Hi Grinkle if your going to head into cali i would say a stop @ Redwoods is a must a stop/ Lake Tahoe would be a must stop/
Yosemite National Park a must stop/ I would skip death valley
and head into Vegas and plan your stop to Grand Canyon from there and don't miss the Hoover Dam.
If you decide not to start out that way and head east twords
colorodo then make sure to go thru Yellowstone in Wyoming and then head south from there to Texas.
Good Luck!! sounds like your about to take a Adventure of a Lifetime don't forget to take many pictures!! Have a Blast!!