Hi Vicki
Since you loved the Grand Canyon my first suggestion is Yosemite. www.yosemitepark.com Yosemite is about 300 miles north of L.A. and trust me it is spectacular. Half Dome, El Capitan, the waterfalls even with the lighter water flow during the winter months, and the giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove are just all so beautiful. A great wintertime bonus- rock scrambling at the base of one of the waterfalls. I don't know if you ski but Yosemite Park during the winter months usually has enough snow for downhill and cross-country skiing, 85% of the runs are designed for beginning and intermediate skiers. However if you need additional info I'll have to check around, as my ski knowledge is limited to sitting by the fire and waving as the skiers go traipsing off. BTW there is lodging in the park, but we always stay outside Yosemite where they have supermarkets.

San Francisco/Napa Valley. San Francisco is a great city and has a completely different feel from L.A. and trust me, you can have a very enjoyable time visiting the Napa Valley wine country. You might drop a line to Carl, the San Francisco corr., I'm sure he'll have a lot of ideas on things to do in the bay area.

Driving L.A./San Francisco. Consider taking hwy1 one way. It's a longer drive than I-5 but well worth it. On the way consider stopping off in Morro Bay and doing some siteseeing. And definitely stop off at Hearst's Castle. www.hearstcastle.com If you are not familiar with the name William Randolph Hearst, you might be familiar with the movie 'Citizen Kane', many believe Kane and his castle Xanadu are based on Hearst and his castle in San Simeon. Definately stop and take one of the tours. I recommend tour 1. Now usually we stay in Morro Bay, but a friend has recommended a place in Cambria (better view and an airline rate) which we hope to visit over the holidays, so I'll get back to you with a hotel recommendation.

In L.A. in addition to Disneyland and Universal you might add the Getty Museum www.getty.edu and a visit to a game show <a href="http://tvtix.com" target="_blank">http://tvtix.com</A> Who knows, you might answer the bonus question and win a trip to Australia.
Have fun and if I can be of any more help let me know.

Keep'em flying