From the tone of your post, I assume the US is out. But if it isn't, and if you haven't already done so, I would DEFINITELY recommend renting a car and just driving around the whole US. The North American continent has some of the most spectacular places on earth ranging from the great lakes, to Yellowstone, to the higher planes and the beauties of Utah (Bryce canoyn, Zion, etc), to the Rockies, coast line and vineyards of Calfironia (Lake Tohoe, Gay area, etc), to the deserts of Arizona (Grand Canoyn, Sedona), the high deserts, etc. I don't know much about the South and New Orleans is a dump now so forget that part