I lived in Alaska many years and fished out of Seward a lot. It is great. My son-in-law is a charter boat skipper there too. I will give you his phone number and you can chat with him about fishing there next year. Tell him his father in law sent you. You see, he and my daughter are not married yet but he is her first mate I ever liked and I encourage thier union. He is well known for lots and big halibut. Several trophies and he will stay out as late as it takes to get the limit. Some boats come back at a specific time regardless. He has skippered for other owners the past several years and is trying to get his own boat this winter to use next summer. If not, he will still book you into either his or another GOOD boat. As to a good hotel for the wives, well, it is Seward, not New York. Shopping, only souveniers. You might leave the wives in Anchorage, three hour drive, if they want NICE hotel and shopping. Seward is a fishing town all the way. They should go out on the boat though as the views are fabulous and being on the boat maybe cheaper than leaving them in Anchorage where the FUR dealers are. Seward is compared to Norway a lot. Fiord like, lots of birds, seals, otters, sea lions and occasionaly whales. Here is Capt Romeo, my son in law,s number, 907-360-9553 or 907-224-4793. In August you might fish for both Halibut and Salmon. Good luck and enjoy. If you want a good river trip, try Alaska Rivers Company, about an hour drive from Seward. Nice fast moving but not white water 3 hour sight seeing trip on the Kenai River. You can do a whole day fishing on the River with them too. I used to guide for Gary Galbraith the owner. There is a NIce HOTEL, Princess Tours Lodge near there, but NO shopping there. If you want more info email me at snowleopard11@yahoo.com Ray