With all the advice we received and our own research, our trip is
almost completely sorted. Right now it looks like this:
LHR-LAX, Hollywood, LAX-SFO as originally booked.
Sunday and Monday (memorial weekend) in SF, then hire a car and drive to Big Sur, staying for 2 nights in
Ripplewood Resort cabins.
Back up to SF for another couple of days.
Fly SFO-PSP late on a Saturday night (arriving just before midnight). Make our own way to LAX from there.
We have nothing booked in Palm Springs yet - I guess we'll likely do a tour of Joshua Tree, then drive back to LA either on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Catch a bit of time in Santa Monica/Venice Beach before the 4.30pm flight back to LHR.
Thanks to everyone who helped. We are looking forward to this trip in a very big way