"What is a decent route that bypasses New York as I do not want to go in to the big cities? ..... I don't mind going out of my way"
Head north from Florida to Georgia. At Georgia head West. Pass through Alabama and Mississippi and turn North somewhere when you hit Texas. Keep going North till you come somewhere in North Dakota and then turn back East again. Take the Northern Route through Minnesota and take the Northern Route around the Great Lakes in Canada. Keep heading East through Canada, and somewhere North of Montreal keep heading East and enter Maine. You will miss New York and New York City completely this way, and every other major city in North America! Sounds like a fun trip! Wish I could come with you! :B