Being in ANC... our options are rather limited...

Anywhere else in the lower 48 $ & Hawaii - Fly. I have never been on the ALCAN... and I really don't have an interest in doing it (well... maybe once might be fun... but air travel is so much more fun, faster & safer)

So there are several places where one can drive for fun and its ok in Alaska... for instance the Kenai Peninsula- 3-5 hour drive (depending on where you are going) - there are 2 airports with scheduled service... but its on a beechcraft or dash-8, (or a Cessna depending on airline)... and the time savings would be great (45-1:15 flight time) but then you need a vehicle, fishing gear, etc...

FAI is another option... and I've done the ANC-FAI drive several times and recently flew it... flying it is much faster! (Plus great views of Denali)

JNU, our Capitol is accessible by air or water... and so is ADQ... so we're really rather limited on where we can drive (that is a destination)...

So this mindset is engraved in my mind (I grew up in AK) so whenever I need to get there... I think 'fly' vs. 'drive'...

Another key point is weather (which can put the kabash on flying too) - I was at WSU for a while in Eastern Washington- PUW specifically. The Snoqualmie pass to SEA would shut down during various times of the year due to snowfall/avalanches/mudslides so it was very nice to fly over in an hour. Besides, its a very boring drive as most of it is over flat boring farmland. (don't have much of that in AK ) So that's another key point...

I have an upcoming trip to IND this summer... I booked the AS nonstop into ORD already, (upgraded of course ^) and am contemplating the ORD/MDW-IND segment (I have family near MDW I can visit for one end of the trip)... so I could drive... or take the train... or fly via DTW and get more miles & check out some cool lounges... hmmm... the price isn't bad at 140ish AI... now for me to confirm my dates!