How to Plan a route?

[nickdcook]

I have read the websites basics and have asked where the search tab is (doesn't seem to be a forums search tab i guess).

So whats the best way to plan a route these days? (will use my Canada to Argentina as an example)
I'm guessing that first you take each country and you break it down by what you want to see and do, lets say mexico. Then once you have plotted those destinations onto a map (hopefully there is a plan my route website that you can combine with google maps/ earth) you go about connecting the destinations with routes. Anyone can drive a highway but those other roads, just keep asking and reading? zoom in on google earth and plan it that way (this seems like one of the better ways but it also seems a bit like cheating, seeing everything before you actually go there)
Finally punch all the route data into a GPS and/or country maps.

I know TONS of people have done the trip i plan to do (a few years down the road) but most people dont seem to have maps, they are just saying names of roads and such a little hard to vision that.
Really disapointed there is no search tab or i cant find it because i want to see what routes others took from mexico south.