Alaska is a dream for those who enjoy the road

There are a few essentials for a successful road trip -- at least one Eagles CD, a lot of beef jerky and a love of wide-open spaces. Alaska has plenty of breathtaking views that are just as impressive at 70 mph, making it a road-tripper's dream.

From the Valley, road trippers are six hours away from just about anything -- from Homer to Fairbanks, with nearly everything in between, from 20,000-foot Denali to the Pacific Ocean.

"We put on a lot of miles every summer," said Greg Faulk, a Wasilla resident. "I retired a couple years ago and we bought an RV last summer. I think next year we're going to drive the Alcan, but for the last two summers, we've gone from Seward to Fox. We really enjoy visiting new towns all summer, and the drive isn't that bad. You get to see a lot of things."

No matter where you drive in Alaska, chances are you'll spend some time behind an RV. Many of them sport Alaska license plates. While the state attracts plenty of visitors, Alaskans themselves are well-versed on road trips, out of necessity.

"Sometimes you are three hours from the closest town," said Theresa Harise, who now lives in Palmer but lived in Fairbanks for six years. "I can't tell you how many times we drove the Parks (Highway). You get good at finding ways to pass the time."

Harise said music is essential for making the long drives in Alaska seem a bit shorter.

"I had an old 1984 Subaru that only had an AM/FM radio in it, and after one trip from Fairbanks to Anchorage, I went out and bought a CD player because there ain't much on the radio coming through Cantwell," Harise said. "It drives you nuts."

Another essential is food, said Marcus Grant, a Wasilla resident.

"My brother and I usually go down to the Kenai (River) a couple times a summer. You get the munchies on the road. Potato chips, candy bars, beef jerky -- that's the kind of food you can munch on the whole way," Grant said. "Eating out of a 7-11 store isn't healthy, but you can't beat it on road trips."

On road trips within Alaska, getting there can be half the fun -- and the most scenic.

From the Valley to Fairbanks, motorists are treated to breathtaking vistas of the Alaska range, Denali National Park and rivers that criss-cross the highway. Head the other way, from Palmer to Glennallen, and you'll get some of the best views in all of Alaska. To the south, the Kenai Peninsula is just as picturesque.

"We've been on the road so many times, but we always stop and take pictures. I never get tired of seeing those views," Harise said. "It doesn't matter how many times you've driven it, it's always beautiful."

Faulk agreed. He said out of all the time he and his wife have spent on the road, he never gets tired behind the wheel because he is in awe of the surroundings.

"I don't know if I have a favorite drive, but the Seward Highway is amazing, and the Parks Highway from Talkeetna to Nenana is pretty spectacular," Faulk said.

Grant said that while the scenery is wonderful, the destination is the important thing for him.

"Every minute on the road is a minute I can't spend fishing," Grant said. "I like to get there as fast as I can so I can be fishing. I'd rather be fishing than driving."