Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Car -- All major car-rental agencies are represented in Anchorage.

By Bus -- The Seward Bus Line (tel. 907/224-3608 in Seward or 907/563-0800 in Anchorage) makes a round-trip from Seward to Anchorage and back daily, year-round (except Sun Oct-Apr); the fare is $45 one-way, $85 round-trip. They'll pick up and drop off passengers anywhere en route and, for an extra $5, take you to the airport. The Park Connection Motorcoach Service (tel. 800/266-8625 or 907/245-0200; www.alaskatravel.com/bus-lines) connects Seward with Anchorage and Denali National Park twice daily in summer in each direction with big, comfortable coaches. The fare is $56 between Seward or Whittier and Anchorage, $135 between Seward or Whittier and Denali, half off for children under age 12. Passengers going to Anchorage get a free pass to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center.

By Train -- The train ride between Anchorage and Seward is one of miraculous beauty. The Alaska Railroad (tel. 800/544-0552 or 907/265-2494; www.alaskarailroad.com) offers passenger service from Anchorage and back daily in summer. The route is even prettier than the highway, passing close by glaciers and following a ledge halfway up the narrow, vertical Placer River gorge, where it ducks into tunnels and pops out at bends in the river. The landscape looks just as it did when the first person beheld it. The railroad's young guides are well trained. The fare is $65 one-way, $109 round-trip; children ages 2 to 11 half price. A rental car will almost always be cheaper, but the train ride is unforgettable. The railroad also offers packages with lodging and activities in Seward. Don't try to do it in 1 day from Anchorage -- the 16-hour marathon is too much.

Getting Around

You can easily cover downtown Seward on foot, although a little help is handy to get back and forth from the boat harbor. If it's not raining, a bike may be the best way. Seward Bike Shop (tel. 907/224-2448), in a railcar near the depot at the harbor, rents high-performance mountain bikes and models good for just getting around town, plus accessory equipment. A cruiser is $12 for a half-day, $19 for a full day; a mountain bike is $18 and $30. PJ's Taxi (tel. 907/224-5555) is one of the cab companies in Seward.

Visitor Information

The Seward Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 749, Seward, AK 99664 (tel. 907/224-8051; www.sewardak.org), has two visitor centers. The one on the right side of the Seward Highway as you enter town is open year-round (summer daily 8am-6pm; winter Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). A summer-only information kiosk is on the cruise-ship dock. The chamber can provide business information and last-minute help in finding a room.

Special Events -- The Fourth of July is the biggest day of the year in Seward, when the whole town explodes with visitors, primarily from Anchorage. Besides the parade and many small-town festivities, the main attraction is the 3 1/4-mile Mount Marathon Race, run every year since it started as a bar bet in 1915. The racers go from the middle of town straight up rocky Mount Marathon to its 3,022-foot peak, then tumble down again, arriving muddy and bloody at the finish line in town. Strong binoculars allow you to see the whole thing from town, including the pratfalls of the runners on their way down.

The Silver Salmon Derby starts the second Saturday of August, although the peak of silver season comes later. The chamber of commerce visitor centers can provide tickets and rules.

Fast Facts

Bank -- Wells Fargo is at 908 3rd Ave., with an ATM.

Hospital -- Providence Seward Medical Center is at 417 1st Ave. (tel. 907/224-5205).

Internet Access -- Free at the Seward Public Library, 5th and Adams.

Police -- For nonemergency situations, call the Seward Police Department (tel. 907/224-3338) or, outside the city limits, the Alaska State Troopers (tel. 907/224-3346).

Post Office -- At 5th Avenue and Madison Street.

Taxes -- Sales tax is 6%. The room tax totals 10%.