INTERACTIVE 3D NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH 3D HELICOPTER VIEW AT DESTINATION

An interactive vehicle navigation system provides not only navigation instructions to arrive at a destination but also a three-dimensional (3D) animated preview that provides a realistic view of a specified destination, including three-dimensional imagery of recognizable landmarks in the surroundings at the destination. The point of view from which the 3D animated preview is generated is selected as to provide a vantage of the locale that avoids obstructions to the user's view, such as from a point of view that is higher than street level.