Seward Marine Tour Part 1-The Landscape
A fantastic way to experience Alaska.
Alaska is filled with outdoor activities. This week my siblings are in town visiting my husband and I. It is their first trip to Alaska, therefore, I feel like I have permission to do some of the more ‘tourist-y’ activities while they are here. This week, we are talking about Seward and taking a tour of Resurrection Bay and getting up close and personal with Holgate Glacier. I can honestly say that this is one of my favorite excursions we have done thus far. This tour is quintessential Alaska. In order to do this tour justice, I am breaking it into two parts. Next week, I will be talking about the wildlife. Today, we discuss the landscape and some of the picturesque vistas we experienced in Seward.
Booking our tour was very straight forward. Once I knew my siblings were coming for a visit, I booked as soon as I had exact dates, about three weeks before the day we went on our tour. We decided on the six-hour tour as it promised wildlife as well as the ability to see a glacier up close. Six hours was a great length, as we got the opportunity to fully experience both Resurrection and Aialik Bay. Our tour included lunch, refreshments, and a small selection of alcohol (for purchase). The sandwiches, chips, and granola bars were perfect as you wanted to spend as much time as you could outside, enjoying the view. From the time you leave port to the time you get back, the views don’t stop.
Resurrection Bay boasts sharp mountain peaks as well as smoother mountain tops. Movement of the massive glaciers across this area rounded off some of the mountaintops. There are still plenty of sheer cliff faces, though. The tour company loans binoculars to better take in the sights. They were particularly handy when looking at the wildlife. My sister borrowed a pair, and she absolutely recommends you do the same. The captain of the ship will get you as close to the action as he can, but there are rules regarding interacting with wildlife. It may also shock you to know that ships don’t mix well with land, so you are pretty much limited to the water.
Cruising through Resurrection Bay was a breeze compared to the next bit of sailing, along the border of the Gulf of Alaska and the protected bay. We were told by staff that usually the crossing isn’t quite that rough, but thanks to a storm that blew through the previous night, there were seven to eight foot swells. My siblings and I stayed on the bow of the boat while going through the waves. Keeping an eye on the horizon and better living through chemistry (thank you Dramamine), meant we did not get as sea-sick as others in different parts of the boat. We also got some healthy doses of adrenaline as we crested waves, and sped into the troughs. I enjoyed it, but if you easily get motion sick, I highly recommend the Dramamine. Regardless, the deep blue waters of the gulf and the mountains in the periphery were beautiful to look at.
After our brush with the Gulf of Alaska, we sped into Aialik Bay toward Holgate Glacier. The waters were nice and calm, especially compared to the crossing. We quickly approached Holgate Glacier, a large glacier that is about two miles wide and touches the water. While we were there, we witnessed what is called calving, which is when a large chunk of ice breaks free from the glacier. When this happens, it is accompanied by a large cracking sound, resembling thunder. The boat doesn’t go any closer than about a quarter mile, so by the time the sound gets to the boat, the ice is already in the water.
When you look to the left of Holgate Glacier, there is another glacier. This second glacier is known as the Aialik Glacier; it also called ‘surprise glacier’ because it cannot be seen until you are by Holgate Glacier. Aialik Glacier is known as a hanging glacier, since the boarders of the glacier do not touch the bay. You will notice a waterfall that starts under the glacier. An estimated 69% of the world’s fresh water is held by glaciers and ice fields. Summer temperatures cause the ice to slowly melt, which provides fresh water to native plants, animals, and people.
The return trip to Resurrection Bay was a little bit more calm. Even though the waves were much lower, there was a vast difference in the number of people that rode in the front. Most people were pretty cold after being outside on the water for so many hours. I highly recommend dressing in layers as the air feels cooler on the water than it does on land. My party also had waterproof clothes, which kept us dry and also helped reduce the effects of the wind. They do offer hot beverages in the cabin, feel free to grab some to help warm back up.
My siblings, husband, and I give this Alaska experience 10/10. The scenery alone was enough to make us want to come back. Next week, I’ll talk about the marine life we saw on this trip. If you want to book the same tour that we took, click here. I highly recommend Major Marine Tours. Their hospitality was top notch, and the catamaran they took us out on was a great condition and set up well for a fantastic viewing experience.
Happy Traveling!
Kat
