So not riding, not scenery, not high culture, not history? “Ordinary” people? “Ordinary” sights and landscape?

I don’t really know how to answer that. You must have SOME specific interests, otherwise almost anyplace is as good as anyplace else, as long as the locals are friendly—for which I’d just try to stay where the sun is out, steer clear of high tourist seasons, and these days never ever talk politics.

But if I was answering on my own behalf—as a searcher for what is extra-ordinary, not mundanities— I’d say Yellowstone and Yosemite are unique (or very nearly so), as are the Canadian Rockies parks/Icefield Highway, along with the Coast Redwoods and Four Corners region. Alaska, too, of course, although much of it really requires getting off your bike—Denali as far west as the buses will take you, Kennicott, parts of the Kenai, the mining roads past the Stuart/Hyder and the Salmon Glacier the Haul Road. On the latter, for example, stop just past Atigun Pass, ford the river and head up the obvious valley until you run out of steam. Bears, caribou, dall sheep, moose, bears, fields full of shed antlers, eternal daylight in high summer plus fantastic fall colors for a brief moment or two before it starts snowing. Although it might do that in August, so pay attention.

Note that for the above I’d make a point of early or late season in every case except Alaska/Yukon/NW Territories/Northern BC—and that’s only because you’d probably prefer to miss any significant winter weather.

Hope that’s helpful, and hope your planning serves you well!

Mark