re San Diego - don 't do it as a day trip - it is a really fun town, great for kids - zoo and sea world not to be missed and the beaches are wonderful as is the Scripps aquarium. I'd way rather go to San diego then LA

again, have a great time, hope to visit your lovely land down under some day

Since your original question asked about favorite places in the U.S., I have to answer Yellowstone!

Folks, the OP has not been back in days!

If you are going to Yellowstone and the Dakotas put in the battle of Little Bighorn site - we went there with kids and it was very moving, educational. Favorite places - stick with the national parks - they will be lovely in either spring or fall. Skip Vegas - if you go to New Orleans do the plantation tour and definitely a mississippi river boat cruise - make sure to visit some civil war sites. have fun

Laurasmgarden: the OP has apparently given up on fodors - or didn't like the responses. Hasn't been back in 6+ weeks.

Well, if she does come back, I'd advise her not to attempt to see the West Coast and the Mississippi during the same eight weeks.

But if she does want advice on the 'Great River Road', she can post and I'll respond as I've done that before.