I STRONGLY recommend that you visit Los Angeles, and travel up the coast to San Francisco (or even start at San Diego). I have just got back from a month in California, mostly around Hollywood area, and it's very beautiful. We did a road trip to Vegas for the weekend, fantastic, and so cheap. Car hire out there is a fraction of what it costs here, as tax is only 8.5% in CA so not a great deal, plus full tank included, and fuel is so dirt cheap, keep you going for ages. The Californian coastline is beautiful, absolutlely breathtaking views. Fly on Virgin Atlantic(cheap flights going now...), get a car through Budget (we hired ours for 1 weekend, Fri 5pm - Sun 5pm,) or a lot of companies do packages with car hire, just go ask the travel agent. Staying in Hostels proves very inexpensive, and they're bloody good fun too, full of similar people, as well as entertaining characters. Word of warning, unless you are a very skilled driver, I wouldn't hire a car - roads can be lethal, no bloody roundabouts for a starters! And seems to be no rules about pedestrians etc, so read up beforehand! Plus the whole driving on the right, gears on the right, seats and pedals back to front etc etc....very confusing personally! There were a group of us, people we met in the hostel in Hollywood, one Argentinian guy who drove, so was pretty funky! Can't remember the exact price, but know I payed $25 for entire car hire for weekend, but we did have a HUGE A/C'd car and stuff, there were 6 of us, in a 7 seater - trick is to try and barter the price down, all Americans seem to do that, quite bizarre! Have a nice day! ;o)