First trip to the US

Here's a couple more suggestions for you, one for San Francisco and one for the Los Angeles area:

San Francisco area:
* Muir Woods National Monument
(Muir Woods National Monument (U.S. National Park Service))

Los Angeles area:
* Much better, in my opinion, than the current displays at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Go see the Nethercutt Collection
(The Nethercutt Collection) in Sylmar. The Nethercutt is open Tuesday - Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday). You will need reservations to tour "The Collection" so check your schedule and make reservations ahead of time on their website. The vehicles in "The Collection" building are priceless and the rest of items are also truly remarkable.

I truly enjoyed the previous displays at the Peterson Automotive Museum, but the current displays are too "sterile" for my taste - just my opinion.

Great! Thank you!