Staying in one easy 70°F place did not satisfy the project goal. From the meteorologist behind it (emphasis mine): "Imagine that you really like days where the high temperature is 70°F AND YOU WANTED TO PLAN A ROAD TRIP where the temperature always hovers around 70°F"

A 13,000 mile road trip is probably always unnecessary. Yet awesome! :-)

I think it's impressive he fit the Alaskan diversion into the problem constraints. (Also, I love road trips to Alaska.)