Seward, Alaska
Alaska Vocational Technical Education Center
Contact: Kurt Byers, fnkmb1@uaf.edu
Updated 26 September 2000 | |
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LodgingBest Western Hotel, Seward1-800-478-4050 or (907) 224-2378 http://www.bestwesternseward.com/ $67.00 plus 9% tax per room. To get this special meeting rate, tell them you'll be attending the Sea Grant Communicators meeting. If you provide the hotel with your tax-exempt number, they will waive the 9% tax. This is a nice, modern hotel with well-appointed rooms which normally go for $120 per night in the tourist season. No restaurant or bar. Those are available next door and elsewhere up and down the same street. Our meeting will NOT be held in the hotel, but will be within walking distance. Chamber of Commerce lodging list http://www.seward.net/chamber/lodging/lodging.html Breeze Inn Motel http://www.alaskaone.com/breezeinn/index.htm
Bed and BreakfastsSince our meeting will not be held in the hotel, there's no compelling reason for everyone to stay there if you're inclined to try something more unique to Alaska—and there definitely are some unique places to stay. Call the very helpful folks at these two B&B booking services to explore intriguing B&B options:
Connections Reservations & Referral Service
Harbor Station Reservations & Referral Service
Worth Checking: Our coordinator at the AVTEC meeting site also runs a B&B, described at http://www.alaskasaltwaterlodge.com/nflodging.html TransportationSeveral major airlines fly into Anchorage. Northwest, for example, has a nonstop flight to Anchorage from Chicago. Alaska Airlines has a new flight this summer, nonstop Chicago-Anchorage. If Chicago O'Hare is convenient, you could take that Alaska Airlines flight straight to Anchorage. But they stop flying that route on Saturday, September 30. So you'll have to return home via a less direct route. Alaska Airlines has partner arrangements with Northwest, American, TWA, and Continental. United and Delta serve Anchorage, too, and probably some other majors. Explore options with your travel agent. If you want to work with an Alaska travel agent, we recommend Kathy Burchard at Sunshine Travel in Fairbanks. She's as good as they get—she has a knack for quickly finding the most efficient routes at the lowest cost! And Sunshine does not charge service fees. (907) 451-1992.From Anchorage, you have three options for traveling the 128 miles from Anchorage to Seward:
Rental CarAuto rental companies are conveniently located at Anchorage International Airport. It's usually an easy drive on a National Scenic Byway, appropriately named the Seward Highway. Takes about 2.5 hours, if nonstop. And if the weather cooperates, it's one of the nation's prettiest drives.Here are some maps of Alaska and the route to Seward. http://www.sewardwindsong.com/map.htm http://www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism/images/roadmap_02_02.gif http://www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism/student20.htm Here are a couple good sites depicting features of the Seward Highway. http://www.dot.state.ak.us/external/state_wide/planning/scenic/bsewardhwy.html http://www.dot.state.ak.us/scenic/seward/tour.html
Commuter BusSeward-Anchorage Bus Line(907) 224-3608
Departs Anchorage 2:30 p.m.Does not pick up/drop at hotels or at the Anchorage airport; just at its own depot in Anchorage and Seward. Take a taxi from airport or hotel in Anchorage to their depot. On arrival in Seward, you'll probably need to take a cab from the depot to your place of lodging. When you leave Seward, you can bum a ride from one of your car-equipped colleagues to take you to the departure depot.
Commuter AirplaneFS Air Service(907) 224-5920 Commuter flights, Anchorage-Seward. One round-trip flight a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only.
Departs Anchorage International Airport at 1:00 p.m.This option is not recommended because bad weather often causes delays and cancellations, especially in fall/winter.
Other Information about Travel in AlaskaAlaska Internet Travel Guide: http://www.alaskaone.com/kenaipen/index.htmAlaska ~ Planning Your Own Trip: http://www.alaska.net/~croland/publishing/index.html
What to WearIf you bring warm enough clothing to be comfortable on the Kenai Fjords boat ride, you'll be more than adequately prepared for any other outdoor strolling you might want to do in and around Seward. Around town, a shirt, sweater, and medium-weight, water-resistant coat (preferably with a hood to keep the rain off your noggin) should suffice. Snow is not likely (famous last words) and we may get lucky and have some sunny, crisp fall weather. Here's an edited version of what Kenai Fjords Tour brochure (which you'll get after you register) and I say about what to wear on their tour.Even on the warmest summer days, the temperature on the water is cool, especially in front of the glaciers. The temperature at the glaciers averages 40 degrees (in October probably colder). Dress in layers so you will be comfortable at the different stages of the cruise. You can stay in a warm, comfortable cabin with big windows. But if you plan to be on the outside deck, it's a good idea to bring a rainproof jacket, warm hat, gloves/mittens, jeans or slacks (long johns optional), warm shirt, and heavy sweater or sweatshirt. Rubber boots or water-resistant hiking boots are preferred footwear. Some people bring rain suits. And don't forget sunglasses! You can bring a small duffel bag or day pack aboard with extra clothing in case you find you need it. And binoculars will come in handy, too! A good example of a rain suit is at http://www.hellyalaska.com/all_weather_kits.htm. The "Fox Island Explorer Kit" and the "Kenai Explorer Kit" rain suits would be excellent waterproof shells to wear over top of warm clothes on deck of the tour boat. The jackets would also come in handy in town if it's raining. The outfits are not insulated, so if you buy one, get one large enough to wear comfortably over a couple layers of clothing or mid-weight jacket. This web site also features high-quality, warm jackets if you need one. Helly Hanson is the preferred outfitter of commercial fishermen up here. Meeting garb is casual—casual skirts or slacks, blue jeans, etc. Might want to dress up a bit for the Tuesday night banquet, although cocktail dresses and suits will be sartorial overkill. Guys, leave your ties at home.
Weather ForecastThe Weather Channel - Seward, Alaska
RegistrationRegistration fee is $175, which will cover the meeting room charge, audiovisual equipment, Kenai Fjords field trip and onboard marine interpreter, Sunday night halibut bake, evening banquet with Extension folks, admission to the SeaLife Center, and morning and afternoon refreshments during the meeting.Except for the Sunday halibut bake, Tuesday banquet, snacks at the meeting, and lunch on the Kenai Fjords tour, you will be responsible for your own meals. Register online using our secure registration form, or print the registration form and send it with your purchase order, check, or credit card payment by fax or snail mail to University of Alaska Sea Grant. You may also register by phone if you pay with a credit card. Contact information is on the printable registration form. Upon receipt of your registration, a packet containing information about Seward and the Kenai Peninsula will be mailed to you. Late registration after Thursday, August 31, will cost $200, so make sure you pay before that cutoff date.
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