Twenty-seven years after moving to Seward, Alaska as a high school sophomore, I finally visited the town of Seward, Nebraska. A town I thought only existed in fairy tales and postcards. It was even more wonderful than I could have imagined.

We left Kansas City, Missouri yesterday morning on a long trip home to Alaska. Everything we had squeezed into the pop-up camper on the way south had to fit in the car or the roof rack for the return trip, plus the newly acquired gifts we could not leave behind. While it was sad to say goodbye to the family, after a month and a half of living in close proximity with three million people, we were ready to go. We had originally planned on staying for Thanksgiving, the twins’ 1st birthday, Christmas, and New Years- we could not manage any longer.

We planned a route west, bought ferry tickets from Bellingham to Haines, ordered and made an appointment for studded tires to be mounted on the 4th of December, and we hit the road.

Tears fell from all angles as we pulled out of the Grandview house while waving goodbye to our sister and mother. As we were pulling out, the car seemed to stall with the heavy payload, so we shut-down the rig to look under the hood without finding any problems. We laughed at the thought of having to say goodbye again and dreaded the thought of having to stay while waiting for the car to get fixed, but after shutting down the car and firing it back up- she shifted into gear without a hitch.

After a month and a half of breathing unclean air (no offense Kansas City) we didn’t get a deep breath of fresh air until we were past the airport and almost to Savannah, Missouri.

We went off course to visit Savannah because my dear, Savanna, has always wanted to visit but never had the chance. It was a pleasant little Missouri town with a gorgeous, brick downtown full of Mom & Pop shops and a small capitol building. The town had more flags of their high school team, the Savannah Savages, waving from flag pole than the American or Missouri flags. I found it quite odd that the Cleveland Indians had changed their mascot while the Savannah Savages were still waving a flag with the face of a Native American on the flag. We got a bag of Cheetos for the kids and a couple coffees and headed west for I-80.

We cruised on I-80 at 80 MPH for close to an hour before we decided to find a playground for the kids to let out some energy. (It’s our travel routine every day on the road.) And it just so happened that the nearest town was the highly anticipated town of Seward, Nebraska.

I had seen the town on the map while planning our route but decided against asking Savanna to visit because maybe she would think it was goofy or it wouldn’t be as cool as my imagination… but in the end, it was neither goofy nor wack. It was one of the highlights of our 5,000 mile road-trip.

I was taken back upon entering the town because there was a big dog food factory or something of the sort just on the south side of town, but once we crossed into the neighborhoods and the downtown district, the dog food factory was greatly overshadowed. The neighborhoods were lined with clean sidewalks with small cracks, perfect for skateboarding. Great curb cuts into slow-moving streets where few cars drove no faster than 15 MPH. The homes were in great shape and varying in size and shape and color. The people waved and we waved back. We found a playground/park where a half dozen other dogs came to roam with their owners. I mentioned to one lady that I was from Seward, Alaska and she couldn’t believe it. Thirty minutes later she returned with a gift from the Seward Chamber of Commerce. A print that will surely be framed and hung on our wall.

We left Seward, Nebraska in the same way we leave Seward, Alaska every time we visit- sadly. But as John Muir so famously said, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” And while I loved the little town of Seward, Nebraska it was missing what makes the town of Seward, Alaska a destination for so many. The mountains and the ocean. Despite the differences in topography, geography, and economy- I have a feeling that Seward, Nebraska and Seward, Alaska have the most important things in common. A strong sense of community built on the backs of hard-working people with good character.

If you ever have the chance to visit Seward, Nebraska- don’t miss it.

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