maps

Travel tips: maps

Orient yourself by exploring Google Maps and Google Earth before you leave. If nothing more than to get a bird's eye overview of where you'll be going. Printing is optional (colour a must).

Maps are one of those things best bought locally. Most map stores sell maps of what's outside their door. Not to discourage you from shopping for maps of far away places in your own hometown, usually you find great maps in the place that map's about. It's my sincere belief that even in the digital age there's a place for old school accordian fold maps.

I can hear you now, "If I'm already here, why buy a map?" It's worth paying for good maps but don't neglect the free ones at the airport, at hotels, wherever you are. Walkng tours, neighborhood hotspots, galleries and art walks, local parks, you name it, there's a map for it.

Many times I've found that I return to the places I like or the places work takes me. What a joy it is to have a map to help me explore more of someplace I've been before. So gather good maps, store, save, and re-use them. Be nice and share maps with your friends and co-workers.

In a new city, try reading the first few pages of the local phone book after the how-to-order-phone-service junk. Most phone books include an overview of the area including a listing of the surrounding towns and a general guide to the area highlighting notable attractions. Made with locals in mind, it works for travelers too.

I try to watch the local TV news and weather (something I don't do at home). The local weather often talks about the local geography as it relates to the weather. Local traffic reports are yet another overlay on your mental map of an area. Doing so might prompt a Seattle visitor to ask a local about the pineapple express and the convergence zone or the Renton S-curve and the floating bridges.

The best place to start collecting local maps? That airport info desk you usually ignore and walk by. Or take one from the car rental desk. These kind of maps are free, give you a generalized overview of an area, and can be stuffed in one's pocket unlike Google maps, Mapquest, et al. The alternative is to download maps into your phone or handheld.

I can't emphasize enough how useful it is to store maps once you're back home for future use. The more you travel, the higher the liklihood you'll be somewhere again. Be prepared.