Ranchwifetold you about places to go along the coast of California and she isright on! But there are also awsome National Parks, likeSequoia, Redwoods, Death Valley (NOT in summer unless you plan todrive through in your air conditioned car (it was over 100 degrees at10:00 last time we went through in the summer), Yosemite (and nearbyHetch Hetchy... the "other" part of Yosemite).
Also,Utah is filled with incredible canyons and it is usually comfortableenough in the summer (look up Utah Parks on the internet) and nearbyArizona has wonderful sights, including Grand Canyon, old towns thatnever died, painted desert, ancient Indian places (avoid Phoenix,unless you are golf fanatics or like to bicyle (they have great pavedtrails), Tombstone, and the chance to dip into Mexico for shopping(great place to get small unique presents for Christmas). Next doorto the east is New Mexico which has wonderful towns (Albuquerkee(spell!), Santa Fe, artsy towns, fun places to explore, wonderfulmuseums).
Thereis also the area just below South Dakota in the NE Wyoming area wherethere is Devil's tower, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments (thewhole area caters to travelers with cowboy stuff, including horsebackriding, wild animal zoo you can drive through, (pens with baby bearsbeing given a chance to grow up), campgrounds with swimming, etc.).
Yellowstoneis just west and is worth several days.
Alaskais incredible, beautiful and interesting at several levels. You haveto make reservations to stay at the train motel or a hostel, or stayin your rig if you rent one.
DHand I go on Roads Scholar programs (NOT Rhoads! but the formerElderhostel group) and they take care of everything for you. Thepeople that go on these trips tend to be really people with a widevariety of experiences. Even their sea voyages are great. They arenot a bar group (which we have been told are really fun on cruiseships, which is one reason we haven't gone on one) but people who areinterested in other cultures and seeing new areas more thanpurchasing things (but still a wonderful way to pick up the necessarypresents for holidays).]
Hopesome of this helps! Have fun!