I'm beginning to plan a road trip from eastern Washington state to Maine, down to Pennsylvania, on to North Carolina and then back to eastern Washington for my 70th birthday. I can take as much time as I need (within reason), 3 to 5 weeks being easily available.
I'll be travelling in a car that will NOT be very happy in snow or ice (modernized 1968 Camaro).
To get to Maine, I'm torn between (i) heading east through lower Canada (I've never been in that part of Canada), (ii) skimming along the northern border of the US, or (iii) trying to hit some of the great parks in Wyoming and the Dakotas. I'd love to avoid major metropolitan areas (Chicago), but won't let that deter me from an otherwise great route.
My big issue is the route from west to east. I realize that I'll need to cross the Great Plains no matter how far north or south I go, but are there interesting portions of the Great Plains? Once I'm in North Carolina, I'm guessing the fastest route home will be the most appealing.
I'm not particularly concerned about budget or mileage, roads with curves are more desirable than interstates, but I want to maximize the quality of the scenery out the car windows.
Any suggestions?