I agree with a earlier poster, much nicer ride to go up to the UP through Canada. Go up the Bruce peninsula, take the ferry across and come back into the states through Sault Ste. Marie. Great adventure.
Have cash handy. Depending on where you cross, there is typically a toll on the busier crossings. I can't remember if SSM had one but I know the crossing at Niagara did.
I’m considering a trip from Southern Cal to Alaska. All of the states I will ride through I have a CCW, and I’d like to have a handgun in Alaska. What do I have to do, UPS on there?
You can take the ferry from Bellingham WA to Valdez, AK. It's like a cruise ship with a viewing deck and restaurant, you can camp on deck or get a stateroom. It's 3 days and stops in Ketchikan, and Juneau. You'll have more time to ride in Alaska (rather than spending 4 days riding up to Yukon Territory and across) and you can take all the firearms you can pack on the bike.