2 Best Hotels in Seward, The Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska

Across the street from the small-boat harbor, this modern 100-room hotel is very convenient if you're planning an early-morning fishing trip. One wing has four suites with jetted tubs, and an annex building has two suites overlooking the harbor. On the first floor is the popular restaurant. It's open year-round.

Built in 1916 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Van Gilder is steeped in local history. Early 20th-century photos of Seward adorn the walls, beds are brass or carved wood, and the common rooms foster a cozy B&B feel. This is definitely not a mass-market chain hotel, and the extremely friendly staff gives tours of the property, pointing out interesting historical information. Spend time in the sitting room with books of local interest or by the piano player in the lobby.