11 Best Hotels in Prince William Sound, The Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska

This converted cannery at the end of the road offers a peek into what life in the region must have been like in the 1880s. Whitewashed boarding rooms overlook the bay where otters and waterfowl abound. In addition to beautiful lodgings and a café that serves excellent freshly caught seafood, Orca offers a long list of adventures, among them fishing, kayaking, river rafting, hiking, bear viewing, and flightseeing. There's also the opportunity to fly out to one of Orca's remote wilderness camps for fishing or just relaxing. An additional perk to staying at this end-of-the-road getaway is the fantastic dining at their on-site restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week.

Near the harbor, this hotel comes complete with views of mountains, sea otters, seals, and waterfowl. The standard-issue decor is nothing to write home about, but the views make up for it. The rooms are a little compact, but everything is within walking distance, and there's little need to spend much time in them.

With its lighthouse-tower design and weathered-looking gray slats, this freshly renovated hotel set among shanties and harbor boats blends in well with its surroundings. The 26,000-square-foot, three-story building sits right on the water, overlooking the harbor. About half the rooms have stunning views of the water and the mountains across the bay. The junior suites and the bi-level town houses also look out onto the bay; the latter have fireplaces on both floors. The restaurant and bar also has great water views.

A former military housing tower that is now home to most of the town's residents, June's also offers bed-and-breakfast condos, half with million-dollar bay views and half with gorgeous mountain and glacier views. All the condos have full kitchens and one, two, or three bedrooms. The outside and the entryway of this monolithic unit are hardly outstanding, but June, the owner, keeps the quirky condos clean and comfortable. They provide an excellent place to roost after spending your days hiking around and fishing in the sound, and are a great bargain if you've got a family or a group of friends.

At the top of the historic Begich Towers, June Miller rents out five attractively renovated condo suites that offer fantastic views of either the mountains and waterfalls or the bay (and more mountains). Each one or two-bedroom suite sleeps six and has a full kitchen and good Wi-Fi. At the ground level is a laundry room and a market. June is the consummate host, and is happy to help you find everything you need to ensure you (and your entire family) have a fantastic stay in Whittier. 

This hotel is within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants, and the small boat harbor, the center of summertime activity in Valdez. Nothing about it screams personality, but the service is consistent, and the on-site restaurant is convenient.

Commanding a dramatic view of Orca Inlet a few blocks from downtown Cordova, this turn-of-the-20th-century inn has three roomy suites and one "sleeping room" furnished with antiques. Owner Becky Chapek transports guests to and from the airport, where she operates Chinook Auto Rentals. If she doesn't have room for you, she'll suggest other places to stay.

At this waterfront fisherman's hotel you can watch the commercial-fishing fleet and other maritime traffic sail by. Be sure to ask for a harbor-view room to watch for otters and waterfowl at play. Many of the nautical-theme rooms overlook the harbor, as does the large, south-facing deck of the Reluctant Fisherman Restaurant. Microwaves and refrigerators are available for a small charge, and two of the suites offer a kitchenette.

This hotel is one of the newer lodgings in Valdez and looks the part, with its sleek corrugated metal siding and slick rectangular lines. The lodge boasts a heated pool and exercise room while rooms are spacious, comfortable, and include microwaves and mini-fridges. There are also 10 small cabins on the property that include full kitchens, bathrooms, and both a queen and sofa bed. The location offers views of the mountains and the harbor, has a small market on-site, and is within easy walking distance to the town's main drag where you'll find a number of eateries and shops.

The Cordova Ranger District of the Chugach National Forest maintains a series of simple backcountry cabins for rent. These cabins are very basic: four walls, a roof, a floor, wooden bunks, usually a woodstove, a table, benches, counter space for preparing meals, and a pit toilet out back. There's no bedding, cooking utensils, electricity, or running water. Most of the cabins are accessible only by boat or floatplane, although the McKinley Trail cabin is accessible by motor vehicle on the Copper River Highway. Two others can be reached by hiking from the road. Rentals are arranged through the U.S. Forest Service's website up to six months in advance.

Along trails, near wilderness alpine lakes, in coastal forests, and on saltwater beaches, these rustic cabins offer retreats for solo hikers or groups. Some cabins are built of logs, and some are A-frames. Most have tables, chairs, woodburning stoves, and bunks, but no electricity, running water, or bedding. Many require a fly-in or boat ride, although some can be reached by car and then on foot. If you're suitably equipped and sufficiently adventurous, these cabins are Alaska's best bargain for getting away from town and enjoying backcountry wilderness with a roof over your head.