My best advice is to get a copy of The Milepost. It is a mile by mile "directory" of the Alcan Highway and the highways in Alaska. It's full of maps, history, anecdotes, and advertisements, of course. But you can browse the roads you plan to take, find out if there is anything of interest to you on the route and plan accordingly. I live just outside of Talkeetna which will be on your route south from Fairbanks, and of course, I think it's worth the extra time it would take to drive the 14 miles in from the main hwy. But you and your friends may look at the info and decide it's not for you. That's the best thing about The Milepost!
I think you are doing your Alaska vacation the right way. You can tailor your trip to what you want to do and not be part of the "herd" on the bus tours. I will suggest if you have time, you might want to take the Hurricane trip out of Talkeetna that the Alaska Railroad offers. It'll take you back north but the views from the RR is so much different than the hwy, it'll blow your mind! It's a 5 hour round trip that takes you to Hurricane Gulch. After living in Alaska for 45 years and Talkeetna for a total of 21, I finally got to take this trip last summer. I loved it!
Also, one of our local gift shops has a selection of fabric with an Alaska theme. I think it's pricey, but I had to buy a couple of yards myself to give a project that perfect touch. They also participated in the Row by Row this year for the first time.
Feel free to PM me if you have questions.
http://www.themilepost.com/