Jacqui, I worked a couple of years in Arizona at the other end of the state, as a National Park Ranger in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. That park is a "winter park" and doesn't get much traffic in summer. Grand Canyon is very high elevation so it is cooler than the rst of the state, but it gets much of it's traffic in the summer simply because that is when Americans take vacations and the most foreigners visit. So it's a long (crowded) hot drive to get there to look over the rim, north or south (South Rim is most popular).

Instead of that, I would suggest you find out if there is a flight that tours over the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, and see it that way. You'll see more of it, you'll be more comfortable, and when you consider the time, gas, lodging, and all of that, the flight is probably a reasonable alternative. I just googled it and see $125 air tours from Vegas to Grand Canyon. Take your time now and research these folks - get the names of a few companies and then look them up through the Better Business Bureau: http://southernnevada.bbb.org/checkbusinesscharity.asp. It's worth your time to find out who gets a good rating - don't just go with the lowest price.

The entire trip will be better if you do a few things well versus a bunch of things quickly. I think the visit and singing in San Diego with Amos sounds great - every time a Mudcatter visits him down there they rave about the visit. I think the folks you're planning to see in Oakland or San Francisco sound great - again, they're locals, they'll show you the things they know are the best ones and avoid the tourist traps. I'd think twice about going to Tijuana - I've been there, but in better times. Again, ask Amos (go with Amos!).

Hoover Dam is interesting, a short day trip out from Vegas, and if you want to drive into Arizona a little way along there, you can see some of the Sonoran Desert landscape. But with the time you have, I'd spend time visiting sites en route. Joshua Tree is an amazing place, and though you'd have to detour a bit, take I-10 to see it then take some state highways up to I-40 and over to Hwy 95 north (probably better than driving through the Mojave National Preserve - a lovely area, but few amenities - ask Amos) you'd definitely get a good long look at the American desert southwest. I worked at Hoover Dam very briefly, it doesn't take long to see it but it does, as they say, blow your hair back. :)

Have fun, and I'm sorry you're not coming through Texas!

SRS