Help with suggestions on where to go as part of USA / CAN trip...

[Current Itinerary] (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1reEHG5g9VXIljK4ilDbOXqWrzAybSgYspnwJrMhfRFo/edit?usp=sharing)

Who: Me and my girlfriend

Budget: $5000-$6000 CAD

Transport: We both don't drive so we have to use Greyhound and Amtrak to get around.

Length: As you can see from my itinerary so far we've got about a month into the trip and will be in Denver but after that we're a bit stuck/uncertain but we will stay as long as necessary to see as much as we can.

Where: This is where we would like your input, we both 100% want to see New Orleans and Memphis but the journey via greyhound from Denver is 24 hours+ and we both don't want to be sat on a bus for that length of time in a single journey if we can help it. We are thinking maybe stopping in Dallas after Denver and then somewhere around the Cherokee forest after Memphis as long as it's on a greyhound or amtrak route.

Interests: Whilst we are using big cities as our hubs we are both geography and wildlife lovers. We are carrying a tent and our sleeping bags so obviously not adverse to camping but we'd like to try some great food, go on long walks whether that's in a forest or a beach. Also feel free to critique our itinerary as it is if you think there is something we've missed. We're doing things like a Grand Canyon Tour from Vegas and Whale watching in Vancouver I just haven't included these excursions on this sheet.

Thanks in advance for all your help guys.