter. Crossing over rivers and bridges and running through forests have a way of turning frowns upside down.

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

It’s amazing to witness up close how this glaciers re-shaped the land by looking at the grooves in the rock under our feet and see how plant life reclaimed the exposed land after the glacier retreated.

Blog Alaska Seward

Almost there.

Blog Alaska Seward

Boom there it is. Exit Galcier!

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

“We are not on vacation” is usually muttered to others when we describe our lifestyle. But today we had to remind ourselves of that fact. We kept seeing awesome photos from the tide-water glaciers and whale tours. It was tempting but the price of the boat tour in Seward was too crazy for us. We instead decided to hike to Exit Glacier for free. And you know what? It was awesome too.

Blog Alaska Seward

The kids were a bit disappointed they couldn’t touch the actual glacier but quickly forgot about it once they remembered that we pack treats for kids who completed the hike.

Blog Alaska Seward

If you were wondering where Luka was during the first part of our hike, he was asleep on my back in the Ergo baby carrier. He actually didn’t see the glacier but he didn’t really mind. He woke up to the girls eating gummy bears and was all over that.

Blog Alaska Seward

Hey everyone, turn around so I can stop taking photos of just your butts. Thanks!

Blog Alaska Seward

We also got a chance to stroll the town a bit. Salmon season is in full swing.

Blog Alaska Seward

We have been dealing with damp weather and overcast skies for the last week but that doesn’t stop the kids from enjoying the ocean.

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

Before we head out of the town, we stopped by the visitor center to collect Junior Ranger badges for the kids.

Blog Alaska Seward

Luka used to recite the pledge word for word but not anymore. His new move is to make this face and chatter his teeth. And it cracks me up. There is video footage of it on the VLOG too.

Blog Alaska Seward

During our time in Seward, we also got interviewed by Chris Travels (Interview 1 &  Interview 2) and spent a little time with the WhereInTheWordRV crew and their pup.

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

Blog Alaska Seward

Alright, time to pack up those handmade bird feeders and hit the road again! There’s lots more of the Kenai Peninsula to explore.

Blog Alaska Seward

Thanks for reading,
Marlene


1 Comment

Arianna · November 30, 2015 at 3:09 am

May I join your family???? Your adventures are awesome and your kids are going to have so many stunning memories!

Thank you so much for making me travel here and there just looking at your photos!

https://pandaonavespa.wordpress.com/

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