Hello Mike. There are a number of threads on Alaska and I'd advise you to check on a lot of them.
I can think for 4 ways to get there, but the Alaska Hwy will figure in just about any way you go:
1. You can pick up the Alaska Hwy in Dawson Creek, BC, and take it to Alaska. It gives you some historical perspective. We live further east than you, so we go through Calgary and Edmonton to get to the Highway, or through Banff and Jasper, then north to the Highway.
2. Take the Ferry. You can pick it up in Washington and go north or pick it up Prince Rupert, BC, and take it to Haines or Skagway, then drive to the Alaska Hwy.
3. Make your way to the Yellowhead Hwy (crosses the middle of BC, east-west) and then take the Cassiar Hwy north to the Alaska Hwy.
4. Go north through Alberta into the Northwest Territories and then go west and south to the Alaska Hwy.
You could take a succession of Alaska ferries across the Gulf of Alaska and avoid the Alaska Hwy if you are allergic to it or want to do something hardly anyone does.
I started a thread about who is going to Alaska this year that has some information:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f290...ska-61581.html
Gene