BROWSE PRODUCTS:
AA Best Drives California - Greater Los Angeles & The Southwest 
PRODUCT FEATURES AT A GLANCE:
› Language: English
› File size (approx):
10mb
› Download includes PDF map for each route with suggested pit-stops
› See pictures and onscreen descriptions of key points along the route
› Compatibility: nuvi 700 series, Zumo series check guide
› Different Garmin? We have travel guides for every Garmin model. See product list on left.
About AA Best Drives California - Greater Los Angeles & The Southwest
Download these recommended AA Best Drives to your Garmin! Simply press GO! and you’ll be navigated from your door to the start of the AA Route and right round the route until the end without needing to touch your Garmin again.
Los Angeles 121 miles
Los Angeles is overwhelming. This tour can take a long day, as a broad introduction to the city’s attractions, or several days, visiting sites en route. Covering LA County’s valleys and beaches, it involves a considerable amount of freeway driving: an important part of LA lifestyle. Drive the freeways of this great city to visit the most interesting sites, from the glamor of Hollywood to the splendor of the Queen Mary at Long Beach. The freeways are as much part of Los Angeles as the sites. Without them the place would come to a standstill; at rush hour it often does come to a standstill, even with them! Locals spend a good percentage of their lives on these urban arteries so to get a feel for the real Los Angeles, join them on their home ground and include several of the most interesting attractions for good measure. Visit the city’s best beaches along the Pacific, from Hermosa to Santa Monica, and on the way stop at some of its great museums, art galleries and stores.
The Inland Empire 168 miles
The Inland Empire is rarely taken seriously as a visitor destination. Its grandiose name certainly does not reflect the urban sprawl and smog that plagues this commuter outpost of Los Angeles. Compared with most of California, this is certainly a low priority destination. But where else is it possible to drive from the beaches of Los Angeles and, within a couple of hours, be skiing in high mountains in clear air above the smog level? The tour includes several places of considerable interest in the cities of the Inland Empire, and takes in the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, which rise up to 11,499 feet (3,505m). The Inland Empire is a dormitory extension of the sprawling mass of Los Angeles. Every morning traffic fills the freeways as commuters head into the business districts, but they are leaving behind some of the most unexpected landscape in Greater Los Angeles. Drive along Route 66 through the orange groves and Victorian mansions of Redlands to the alpine lakes of Big Bear and Arrowhead. During the winter this is an important winter sports area, attracting thousands of Los Angeles ski fanatics on weekends and, in the summer, the lakes provide all kinds of water activities, from fishing to waterskiing. One of the more attractive aspects of the area comes from its high elevation. Even when smog is descending on downtown Los Angeles, clean, fresh air can be found only a few miles’ drive away in these delightful mountains.
Orange County Beaches 51 miles
This tour is an introduction to authentic southern California beach life, taking in bird sanctuaries and wildlife reserves, the hottest surfing spots, harbor cruises, theatrical entertainment and art festivals – with the added option of simply spending a day at the beach. For those who love the ocean, this is an ideal trip. This tour offers a wide range of southern California’s attractions, from the fascinating wildlife, protected in reserves along the stunning coast, to the historic mission district and old wooden homes of San Juan Capistrano, and taking in the very modern amusements of the beach resorts. These include Newport Beach, with its fishing boats and glorious sands, the shoppers’ paradise of Fashion Island and the sublime Laguna Beach, where watersports, art galleries and hotels manage not to disturb the local dolphins and whales.
San Diego 52 miles
San Diego is one of America’s most pleasant cities. The climate is idyllic, never too warm and never too cold, and although the city now has sprawling residential areas, the sites that are of most interest to visitors are in a fairly compact and accessible area. The problems of urban blight and inner-city social conflicts that affect other U.S. cities are mercifully absent. San Diego can offer everything from world-class sailing to museums and the world’s largest zoo. All the city’s attractions can be sampled in a day, but most deserve much more time than this itinerary will allow. One of the beauties of the City of San Diego is that most of the interesting attractions are in a relatively compact area, and the driving time between them is minimal. The tour starts in Balboa Park, where there is one of the most interesting concentrations of museums in the nation. Also here is the worldfamous San Diego Zoo, the finest of its kind. The route continues to the cradle of San Diego, the Mission de San Diego Alcala and on to experience the early Mexican days at Old Town San Diego. Next is the delightful, chic coastal town of La Jolla, returning past Sea World and the Cabrillo National Monument. A short ride back into town past the Maritime Museum and Seaport Village ends in the Gaslamp Quarter and the adjoining Horton Plaza complex, where it is easy to find a wide choice of places to unwind after a day’s sightseeing.
San Diego County 145 miles
San Diego County is surprisingly mountainous, and the fresh mountain air provides relief from the surrounding hot deserts. Here is one of the state’s most beautiful wilderness parks, the most southern wineries, a safari park and even a world famous astronomical telescope. This is a far cry from the fast life of Los Angeles, or even San Diego. Head inland from San Diego toward Anza-Borrego and take the Sunrise National Scenic Highway through Mount Laguna and Cuyamaca State Park to the old gold town of Julian, now famous for its apple pies. It is only 60 miles (96km) inland from San Diego, but it is like stepping back in time. Travel north past Mission Santa Ysabel to Palomar Mountain State Park and climb steep, winding roads to the worldfamous Mount Palomar Observatory. Continue to the Mission San Antonio de Pala and Mission San Luis Rey de Francia before returning to the coast and the quaint town of Carlsbad. A short drive inland takes you to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, near Escondido, which is the last stop before returning south to San Diego.
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Sam, Manchester
“I've used the programme a few times now on my travels and it does add a good deal of value
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John, UK
“The Audio commentary on the Garmin was well narrated and definitely had the feel of the audio
guides you get when you are walking around the landmarks themselves”.
Linda, New Jersey
“Finding atmospheric pubs with good food is always a challenge when you don't know the area and
can be stressful when you're hungry and tired!!”
David, Essex
“Road Tour has found us some great pubs which have made our journeys all the more enjoyable. Every place
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Nikki, Cambridgeshire'
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