Seward Highway: A Destination Itself
If your goal is to take the perfect landscape photo on Seward Highway, you may be driving for a while, since this road is overloaded with perfect spots. Seward Highway, connecting Anchorage and Seward, is a destination itself. It passes some of the most scenic places in the Southwest Alaska, including Chugach State Park, Girdwood, Alyeska, Turnagain Pass, and Moss Pass.
Once you leave Anchorage, the road runs between rocky cliff and ocean, with the view of the Chugach Mountains. Dall sheep observe the surroundings from the cliffside. During this drive, I truly understood why there are so many great artists in Alaska. They would have to express this emotion in some way. The ocean and strikingly dramatic mountains are no doubt wonderful on a clear day, but the power of nature comes on a stormy day. Driving through the breaking waves against the road draws some kind of peace, and deep grey fog between the mountaintops are like a watercolor painting.
Alyeska Mountain is one of the most popular winter destinations to both locals and visitors. The Alyeska Resort runs year round, and offers best quality ski slopes and rooms with a view. The nearby meadows are excellent for cross-country skiing and running, with the backdrop of glaciers between the mountains. Only 20 minute drive away, there’s Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Home for orphaned or injured animals. It’s a non-profit organization that takes rescued animals from the wild.
Continuing the drive to Seward, a tiny port town. People come here to enjoy ocean sports including fishing, kayaking, sailing, hiking, or simply to rest. The downtown is small, but you will find some interesting characters. Visit the SeaLife Center where you can learn about marine life of Alaska.
From Seward, we drove to Homer, a small coastal town located at the “End of the Road”. Homer is nestled among hills, with lots of museums, galleries, restaurants, diverse accommodations, and of course, beaches. When in Homer, drive down to the Homer Spit. It is the second longest in the world, and recently named one of the best 100 beaches in the US. It is the true end of the road on Alaska’s Highway 1.
