When you mentioned your itinerary, I realized we were going to overlap in Mammoth. I'm not sure why I feel that's funny, but I do. Bryce is the best of the best, canyon-wise. Even Zion is more spectacle and magnificence than sheer, overawing beauty. As for Pismo Beach, all I can say is your tour guides are nuts. With some 20 world-class beaches to choose from, they go for Pismo? It's one of the "reserves" for dune buggy racing idiots, and there's a huge power plant not far away. However, I've always avoided the place, so maybe there are good bits I don't know about. I'll be curious to hear your take on it. Wave to me as you go past Ventura (along the coast, just north of LA). ;)