3 Best Hotels in Whittier, The Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska

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.

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. 

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.