Frommer's California's Best-Loved Driving Tours

Book excerpt: What better way could there be to discover California's abundance of attractions than by driving through the state? Frommer's California's Best-Loved Driving Tours is packed with twenty-five tours that reveal the heart of California's many diverse locales. Starting off with three tours in and near the Los Angeles area, you are encouraged to drive L.A.'s infamous freeways to get a taste of the place where locals spend a good percentage of their lives. Tour 2 takes you to the festive carnival that is Venice Beach, with stops to gawk at the bodybuilders on Muscle Beach, watch street performers, and farther on, explore the quiet canal area that Venice takes its name from. Another Los Angeles-area tour takes you on the ìRim of the World Highwayî which wanders through the woods of the San Bernadino mountains, revealing sweeping views of the land below. The authors have selected four tours of the Southwest area that are packed with history and natural beauty. In the old gold strike town of Julien, you are encouraged to stop for a pie made with apples from the local orchard. Moving to the West, three drives showcase the splendor of the deserts in this area. Cross the desolate and stunning Mojave desert before dropping into sweeping Death Valley, and then continuing up to the White Mountains to see the bristlecone pines, the world's oldest living trees. Up in Northern California, the authors have put together a breathtaking driving tour of Yosemite National Park, as well as a varied tour of the San Francisco Bay Area's most exciting sites. You'll enjoy all the top sights and then have the flexibility to enjoy the hidden pleasures of each destination. Our suggested routes include scenic detours and stops for spectacular views, easy walks, shopping, dining, and fun breaks for travelers with children. With dozens of driving tour options, detailed and color-coded maps, and exact, directions, distances and driving times, Frommer's California's Best-Loved Driving Tours is the only guide you'll need to see the best of California by car.