GCI is proudly sponsoring the Alaska Travel Industry Association’s Show Up for Alaska campaign because it’s focused on lifting up Alaska-owned, travel and tourism businesses and rallying Alaskans to help other Alaskans. That is our mission at the core.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting tourism businesses across the state. But more than just words on a screen, we want to inspire you to get out and explore this summer! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter each Wander AK Wednesday – starting June 17 – for travel advice and Alaska resident deals.
Let’s get started in Seward! There probably aren’t many who haven’t visited this coastal town about 2.5 hours south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. Make a weekend out of it with this 36-hour road trip. Or if you hadn’t heard, the Alaska Railroad will be operating a daily service again from July 1 – Sept. 13.
A great first stop is the Alaska SeaLife Center, which has always offered discounted admission to Alaska residents and military. At GCI, we have a special partnership with the Alaska SeaLife center and have been a longtime sponsor of the organization through GCI Gives, supporting all of the SeaLife Center’s programs from science and research to education and wildlife response. We’ve even held a series of social media contests to name new rescued seals at the center!
I actually stayed away from the Alaska SeaLife Center for two months when COVID-19 hit, and it was ridiculously hard for me.
Alaska SeaLife Center President Tara Riemer
Book ahead not only to make sure you can get your desired entry time (the center is operating at limited capacity for everyone’s safety), but also to sign up for the brand new Steller sea lion exclusive that will start up in late June. Alaska SeaLife Center President Tara Riemer, who first joined the team as a research administrator 17 years ago, has a special place in her heart for Pilot, one of the sea lions, but when forced to choose a favorite, she picks the decorated warbonnet, a fish that looks like it has a piece of broccoli growing on its head.
Don’t forget to renew your annual membership while you’re at the center. Your money doesn’t just guarantee you free admission all year, but supports the nonprofit’s research, education, and wildlife response programs, and it’s tax deductible. COVID-19 hasn’t put a halt to any of the center’s work. “It’s every minute of every day that we’re taking care of these animals,” Riemer said. “I actually stayed away from the Alaska SeaLife Center for two months when COVID-19 hit, and it was ridiculously hard for me. Now that we’re back and open to the public, being able to go in and see the seabirds and the Steller sea lions and feel the connection that you get to Alaska’s oceans through these animals is just incredible.”
Riemer said her team not providing daily care for the animals made it through their work-from-home period by taking advantage of GCI’s free home Internet upgrades. “We were in the middle of a meeting when someone mentioned it, and people started upgrading during the meeting. It worked immediately,” she said. “We sent a lot of staff to work at home and that was a huge help.”
Now that the Alaska SeaLife Center team is back in the office, we urge you to visit! But you can’t go to Seward and stay inside.
Fun places to explore:
- Cruise into Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park with Major Marine Tours for wildlife and glacier viewing. This Alaska-owned company is offering residents 30% off through June 30.
- Take 20% off a kayaking, hiking or wildlife cruise combo with Sunny Cove Kayaking. Owner Stephanie Millane has been guiding in Alaska since 1998.
- Book a glacier or remote hiking adventure with Exit Glacier Guides. The 2020 season is this locally owned company’s 15th year guiding on Exit Glacier.
- Get off the grid for real with Alaskan-owned Kenai Backcountry Adventures. Whether you have one day free or five, these tours are highly customized to your interests.
Great places to eat:
- The Cookery is run by local chef Kevin Lane and his specialty is oysters. But you’ll also find the menu full of locally farmed meats and produce, fresh fish and foraged finds.
- Seward Brewing Co. is the place for handcrafted brews and delicious seafood. Expect locally sourced ingredients on this brewpub’s menu.
- Railway Cantina dishes out the best Mexican food on the Kenai Peninsula. Try a halibut taco, a reindeer burrito or Jeffys famous quesadilla.
- Woody’s Thai Kitchen is named after Seward’s beloved Steller sea lion. Its specialties infuse Alaskan-Pacific Northwest and Pacific Rim ingredients with traditional Thai family recipes.
Where to stay:
- Seward Harbor 360 Hotel is owned by Major Marine. If you book a night here, Alaska residents get 30% off your stay, plus 40% off a Major Marine Tours cruise.
- Shearwater Cove’s oceanfront yurt lodging is only accessibly by boat and is located between Fox Island and Humpy Cove. Sea kayaking is part of the experience.
- Salted Roots’ two A-frame cabins sit on the shore of Resurrection Bay but offers more than accommodations. It’s a community space that hosts weddings, retreats and yoga classes.
- Miller’s Landing is a secluded campground on the Miller Family Homestead at the end of the road on Lowell Point. It also runs fishing charters, water taxis and kayaking trips.
- Hotel Seward is a family owned and operated boutique hotel that takes its history seriously. In the heart of downtown, it’s centrally located to the SeaLife Center, restaurants and more.
We’re confident that these local businesses will make your trip to Seward unforgettable. You’ll leave with not only a new adventure under your belt, but also the knowledge that you helped support other Alaskans. GCI is committed to being a good neighbor and empowering our local communities, because at the end of the day, we are more than just Alaska’s technology leader. We are a company founded and operated by Alaskans.