Go to the states without question. And while you are there or perhaps at another time complete you 300nm cross country, 100 hours PIC and also an IR which you can instantly convert to an IMC.
And having flown in LA, Las Vagus as well as florida I would say the first two are much more intersting to fly in and the weather is better.
I felt the most compitent at flying immediatly after I returned from the states largley because I had been flying 3 hours a day for the previus week. When I did flying in the UK I often felt I took a two steps forwards and then the weather would mean I didn't fly for a few days which resulted in me taking a step back.