Alaska is vast, wild, and wonderfully photogenic—think calving glaciers, breaching humpbacks, and mountains that roll to the sea. Indigenous cultures have shaped this land for millennia; Russian fur-trade history and the 20th-century oil boom left their marks on its cities and ports. Today, the draw is elemental: wildlife, wilderness, and the feeling that your daily radius has suddenly expanded.

This 7-day Alaska itinerary focuses on Anchorage and Seward—two destinations that pair cultural depth and great dining with easy access to glaciers, fjords, and wildlife. You’ll travel the famed Seward Highway, cruise among icebergs, spot sea otters and puffins, and walk beneath a blue-tinged glacier. Along the way, sample salmon and halibut, craft beer, and excellent coffee (Anchorage takes its espresso seriously).

Practical notes: Summer (May–Sep) brings long daylight and most tours; shoulder and winter seasons (Oct–Apr) swap wildflowers for Northern Lights potential and snow adventures. Book rental cars and cruises early in peak season. Pack layers, waterproofs, and an adventurous spirit—Alaska rewards those who dress for the weather and keep eyes peeled for moose, eagles, and whales.

Anchorage

Anchorage is Alaska’s big-city gateway, hugged by the Chugach Mountains and the waters of Cook Inlet. It’s a launchpad for bear country and glacier valleys, but also home to strong Indigenous art, contemporary cuisine, and miles of coastal bike trails. On a clear day, you might glimpse Denali from the city’s western bluffs.

• Top sights: Anchorage Museum (art, science, and Alaska history), Alaska Native Heritage Center (dance, storytelling; expanded hours in summer), Tony Knowles Coastal Trail (11-mile seaside path with moose cameos), Earthquake Park (1964 quake history), and viewpoints like Point Woronzof at sunset.
• Food & drink: Pizza greatness at Moose’s Tooth; seafood and wood-fired fare at Glacier Brewhouse; views with steaks and halibut at Simon & Seafort’s; craft pints and rooftop vibes at 49th State Brewing; brunch legend Snow City Café; espresso standouts Kaladi Brothers, Black Cup, and SteamDot.
• Insider fun: Watch floatplanes skim Lake Hood, browse Native crafts at Oomingmak (qiviut—musk ox wool), or catch live music at Williwaw Social.

Stay in Anchorage: Search stays on VRBO Anchorage or compare hotels on Hotels.com Anchorage (Downtown for walking access; South Addition for quieter streets near the Coastal Trail).

How to get to Anchorage (ANC): Fly into Ted Stevens Anchorage International. Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Typical nonstop from Seattle: ~3.5 hours; summer roundtrips often $300–600+ depending on dates.

Day 1 – Arrive in Anchorage, coastal stroll, and a seafood welcome

Afternoon: Land in Anchorage and settle into your hotel. Shake off the flight on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail from Elderberry Park toward Westchester Lagoon; the path traces Cook Inlet with mountain views and frequent bald eagles.

Evening: Toast your first night with wood-grilled salmon or halibut at Glacier Brewhouse (house ales pair well with cedar-plank fish). For a sunset backdrop, detour to Point Woronzof—on clear evenings you’ll see the Alaska Range glowing pink—then grab a nightcap at 49th State Brewing’s rooftop when it’s open in summer.

Day 2 – Bikes, museums, and Dog Sledding with an Iditarod Champ

Morning: Power up at Snow City Café (order the Kodiak benedict or stuffed French toast). Rent bikes downtown and cruise the Coastal Trail; keep an eye out for moose in the brush and belugas in Turnagain Arm on high-tide days.

Afternoon: Swap pedals for sled dogs: meet the athletes of Alaska’s favorite sport on the Dog Sledding and Mushing with 4X Iditarod Champ tour (typically 4–5 hours round-trip from Anchorage; seasonal on wheels in summer, sleds when snow cooperates). Learn training techniques, handle pups, and feel the pull as a team takes you for a spin.

Evening: Pizza night at Moose’s Tooth (try the Avalanche or Spicy Thai Chicken; the line moves fast and it’s worth it). For post-dinner music, Williwaw Social often hosts local bands and DJs; if you prefer a classic Alaskan bar, Darwin’s Theory pours simple drinks and free popcorn.

Day 3 – Full-day Wilderness, Wildlife & Glacier experience

Let a local guide handle the driving on the Wilderness, Wildlife, Glacier Experience from Anchorage. This flexible day typically traces the Turnagain Arm (watch for Dall sheep on the cliffs) to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center for close-up looks at brown bears, musk ox, and bison, then continues to Portage Valley for a short hike or a boat ride near Portage Glacier when operating.

Fuel with a quick breakfast at Kaladi Brothers, bring layers for wind on the Arm, and cap the night back in Anchorage with sunset views and seafood at Simon & Seafort’s (the peppercorn steak and king crab legs are local favorites).

Seward

Seward sits at the head of Resurrection Bay, where mountains pour into a deep, glacier-carved fjord. It’s the maritime gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park—home to tidewater glaciers, puffins, sea lions, and the occasional orca sprinting through mirror-steel water.

• Top sights: Kenai Fjords National Park cruises, Exit Glacier trails, Alaska SeaLife Center (excellent for kids and rainy days), and the working Small Boat Harbor lined with fishing vessels and tour boats.
• Food & drink: The Cookery (creative seafood—don’t miss oysters), Chinooks (harbor views, big portions), Highliner Restaurant (hearty breakfasts and halibut), Zudy’s Café (sandwiches, pie), Resurrect Art Coffee House (espresso in a converted church), and Yukon Bar (old-school local watering hole).
• Seasonal fun: Summer brings wildlife-rich cruises and alpine wildflowers; winter may swap boats for snowshoes and fat bikes, with dramatic, quiet scenery.

