Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America forum.

I like your idea of getting out and setting yourself the challenge of finding a new dimension to your art in a limited time frame. Yes, California has some great scenic treasures and you can hit most of them in the span of two weeks. What you won't be able to do is see all of them in all lights in all seasons. So you will have to do the best you can while your in any one spot. But as to an itinerary. You can fly into either San Francisco or Los Angeles, or any of a number of satellite airports like Oakland or Ontario that might be cheaper or less congested. The basic idea, then would be to make a loop of San Francisco, Marin county, Redwoods National Park, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, Mojave Desert, Los Angeles, Big Sur, Monterey, and back to San Francisco. Clearly, you can start/end this loop anywhere. Have a look at what that looks like on a map and how those locations stack up against what you want to do. Then if you need more specific advice on routing or sites, or if you just need tips on travelling alone, let us know.

AZBuck