If you want simple, no-nonsense directions, then MapQuest might be the best site for you. The website is very user-friendly and easy to use. On the other hand, the maps Google create can be easy as well, but there are many options for tinkering and having fun as well. You can create your own map, browse other people’s maps, change your driving direction route and take a virtual sightseeing tour in a faraway place, even Mars or the Moon! This is a map help guide for Google, showcasing a few of the hints, tips and tricks to making your mapping experience more enjoyable.
Many people are looking for map help to print or save their directions. The default print option is the step-by-step directions with a tiny map that is barely legible. For you map-mongers, you can get a larger full-size map by canceling out of the print dialog box (in Firefox), at which point a new window will pop up, allowing you to check a box that says “Show original map view.” The preview then changes to a full overview of street maps and driving directions, where you can modify the zoom level on your print window.
When it comes to saving your directions, it may be surprising but you can’t actually just save your driving directions map on the Google map site; you can save place-marks and maps but not the full shebang. Instead, you have to click on and copy the link to the map (on the top right corner of the map that says “Link to this page”). If you save that link as a bookmark or in a Word document, then you will be able to access the exact same set of directions for next time.
You may also need map help customizing your trip to suit your needs. One of the latest joys of online mapping, particularly for longer trips, is that you can change your route to take a more scenic drive. Say you are driving from Nashville, Tennessee to Asheville, North Carolina but you decide you would like to traverse through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the way. To customize your route, hover your mouse over the portion of the route just above the park. You will see a little white box that says “Drag to change route,” which you will drag and drop to your location. Google will stick a new place-mark there that looks like a pause button and will adjust the route, recalculating driving time and directions. This is also very handy if you see construction or traffic on your route that you would prefer to navigate around.
Travelers often need map help finding notable landmarks. You may not necessarily know the address of the Eiffel Tower, but you can zero in on the location by typing in “Eiffel Tower.” Now say you are in the car driving but you have no idea where you are. You can turn your cell phone into a GPS device using Google Maps for Mobile right on your cell phone. (Check out the video for this on the Google Maps site). You may also want to explore the country of Japan to decide where you would like to visit, just by typing in “Japan.” You can also search for zip codes, airport codes, latitudes and longitudes.
