Resurrection Bay provides numerous recreation opportunities

Valley Life editor

Living in Alaska, getting to your intended destination can be half the fun.

About 170 miles south of the Valley lies Seward, one of Alaska's oldest and coziest communities, and getting there via the highway with the same namesake is like watching one of those scenic video postcards from Alaska.

As the Seward Highway winds its way around Cook Inlet, motorists are treated to spectacular views, including possible sightings of beluga whales. Just south of Girdwood, the road climbs through Turnagain Pass, with mountains so close you can almost reach out and touch them.

Because of its natural beauty, the Seward Highway was designated an All-American Road. While only 127 miles long (from Anchorage to Seward), motorists could spend several days on the road, exploring trails and photographing everything from Summit Lake to the many glaciers.

Once in Seward, however, the fun doesn't stop. The town is at the head of Resurrection Bay, and naturally, the ocean is a big draw for the town. A big run of salmon, as well as a thriving halibut and deep sea fishery, make Seward a prime destination for anglers looking to fill the freezer. During the beginning of August, the Seward Silver Salmon Derby brings anglers from around the world to Resurrection Bay, hoping to turn silver fish into green money.

From the town's harbor, guides and charter businesses leave daily, sometimes beating the crack of dawn on their way to sea, in search of barn-door halibut or chrome silver salmon.

For landlubbers, there's plenty to do in Seward, with the SeaLife Center being one of the town's main attractions. The SeaLife Center is a living museum, with research and marine rehabilitation one of the center's main objectives. The center is filled with marine animals, including birds diving in large tanks and sea lions swimming around playfully.

Mount Marathon is another one of the town's most visited spots. Each year, on the Fourth of July, the mountain is home to one of the most popular races in Alaska, as runners make their way up the mountain and back down again, sometimes catching big air as they fly down the nasty slope.

The Fourth of July means party time in Seward. Thousands of Alaskans and visitors visit the town for the weekend -- the race is only the beginning of the party.

Behind Mount Marathon is one of Alaska's largest collections of glaciers, the Harding Icefield. Eight of them approach tidewater, which many of the sightseeing cruises visit regularly.

Seward is rich in history. Russians first arrived in Seward in the late 18th century, and they developed a thriving shipbuilding site. It is believed that Alexander Baranov first sailed past Resurrection Bay in 1792, on Easter Sunday.

In 1903, the town was officially founded and named after William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State who was influential in the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.

Seward was the leading port of Alaska until Good Friday, 1964. Alaska's major earthquake razed the Seward harbor and took a major toll on the town in general. It took residents nearly 20 years to rebuild everything.

Today, the town relies on Resurrection Bay for much of its economic gains. Tourism, commercial fishing, charter-boat fishing and ship services drive the economy. Cruise ships routinely port in Seward, bringing thousands of visitors to the town of 4,000 people annually.