Planning 2 trips: one through Europe, and a road trip from KY to CA

This summer after I graduate I am planning on doing an epic amount of travelling before my job begins in San Francisco in July. I am taking a trip to Europe with my boyfriend for 2 weeks and then driving over from my hometown Louisville, KY to San Francisco, CA, possibly with some friends. I would love some advice for planning these trips! I'm compiling notes of all the places I want to see and will be figuring out the logistics soon. We are both in our 20s and in good shape, we like walking, meeting new people, exploring new things without having set plans in mind, and don't mind roughing it. I have $1000 saved up for food during the Europe trip, so I don't mind going to some more expensive places as long as they have amazing food that you can only get in that location. So far here is what I'm working with:

EUROPE Fly to London, stay at Clink 261. I've been once before so I don't need to do all the touristy stuff, just maybe some of the free museums, Hyde Park, Camden market, and the like. I'd like to show my boyfriend a good time because I know he's going to love the city. What good night life stuff is there? What about food - what MUST we eat there (fish and chips? Indian?) and where is the best place to get it?

Train to Paris. Possibly stay at YellowStay apartments or St. Christopher Hostel. I would like to visit Versailles - I saw on their website that if you are a graphic design student (which was my boyfriend's major) or a fashion design student (my major) you can get in for free. How does one go about demonstrating one's major in an official way? I'd also like to see Monet's Gardens at Giverny. I've been to Paris, so I'm hoping we can skip the touristy stuff like the Louvre and maybe explore some areas around the city - any suggestions? What I recall about Paris food is that it's ALL amazing and you really can't go wrong. Is this true? What areas should I make sure to check out?

Train to Zurich. I know next to nothing about Zurich. I've never been there but I've heard it's GORGEOUS. I'd like to do some hiking and exploring, but I don't even know where to stay or what to do. The Chocolate Train looks pretty cool but aside from that, I have no idea. Tell me all you know about Zurich!!

Train to** Florence.** I would like to do some hiking around Cinque Terre but aside from that I don't really know. What's cool do to here? What must we eat and where must we eat it?

Train to Rome. Possibly stay at the Yellow Hostel. Would like to see Basilica di San Clemente and the Colosseum, and maybe Ponte Sant'Angelo at night. I have already done the Vatican, it was OK but I'm not sure worth a second trip. What else is a must-see or must-do or must-eat in Rome?

Also in general, what should I wear/bring? What kind of luggage is best? Am I likely to end up carrying everything with me at all times or is there a way to leave it somewhere and come back for it later?

ROAD TRIP Then I am going home and embarking on my road trip! I will be leaving from Louisville, KY and ending up in San Francisco, CA. I will be driving through Kansas City since that's where my boyfriend lives, but there's not much reason to stop aside from that so the interesting stuff doesn't really start until Colorado! I have friends in Ft. Collins and Durango, CO, and a friend in Many Farms, AZ and I'd like to see all of them. That said, [here is a tentative map](http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid= 214162587403715318693.0004bbbb67d452337e9df). It doesn't include a detour to Many Farms because I just found out about that today. I am considering each of the following locations:

Colorado

Garden of the Gods

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Pikes Peak , Colorado Springs

Colorado National Monument

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Mesa Verde National Park

Arizona

Many Farms (?)

Grand Canyon

Utah

Glen Canyon (Kind of out of the way if I go to Many Farms, so is this one worth a 3-hour detour? Or can I skip it?)

Lake Powell (?)

Monument Valley (Would be on the way to Glen Canyon from Many Farms, so it's a maybe)

Bryce Canyon (This one's also out of the way - worth it?)

Zion National Park - hike angel's landing!

Nevada Avoid Las Vegas at all cost and just try to get to Death Valley

California

Death Valley

Lake Mono

Sequoia & Kings Canyon - Possibly on the way to Yosemite?

Mammoth Lakes -Devil's Postpole

Yosemite

And then from Yosemite just cut over to SF!

Also I will be able to bring some camping equipment with me and a cooler, so I should be able to just camp out in the parks I pass through- right? Thoughts? Advice? Routes to take? Roads to avoid? It'll be in late June at this point so will there be weather problems? Will some places be too hot to safely enjoy? I don't know yet who I'm travelling with - could be with friends, could be with family, could be alone. But personally I'm very willing to hike and explore as much as possible. I'll also be helping to pay for the gas with mystery shopping along the way (I fucking love Mystery Shopping) so that will help offset my gas costs.

I know this is a lot of information, hopefully it helps! Thanks for reading and for any advice or tips you can give me!