Stay in Seward: Browse cabins and waterfront stays on VRBO Seward or compare hotels near the harbor and downtown on Hotels.com Seward.

Getting from Anchorage to Seward (morning departure recommended): Drive the Seward Highway (~2.5 hours, one of America’s most scenic roads; rental cars in summer often $90–150/day). Summer-only Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic is ~4 hours with photo stops (expect roughly $109–224 one-way; book early). Shuttles run ~3 hours (~$80–100). There’s no scheduled commercial flight to Seward.

Day 4 – Scenic transfer to Seward, harbor walks, and the SeaLife Center

Morning: Depart Anchorage after a quick coffee at Black Cup. The Seward Highway threads along Turnagain Arm—stop at Potter Marsh boardwalk for birds and Beluga Point pullouts for sweeping views; if you time the tide right, you may spot beluga whales riding the bore.

Afternoon: Arrive in Seward for lunch at Highliner Restaurant (smoked salmon benedict if it’s still brunch, or a halibut sandwich). Explore the Alaska SeaLife Center, an excellent crash course on Gulf of Alaska ecosystems with puffins, harbor seals, and touch tanks.

Evening: Dinner at The Cookery—start with oysters and order whatever the kitchen is doing with spot prawns or lingcod. Walk the Waterfront Park path as the last light slides down the mountains, then grab a nightcap at Yukon Bar for a slice of authentic Alaska bar culture.

Day 5 – Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise (6 hours)

Board a classic fjord expedition: the Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise spends about six hours searching for humpbacks, orcas, Dall’s porpoises, puffins, Steller sea lions, and bald eagles en route to an actively calving tidewater glacier. Captains narrate and pivot for sightings; bring binoculars, a windproof shell, and a warm hat for the bow.

Eat a hearty breakfast at Sea Bean Café (bagels, scrambles, strong coffee) before boarding. After the boat returns, unwind with harbor-view fish tacos or king crab legs at Chinooks; in summer, the marina glows golden late into the evening.

Day 6 – Glacier day: Exit Glacier hiking or another boat day (your call)

Morning: If conditions allow (typically late spring–fall), head to Kenai Fjords’ Exit Glacier area for short trails to glacier viewpoints or, for experienced hikers in summer, the all-day Harding Icefield Trail (8.2 miles round-trip, steep; start early and carry layers, food, and bear spray). In winter, local outfitters offer fat biking or guided snowshoeing near the glacier.

Afternoon: Prefer more time on the water? Opt for the Kenai Fjords and Resurrection Bay Half-Day Wildlife Cruise, focusing on sea otters, eagles, puffins (in season), and sea lion rookeries in the protected waters of Resurrection Bay—ideal if you want a gentler day after yesterday’s longer outing.

Evening: Casual bites at Zudy’s Café (try the reindeer sausage panini or daily soup) or grab small plates at The Cookery’s bar if you didn’t make it earlier in the week. End with espresso and local art browsing at Resurrect Art Coffee House.

Day 7 – Return to Anchorage and depart

Morning: Drive back to Anchorage (allow ~2.5 hours; watch for Turnagain Arm mudflats—beautiful but dangerous to walk on). If time allows, detour through Girdwood for a quick pastry at The Bake Shop or a short walk in the rainforest.

Afternoon: Back in Anchorage, pick up gifts at Oomingmak (qiviut knitwear co-op) or grab a final bowl of seafood chowder at Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse. Head to ANC for your flight; compare last-minute options on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.

Optional Anchorage add-on (if you have a spare evening before or after the trip)

If your schedule allows another Anchorage evening, consider a private, flexible outing like the Glacier View & Wildlife Anchorage Adventure Tour for bespoke photo stops and wildlife viewing tailored to conditions.

Where to eat and drink (quick picks by day)

• Day 1: Glacier Brewhouse (wood-fired seafood, house ales); 49th State Brewing (rooftop in summer, beer flights).
• Day 2: Snow City Café (breakfast standards done right); Moose’s Tooth (creative pies, local taps).
• Day 3: Kaladi Brothers (espresso); Simon & Seafort’s (sunset views, steaks/seafood).
• Day 4: Highliner Restaurant (hearty lunch); The Cookery (oysters, seasonal seafood).
• Day 5: Sea Bean Café (coffee + bagels); Chinooks (harbor-view dinner).
• Day 6: Zudy’s Café (sandwiches, pie); Resurrect Art Coffee House (espresso, local art).
• Day 7: The Bake Shop in Girdwood (sweet rolls) if routing allows; Humpy’s in Anchorage (chowder, halibut tacos) before the airport.

Logistics at a glance

• Car vs. train: For maximum flexibility, rent a car (reserve early in summer). The Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic (summer only) is a scenic, relaxed Anchorage–Seward option (~4 hours).
• Costs (typical): Anchorage–Seward shuttle $80–100 pp; Coastal Classic train $109–224 one-way; Kenai Fjords 6-hour cruise varies by date and operator; dog sledding and glacier day tours priced seasonally.
• What to pack: Waterproof jacket, insulating layers, hat/gloves, closed-toe shoes with grip, binoculars, daypack, reef-safe sunscreen, motion-sickness tabs if you’re boat-sensitive.

In one week, you’ll sample Alaska’s essentials: an Anchorage city-and-coast mix, a world-class glacier and wildlife cruise in Kenai Fjords, and walks to the edge of ancient ice. You’ll leave with salt on your lips, a camera roll of whales and peaks, and the urge to come back for bears, auroras, and the rest of the map. Alaska tends to turn “once-in-a-lifetime” into “see you next summer.”