Photo Essay: Road Tripping the Golden State

Flying into LA, with it's flat, brown soup of smog, gridlocked freeways and endless concrete, most visitors' first view of California isn't necessarily very inviting. But once you're on the ground, equipped with the all-important car and out of the cesspit that is LAX, things suddenly seem a lot more sunny: LA is a fascinating place to visit - and better still, you have just arrived at what is quite possibly one of the best road trip destinations in the world.

Why so great? Well, there are the cultural and scenic highlights, the local flavor and, above all, the driving.

So let's start with the highlights. The greater Los Angeles area sports a dizzying number of destinations, all worthy in their own right. There is beach life in Santa Monica, people watching in Venice, wine tasting in Santa Barbara, shopping in Century City, surfing in Huntington Beach and mansion spotting in Beverly Hills. You'll want to see an outdoor concert in the Hollywood Bowl, a baseball game at Dodger Stadium, the soaring forms of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the nightlife on Sunset Boulevard and, if you time your trip just so, the amazing Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. LA is also a great base for exploring the rest of California, with San Diego, San Francisco and a selection of beautiful national parks all within easy reach.

With major attractions so densely packed, it would be easy to do nothing but hurry between them and cram in as many as possible - but you'd be missing out on all the great stuff in between. Every neighborhood has something special to offer: From the airport, head straight to Culver City and beat the jet lag with Mexican food at classic Tito's Tacos. Hire a paddleboat in Echo Park and tootle around the lake, taking in the views of downtown LA. Endure the long wait for brunch at John O'Groats on Pico Boulevard, before gawking at gargoyle-adorned El Bordello Alexandra in Venice Beach. Feast on delicious tapas at Cobras and Matadors in Los Feliz, then head out for a midnight drive on the city's flowing freeways. And when you're done in LA proper, cruise up and down the coast on the Pacific Coast Highway to inventory the many piers and boardwalks that act as the focal points of every beachside neighborhood. The diversity is incredible, so give yourself time to take it all in, and it will add texture and color to your trip.

And finally, the driving: LA offers a delightful mix of wide open freeways, winding little back roads and bustling city streets. It's also a place where people care immensely about cars: Picking your wheels also means picking your style, setting the tone for the trip and expressing your personality for all to see. Luckily, renting a road trip-worthy car is easy, and the selection is huge. A soft-top Jeep Wrangler with removable doors, perhaps? An all-American muscle car, like the outrageous Mustang Shelby GT? Or try for a Nissan 350Z, which corners like a dream on mountain switchbacks, roars like a panther when you put your foot down on the I-5, and gets you talking to friendly strangers in Beverly Hills. A road trip is as much about the driving as it is about the sights - and in the Golden State, doubly so: With amazing roads and a population obsessed with cars, the driving itself will be a highlight of your journey.

There are many ways to explore Southern California, and there is a lot to see. But to experience the region like the locals do - and to truly appreciate its personality - there is no better format for your trip than a road trip.