Road trip ideas? i have an interesting question and need some help.?

My best friend is taking me on a road trip for my birthday this may to Tahoe. I'm terminally ill and this may be it for me. We will be leaving from southern Alabama, so there are plenty of routes to take... I wanna take a trip that i can think back on and remember a really good time. Like those ones you see people take in the movies with nifty stuff to do along the way, Anything would be appreciated. We don't have a lot of money so it wont be a big hoo rah. We are between 23 and 25 and a museum isn't something we are interested in. however road trip music suggestions, cool diners, places to camp, lakes to jump in, you get the idea, Thanks.