It’s nothing fancy, but the Prospector is a comfortable hotel on the waterfront right next to the new Alaska State Museum. This is good and bad news, because construction at the museum is expected to be ongoing (during limited hours) until it reopens in 2016. Still, the hotel serves up affordable rates on large standard rooms and suites, some with views of the water and small-ship pier, many with kitchenettes. It has a friendly staff and a fun pub called T.K. Maguire's serving steaks, seafood, and bottomless portions of fries.