Getting There

I love maps. All kinds of maps. I study Google maps late into the night, dreaming about where I might go next. Looking for interesting places to visit when I get there with the street view. I can even dream of visiting places I will probably never actually go. I use my GPS all the time and love it for finding restaurants, stores, and parks when I am in a new town or a part of town I am not familiar with. But there is nothing better than a paper version for when you are 'boots on the ground'.


Following is a list of maps and map apps that I have found through research on the web. This list is by no means exhaustive, and if you have any suggestions, please let me know. I would love to make this list as comprehensive as possible.

1. BenchmarkBenchmark: Colorado Road & Rec (Google Affiliate Ad)
2. Garmin also provides good mapping services, especially in populated areas, but here is a link to Garmin Topos. Garmin 110900 Topo U.S. 1100K (Google Affiliate Ad). Their Base Camp Maps system also looks interesting.
3. Delorme Maps have long been a staple for travelers. Delorme 240037 Oregon Atlas an (Google Affiliate Ad)
4. Trimble Outdoor Topo maps make apps that run on Android devices, which include many cell phones.
5. Here is a list of the top 5 Map Apps
6. I love Google Map Maker, because I can create my own maps. One of the maps I want to make for my travel is a map of Farmers' Markets. This will allow me to eat as healthy as possible while traveling.
7. And last but not least is the Map Geek's porn, Google Earth
8. I have found that the Forest Service and BLM provide Internet-based Maps that are very useful for planning camping. 

And if you still want more about maps, try the book Island of Lost Maps by Miles Harvey. It is the 

A True Story of Cartographic Crime about a man who defiled historic atlases and books to steal rare and historic maps from some of the most famous libraries in North America. A very interesting read.

So happy traveling, even if it is only virtual right now.