Inevitably, all visitors to Los Angeles discover that the automobile defines the L.A. experience.

Unlike in New York or London, for instance, where complex networks of subways and buses provide access to nearly all points of interest throughout the city, in Los Angeles one must rely on one’s own navigation and driving skills to get from point to point. Thus, more often than not, visitors to Los Angeles spend much of their time in the city’s often-frustrating vast freeway system, away from the ground and the most endearing aspects of the place.

Cruising LA, a driver’s companion guidebook to Los Angeles, replaces the frustration that is unique to touring L.A. with an expertly guided five-day driving route that exposes one to the most scenic neighborhoods Los Angeles has to offer, revealing the culture, architecture, and stunning landscape features that comprise the draw that brings so many visitors to L.A. to begin with.