Ideas for a fun vacation in California.?

My best friend and I are wanting to go on a short vacation this summer. At first, we were thinking about going on a cruise, but we have not heard very many good things about them. Instead, we decided that we'll go see he ocean and stay at a fairly nice hotel for a few days. We are wanting to do girlie things while we are there, get manicures, facials, mages, shop, etc. I am really into photography, museums and architecture, she is kind of indifferent to most things. I like small restaurants with character and doing things that seem less touristy. My Favorite part of my last vacation was visiting a cactus farm in Yucca Valley, kinda lame, but I'm into strange things like that. We will be driving from Oklahoma and stopping for a few hours in Williams, Arizona. We are both in our early twenties; old enough to drink. We are just wanting to have a good time and enjoy ourselves in a nice hotel and take some good pictures. ANY suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated. I have heard some bad things about San Diego and really don't know of any good beaches or things to do in Cali. Oh, and I'm not really too interested in going to Sea Word or anything like that. THANK YOU.