Our group will be in Alaska this August and would like to try sea kayaking. None of us has ever done it before.

For those of you have, which would be the better venue, both in terms of water roughness and wildlife viewing opportunities?
Any input is appreciated.

Definitely Valdez but don't expect to see too much wildlife from your kayak.

My opinion only: Great kayaking out of Valdez to see glaciers and very large icebergs (Columbia) and some wildlife. Best kayaking out of Seward requires taking a boat out of Resurrection Bay where they drop off kayakers. Overnight kayak trips to Blackstone Bay are excellent--glaciers, waterfalls, etc. Best wildlife viewing (on a marine/water trip) would be the NW Kenai Fjord boat tour out of Seward.