Hotspots of North America

So the first part of my route takes me from one side of North America to the other, and along the way I will inevitably see and experience many fantastic places. Some of these will come as a pleasant surprise (mainly due to my ignorance of many parts of the continent) but there are others I'm definitely already excited about. I thought I'd share a few of these with you quickly. (My choices are probably also a little biased as I think they're mainly based around the route I know I'll be taking!)

New York City - How could I not be psyched? For me, it's currently the home of film. I can't wait.
Niagara Falls - Pure, awesome power of nature at work
Great Lakes Region - Looks stunning, and I can't even comprehend lakes that size
Mount Rushmore - One of those things I think you gotta see to believe
Yosemite Valley - Apparently surrounded by mile high, near vertical cliffs, sounds pretty dramatic
Yellowstone National Park - Quintessential U.S. National Park experience
Seattle, esp Pike Place Market - Seattle really appeals to me from what I've read, and theres some great music
Pacific Coast all the way to LA! - Need I say more?
Portland - A cyclist's paradise
Whistler - All set up for Winter Olympics, appeals to me greatly, as does the rest of the area of Canada to be honest!

Thats a quick tour of my highlights that come to mind right now, there are of course many more. What are yours? Anywhere you recommend me to visit?