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

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.

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.

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.