Capcis Travel

Nothing beats that instinctive sense that says, “I know exactly where I’m traveling to.” Unfortunately, we are simply not programmable, as robots are. We cannot just download directions into our brains to be stored forever, so we count on maps. Over the years, mapping has turned out to be so much more than just street maps and road atlas functions. Today we use online maps to advise us on local businesses, political news, weather, traffic and more. Google Maps has become the pattern of choice for a number of local food maps. At Menurequest, you can plot restaurants on a map of your city, as well as read/write reviews, make bookings and get driving directions. In Philadelphia, Community walk is an amazing resource for local event managers who want to ask a number of nearby restaurants to contribute. If traveling to Toeat, you will find a number of dining alternatives in your neighborhood. In major cities like Philadelphia, Paris, Chicago and Bangkok, you will find baked goods at Yummybaguette. Or you may need to get your burrito fix at Burritophile. Drinkers can appreciate Wineandtimes, which helps plan a winery tour, as well as Drinktown, which lets you know all the local booze specials.

Google Maps is not the only “mashup maker” on the block to help a traveler, of course. A number of non-Google applications have popped up to serve a wide variety of functions. For instance, if you live on a fault line, then visit Lerdorf, as you might appreciate the “Real-Time Earthquake Map.” If you are looking for nearby bloggers, movie showtimes, gasoline prices or driving directions, then you can see Atlas (based on MSN’s Virtual Earth interface) at Atlas Freshlogicstudios.

One of the most well-liked mapping sites is Flickr, where amateur photographers can share their pictures and create maps of their favorite sights, people and things. Readers have given rave reviews for Gutenkarte, where lit lovers can read full books (such as Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty Days”) chapter by chapter, while seeing a map of the locations discussed in the book. If you prefer news to fiction when you travel to Jackson Hole Wyoming, don’t miss the world and local news at Mappedup or Poly9 Viavirtualearth (where MSNBC news is plotted out on a map!) You can find directions on your computer, on your GPS device or even on your cell phone when going to Jackson Hole Wyoming. The trend is that programmers are finding ways of bringing online maps to you, regardless of where you are. For instance, if you find yourself lost somewhere with little time to recoup, never fear : Loki can track your location via satellite and provide you a map to your next location in Jackson Hole Wyoming on your mobile phone. A number of phones, from the iPhone to the Android G1, are making MapQuest, Google Maps and Yahoo Maps technology available to you when you are on-the-go.