FROM WASILLA TO SEWARD

As always, you can view the photographic narrative for this story below. What is a photographic narrative?

The goal for today was simple: get to Seward. But of course, we wanted to explore as much as possible along the way. Before leaving Wasilla we loaded up on what ended up being some of my favorite donuts ever from Donut King. Filled up on carbohydrates (and with enough to spare for the next couple of days) we headed south on Route 1. 

After passing Anchorage, the road winds back and forth following the coast of Turnagain arm, with stops every couple of miles to get out and enjoy the coastal views with a background of snow capped mountains. We turned off the highway for lunch at Basecamp in Girdwood, and then continued south until we arrived at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This beautiful place houses injured and orphaned animals in incredibly large enclosures. We spent a couple of hours walking the road through the park to see moose, black bears, grizzly bears, elk, wood bison, muskox, and reindeer. And then, we drove the remaining distance to Seward. 

Upon arriving in Seward, I was instantly charmed by the small town. It was more or less broken up into two main sections (or at least, that’s how I conceptualized it to get my bearings). A northern area seemed to center around the harbor and cruise port, while a more southern area was centered around a collection of shops and restaurants on 4th Ave, with the Alaska SeaLife Center on the very southern tip. For the duration of our time there, we’d be in an Airbnb recently constructed in a small historic building in what I’m calling the southern section of town. The building was over 100 years old, and as soon as we got past the modern digital keypad lock, the building showed its age. It was nicely renovated and decorated, but with notably uneven floors which sloped toward the center of the building, and with a bathroom that was literally only about six square feet. We loved it (no sarcasm intended). Our unit was on the upper anterior portion of the building, affording us views of the shops and restaurants along 4th avenue only a block away. We set out towards these restaurants in search of dinner. Before deciding on a restaurant, however, we walked up and down the streets of this southern section of town to get our bearings. And from this short walk, the charm of Seward was evident. Looking down the streets to the south, you could see the waters of Resurrection Bay. Looking to the right, mountains covered in conifers blanketed by fog met the ground just a few hundred yards away. All of the buildings had an undeniable vintage allure, and because I could actually see the edges of the town when looking down the streets from an intersection, my mind could spatially grasp where it was. I felt immediately at home. 

After our short walk, we settled on the Flamingo Lounge for dinner. It was at this indescribably unique restaurant and bar (just look at the pictures) that I had my favorite dinner experience of the trip. We sat at the bar, our forearms resting on the red velvet padded counter, and talked with the bartenders and a couple escaping to Seward for the weekend from their home in northern Alaska. Above our heads hung a gold padded bar gantry suspended from low ceilings. Warm lights glowed in small lamps adorned in tassels and beads. Behind us people sat in red padded chairs with bottles of various wines and liquors in backlit display cabinets covering the walls. The drinks and food were incredible (I’d recommend the Field of Dreams and Halibut, respectively) and the immersion in this sort of mid-century retro environment made the experience truly special. We liked it so much, we went back two days later.