Onwards to Alaska: Seward, AK - Alaska Sealife Center

Alaska Sealife Center

August 10, 2013

This morning we had a scheduled visit to the Alaska Sealife Center. The Center serves both as a research center and a marine mammal and bird rescue center. Their patients come from all over the state’s enormous coastline. Not only did we visit the public part of the center, but also had a “behind the scenes” tour. We did the public segment first. To me the most interesting display is the aviary where you can see various sea birds up close and personal. I was standing next to the wall by the lagoon when a puffin hopped right up to me and started preening itself. I had to step back to get a picture. There is also an underwater viewing area where we could see these amazing birds soar through the water. They are also breeding stellar sea lions and recently had a new addition, a female. One of their other major research efforts involves reproduction of Stellar Eiders and Spectacled Eiders as the breeding pair of these birds has plummeted precipitously in the last 10+ years.

Tufted Puffin

Horned Puffin in Winter coloration

Stellar Sea Lion Bull

Harbor Seals

Horned Puffin in Summer Finest

Tufted Puffin in Summer Coloration

Afterwards we stopped in the downtown area to do a little shopping, successfully. Today’s lunch should be on Diner’s Drive-ins and Dives. The name of this epicurean delight is “Red’s Burgers.” I had Red’s #1 with garlic fries and a chocolate shake. Red’s #1 is a burger with bacon, ham, cheese, pickles, fried onions, tomato, lettuce, and pickled jalapenos. Guy Fieri would love this place. You place your order in the window of the cooking school bus and can either sit in the other school bus or outdoors at picnic tables. Everything is fresh made to order, so some patience is needed, but the food is well worth the wait. It was a real milk shake too.

The town of Seward is also known for building art. These are several of the ones we spotted.