When it comes to appreciating the full splendor of Mother Natures awesome beauty, nothing can come close to the rugged yet stunning appeal of Alaska. From the deep blue ocean waters that wash its southern coast to the icy towers of its northern backbone to the untamed wilderness of the core, everything seems to meet in Seward; at the Kenai Fjords National Park to be precise. One look and its easy to get lost in a rather good way in the untamed beauty of this national park. It must be one of the world’s truly romantic travel destinations.
Take the 8.2-mile Harding Icefield Trail and youd be treated at some of the worlds most stunning sceneries. Start your hike at the valley floor, trek through alder and cottonwood forests, and pass through meadows that are overflowing with heather. Once you reach the level of the treetops the raw magnificence of the icefield will come into full view. The Harding Icefield gives you a very rare glimpse of the various Ice Ages that this planet has undergone since its creation. Youve got an ocean of snow and ice broken only by a lonely peak, locally known as nunatak. Technically, once you see this icefield, you will never want to go back to civilization anymore.
If you cannot appreciate the beauty of the icefield from ground level, why not soar through the skies like the eagles of Alaska and make a birds eye view survey of the landscape? You can check out the Seward Chamber of Commerce as they have a listing of operators that provide scenic overflights on the park. Spread your wings and be transported back to the early Pleistocene.
And if youre into standup paddleboarding or kayaking, then the iceberg-filled lagoon of the Bear Glacier is a must. The lagoon is considered a proglacier which is technically a lake that is formed between a glacier and its peripheries, known as moraine. Make sure to keep your distance off the edge of these icebergs as they do tend to chip off sending waves that can rival the tubes of Hawaii.
For those who are into fishing, Resurrection Bay provides an abundant catch of salmon, lingcod, rockfish, and halibut. In the backcountry of the park, one can fish for Dolly Varden as well as salmon.
If fishing is not your thing, you can always go for boat tours that take you up close and personal with the tidewater glaciers of the park. And if going on a tour with a handful of strangers is not to your taste, you can always charter a smaller boat to explore the tranquil waters of the Kenai Fjords.
Do you have kids and teens tagging along with you? Enlist them in a Ranger program where they can get to interact with a park ranger, take on a short walk or even complete a day hike, and learn more about this amazing piece of paradise in the frigid north.
The Kenai Fjords National Park is nothing less than a paradise only a few can appreciate. Its one of the best things you can see Mother Nature at her best.
