If it's new to you (and especially if it's new to your European friend), I highly recommend the northern route. South Dakota has things like the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc. Wyoming has Devil's Tower, the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, and, of course, Yellowstone. If you have the time, Glacier Park in Montana is also beautiful.

If you manage to come through Boise on your way to BRC, we'd be happy to provide crash space!

-- Clown

Yeah, take that northern route. It's pretty neato out there, and for a first camp spot in Minnesota, I would recommend Forestville State Park in Spring Valley Minnesota. Incredible little 4000 acre old growth hardwood forest with a campground and a ghost town... It's a real gem of a park and 15 miles off the I 90 and you cannot hear the trucks...

I'm not sure where they think you're going to do fire performance in the midwest. Until you get to to Yellowstone everything looks like Nebraska. Trust me, its THE suck.

I'm taking the southern route out there, doing some rock climbing and performing in the southwest, then street performing up the coast of CA from LA up to SF/Sacramento until I arrive at burning man, then taking the northerly route back home through Yellowstone and all that. Basically a big loop around the continental US. :)

I'm definitely up for fire performing somewhere, caravaning, whatever. My plan is pretty much just go west to LA, up through CA to burning man, and back the most direct route through the midwest. I should have a week or two in California, and I need the same things you do, people and places to see. And hopefully the 411 on fire friendly pitches in northern CA.

The advantage of heading up through California, aside from the beach and awesome busking opportunities, is Yosemite :)

So even if we don't meet up, I need the same advice as you. People to meet up with and get the local info from in northern cali would be awesome.

If you have the time (which I don't) I would highly suggest finding a section of US Rt 89 you can take along your way.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_89

Most beautiful road I've ever driven. I wish I had more time out there or I'd do the whole thing.

NO!!!! NO fire shows on the way out. The West is BURNING in the BAD way. Geez, I don't want to sound mean, but I hear this every year from folks who live in the moister east who have no clue what fire season is out here.. No, no, no open flames.

abcnews.go.com/US/WireStory

www.nifc.gov/fire_info/nfn.htm

We got a little rain, so new fires have slowed a bit, but some states have banned smoking outdoors, it's that dry!!!!!!! Zion National Park is on fire in the back country. And on and on and on.

And if one single person flicks a ciggie butt out of their vehicle, well, that's grounds for mayhem.

If you have 2 weeks, research the routes and stay off the interstates. If you have a specific interest like history, hiking, birding etc you can make it a theme trip.
The northern midwest (Wisconsin, Minnesota) is a lot more interesting than Iowa, Illinois, kansas etc. and a little cooler. Check out the UP of Michigan, the shore of Lake Superior, Route 2 will take you all the way from Ontario to Seattle along the Canadian border through all the little towns. Or visit Madison, WI and take Rte 12 west to the badlands, passing by Pipestone Nat'l Monument and Laura I Wilder's house on the prairie. Out west, Glacier & Yellowstone are amazing but there are tons of other less visited parks in Montana, Idaho etc. Craters of the moon and the Modoc plateau are tops if you like lava.
On the approach to Burning Man you can swing through SE Oregon through the Modoc plateau via 395 and head in the back way via 447- though I have never taken this route.
Happy travels!

Other things to do up north...

Stay off the interstate so you don't rush and you get more scenery. There is so much more to be seen by paying attention to the details on the map.

Swim in as many Great Lakes as you can and see as much of the shoreline as you can manage.

See if you can get involved with the native cultures; arrange to volunteer at a rez, (un)firedance with the Lakota sundancers, witness a powwow, check out the sacred Pipestone Quarry in MN, Wounded Knee burial ground, medicine wheels, and other significant native landmarks.

Check out Big Top Chetaqua in WI when you go to the Apostle Islands.

Check out the mammoth bone quarry/museum (SD?).

Survive one of the thunderstorms on the praeries.

Feel like an ant as you zoom through the wind generator farms while driving fueled on ethanol blends.

So, Lauren and others, how was your trip? What route did you take, highlights, misadventures etc?