I didn't spend too much time in San Francisco, so I can't really help there, I would agree with the Monterrey peninsula though. Its very nice. Monterrey also has a nice aquarium if you're interested in anything like that. I would feel bad about myself if I didn't recommend you try to get over to Yosemite. I've been lucky enough to see some amazing places around the world and Yosemite is right up there with the best. Cod'ead knows his stuff, the northwest is great. I know dozens of people who say Seattle is one of the nicest cities. Im not much of a city lover and even I liked it there. Oregon is nice too, my girlfriend went to college there a few years ago, she's from Colorado, which is beautiful and she left to go to Oregon, because of the scenery, so it must be outstanding. Anywhere around mt hood would be pretty cool. The trees up there are worth the trip alone. Honestly mate your spoilt for choice, I'd recommend you have a few places you definitely want to see and then get a car and enjoy exploring the places in between too.

I foolishly went out wearing a shorts and t-shirt (cocky English person abroad attitude), walked around Fishermans Wharf in the sunshine etc, 30 minutes later its absolutely bucketing down, so we had to go into Jack's for a pint. After 2 beers, we went out to catch the cable car (still raining), the queue was absolutely massive, people stood there absolutely drowning. So we went back to Jack's, later flagged down a taxi, which was much faster, must cheaper and far more comfortable.

The area at the end of Pier 39 where the sealions hang out did stink a few years ago but most of them have disappeared now. There were probably no more than 10 there in November.

Laguna is a real gem - one of the nicest places in the country.

The sea lions are only there in numbers at certain times of the year - there's never many there when I visit in July but when I visited in April one year there were loads of them. And yes - it does honk a bit when all the platforms are full.