Dear PompeyAMS:
While you are working, let us schedule your trip.
My recommendation:
Fly to San Francisco, California.
Rent a car and drive Hwy 1 South through Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, to the Monterey Peninsula.
Continue South on Hwy 1 through Montery, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Cambria, San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara.
Continue South on 101 changing to Hwy 1 in your first opportunity, through Zuma Beach, Malibu, santa Monica, Venice, stay in West Los Angeles. Return your car at the LAX Airport.
Take a short flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rent a car and drive north to Santa Fe and Taos Do not forget to take the long route and visit the villages around Santa Fe and between Santa Fe and Taos.
Return the car at the Albuquerque Airport and fly back to England having seen some of the most beautiful places on Earth.
This would have been my trip of choice.
:)