Suggestions on how to spend a few days?

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Hello everyone!

I am new to this forum and I hope I can get some good suggestions from you.
I live in Europe and have visited the US many times - I am an amateur photographer and love seeing new things.
After a business trip to San Diego in mid October, I want to make some time (2-3 days) before leaving for Europe from Atlanta.
I was thinking to make my way east from San Diego by plane and get a car rental somewhere in between either for a round trip or a one-way trip, before ending up in Atlanta.
Since I know a little already about the area west of Phoenix/Toucon and east of New Orleans, I thought of exploring "the bit in the middle".


- for exceptional ideas I might extend the time
- I would also consider any other flight/drive combination
- I have some Delta airmiles left and can cover whatever I don't drive
- I could even do somthing really crazy like flying to Hawaii or Alaska and do a road trip there (only my start and finish points are fixed)

I would appreciate suggestions from you all.