What to expect: Hotel Captain Cook comprises three copper-colored towers in the center of downtown Anchorage. A curved driveway leads to the main entrance, where door staff in top hats greet visitors who include political figures, international dignitaries, and well-known entertainers. Beyond the hand-carved entry, the nautical theme includes huge original paintings of Captain Cook’s adventures, ship models, and South Seas masks.

Amenity highlights: The hotel’s crowning glory is the Crow’s Nest restaurant, perched on the 20th floor. This destination dining room is renowned for its astonishing views of the city, mountains, and Cook Inlet, as well as its sophisticated American cuisine.

The health club, located on the hotel’s lower level, offers an indoor pool and spa tub, along with separate workout facilities for men and women. Hotel-wide wireless Internet access is complimentary.

Insider tip: Exquisite scarves and caps made of qiviut, the ultra-soft underwool of the Arctic musk ox, are available at the Oomingmak Musk Ox Co-op, one block from the hotel. The cooperative is owned by Native Alaskan women from remote coastal villages who hand-knit each item. Each village has a signature pattern. These warm yet feather-light garments are expensive, but they make extraordinary gifts.