road atlas

There are many ways to get directions these days. While we used to be confined to a paper road map or atlas, we can now navigate the internet to find street maps that we can print out on a sheet of paper or beam directly to our cell phones. Web users are an inventive bunch, by nature, and the acceleration of social networking functions spilling over onto every type of site has really rocked the mapping world. “Mashups” are user-generated content that use a basic template, along with customized details, which are exceedingly popular and use the Google map base.

Google Maps has become the template of choice for a number of local food maps. At www.menurequest.com, you can plot restaurants on a map of your city, as well as read/write reviews, make reservations and get driving directions. In Philadelphia, www.communitywalk.com is an amazing resource for local event organizers who want to ask a number of nearby restaurants to participate. At www.toeat.com, you will find a number of dining options in your neighborhood. In major cities like NY, Paris, Bangkok and Chicago, you will find baked goods at www.yummybaguette.com. Or you may need to get your burrito fix at www.burritophile.com. Drinkers can appreciate www.wineandtimes.com, which helps plan a winery tour, as well as www.drinktown.com, which lets you know all the local booze specials.

Google Maps is not the only “mashup maker” on the block, 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 www.lerdorf.com/php/ymap/yquakes.php, as you may appreciate the “Real-Time Earthquake Map.” If you are looking for nearby bloggers, movie showtimes, gas prices or driving directions, then you can see “Atlas” (based on MSN’s Virtual Earth platform) at www.atlas.freshlogicstudios.com.

One of the most popular mapping sites is www.flickr.com/map, where amateur photographers can share their pictures and create maps of their favorite places, people and things. Readers have given rave reviews for www.gutenkarte.org, where lit lovers can read full books (such as Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days”) chapter by chapter, while viewing a map of the locations discussed in the book. If you prefer news to fiction, don’t miss the world and local news at www.mappedup.com or www.poly9.viavirtualearth.com/Poly9/MSNBC (where MSNBC news is plotted out on a map!)

If you are looking for directions as well as an overall sense of direction for the day, you might like www.randomdayout.co.uk, a “random day out generator.” Using MSN Virtual Earth, Flickr, the Yellowpages and other sites, you can gather lots of ideas on what to do just by typing in your location and checking off a list of attractions you might be interested in. You will soon have a map of a perfect date to impress that special someone and occupy your time!