Weekend Getaway to Alaska

(1) Kayaking around Fox Island (14 miles south of Seward in Resurrection Bay)
(2) Taking a guided wildlife and glacier cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park and getting up close and personal with a pod of Orca
(3) Walking up to Exit Glacier - the only glacier in Kenai Fjords NP accessible by road

Quick Tips:

Visit prior to the summer onslaught (i.e. before late June). I've traveled here the first few days of June for the last two years (1999 & 2000) and the timing was perfect:
(1) Great Weather - sunny days with highs in the 70's / lows in the 40's.
(2) Long Days - the sun sets at 11:30PM but it never gets completely dark.
(3) No Crowds - the cruises I went were only 1/3 full - allowing me to freely move around to get the best view.
(4) Save Money - cheaper hotel rates (40% cheaper where I stayed).

Best Way To Get Around:

Seward sits at the head of Resurrection Bay and is 125 miles south of Anchorage. I flew in to Anchorage and rented a car. The scenic drive from Anchorage to Seward, along the Seward Highway, takes 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic and how fast you drive. The Seward Highway is rated as one of the 10 most scenic highways in the U.S., so slow down and enjoy the drive.

A newly constructed facility with clean rooms located 2 miles north of the Seward Small Boat Harbor in a secluded forest setting. All rooms have mountian or forest views. The facility also includes a popular bar/restaurant (Resurrection Roadhouse) with a good selection of microbrews. I didn't eat at the Roadhouse, but the beers are very good. Rates vary by season (I paid $99 for June 1st and 2nd, but peak seaon rates of $169 kick in the second week of June). 72 rooms - all with 2 queen beds and private bathroom.

UPDATE 6/01: Rates that I mentioned above have gone up by $30 per night for 2001. Seward Windsong Lodge has built a new main reception/check-in structure as well as additional lodging facilities.
www.sewardwindsong.com

Waterfront setting with a warm relaxed atmosphere and good food. Open for Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week. Overlooks the Seward Small Boat Harbor and Mountains in the distance.

Very good food. Highly recommend the seafood chowder and any of the Halibut or Salmon entres. The night I dined here in 2000 the view was very entertaining - there were two Bald Eagles "fishing" in the Harbor just outside the restaurant.

Combo Sea Kayaking / Wildlife Cruise. This is an easy Kayaking excursion that includes instruction and a 3 hour guided "wilderness paddle" around Fox Island. Fox Island is apparantly one of the world's finest paddling locations and is an interesting mix of temperate rain forest, sculpted cliffs, protected coves and long pebbled beaches. This was my first sea kayaking experience.

Guided tour through Kenai Fjords Natoinal Park. I highly recommend both the Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise (6 hours - $109pp including lunch) and the Northwestern Fjord Cruise (9.5 hours - $139pp includig lunch). I did the Park Cruise in 1999 and the Fjord Cruise in 2000. Both these cruises afforded me the opportunity to experience some of the most awesome scenery in the world. Definitely one of the most memorable experiences in all my travels. If you like nature you need to come here at a least once in your life.

Fri 6/2/00:
Depart DFW Airport at 4:00pm;
Arrive in Anchorage from DFW at 8:15pm;
Rent car and drive to Seward;
Arrive in Seward and check in at hotel at 11:00pm
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Sat 6/3/00:
Kenai Fjords Tours Northwestern Fjord Cruise (9:00am-6:30pm); Drive/Walk to Exit Glacier (7:30pm-9:30pm);
Dinner at Ray's Waterfront Restaurant (next to Kenai Fjords Tours Office)
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Sun 6/4/00:
Fox Island Sea Kayaking & Wildlife Cruise (9:00am-5:00pm);
Drive to Anchorage Airport (5:45pm-7:30pm);
Depart Anchorage 9:20pm
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Mon 6/5/00:
Arrive DFW 7:00am