Wow, great attention to this thread, you'd get away with charging a fortune for this level of personal service! I feel sure that, whatever changes we decide on, Death Valley is non-negotiable from at least two of the others in our party (I'd be disappointed to miss out too!) so I know that will 100% stay. I am aware that I listed some possible destinations there but I am also very much aware of the temperature there so I fully expect to visit one or two and spend the remainder of the time there enjoying the pool... or, more likely, hiding out in the airconditioned cabin relaxing :)

I have never been over Sonora Pass so, if there are any issues with the PCH again next year, or indeed if we decide to skip the PCH, that looks like a good option (particularly as the kids really loved a place where we spent a couple of nights last year just south of Bridgeport...