East Coast Road Trip - What maps to use?
#1
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East Coast Road Trip - What maps to use?
Hello. My husband and I are planning a 10 day road trip starting in Boston and going to Maine, NH Massachusettes and Vermont. I have noticed many people are complaining about google maps. What would you suggest we use, actual maps (what a thought!) or maps on our phone (google, mapquest, or ?).
Or....should I figure out our route EXACTLY before we leave? I am wanting to make several detours on the route to visit things, maybe an actual map is the way to go?
Thanks for suggestions.\
Nancy
Or....should I figure out our route EXACTLY before we leave? I am wanting to make several detours on the route to visit things, maybe an actual map is the way to go?
Thanks for suggestions.\
Nancy
#2
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Get a paper map and stick pins in it. AAA has good ones still.
I think GPS and such are good for getting out of "places" but for big planning, it's looking at the bigger picture for me. That way I can see things near the roads we might take for any detours of interest.
I think GPS and such are good for getting out of "places" but for big planning, it's looking at the bigger picture for me. That way I can see things near the roads we might take for any detours of interest.
#3
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Good lord, I would not use pins and a paper map. I agree with having a paper map, mind you, just in case.
What we do is study the route the night before on our tablet/phones, then use a phone in the car as guidance. We enter the name of our next destination--a lighthouse, say. After we've seen it, we enter the next destination, perhaps a restaurant, for example, and so on, hopscotching from one stop to the next. Easy peasy.
If a question arises, the phone doing the guidance continues to do it's thing while the person not driving does some research on their device.
Electronic maps show points of interest, including restaurants, far more than paper maps do.
We usually use Google maps, but sometimes Apple Maps.
What we do is study the route the night before on our tablet/phones, then use a phone in the car as guidance. We enter the name of our next destination--a lighthouse, say. After we've seen it, we enter the next destination, perhaps a restaurant, for example, and so on, hopscotching from one stop to the next. Easy peasy.
If a question arises, the phone doing the guidance continues to do it's thing while the person not driving does some research on their device.
Electronic maps show points of interest, including restaurants, far more than paper maps do.
We usually use Google maps, but sometimes Apple Maps.
#4
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at night plan out your route for the next day. In the morning, ask advice from the locals at the inn...they'll know what's shut down due to construction, what apple orchard not to miss etc. If you get lost along the way, stop and ask a local yokel....but be prepared to sit for a bit while they give you your 3 or 4 options.
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Google and Apple Maps don't know about which orchards not to miss, but they do know about construction delays and they also route you around them. Saves time better spent talking to locals
You know, it amazes me how reluctant Fodorites are to embrace technology! This stuff is a traveler's best friend!
You know, it amazes me how reluctant Fodorites are to embrace technology! This stuff is a traveler's best friend!
#9
I agree that paper maps still serve a purpose and are esp useful when looking at the big picture for a drive. I also "embrace" the technlogy and use my ipad in particular along with my phone while driving for all the reasons mentioned. I sometimes compare what google maps suggests vs Apple maps which have vastly improved. But I have to say that google maps occasionally does some very weird routing. I havent noticed it as much up the east coast, but in other locations esp foreign it's pretty bad. In Bangkok we used it to walk to a restuarant and ended up who knows where, but the people there knew where we were trying to go!
#13
Well then, maybe that's why I did not say my way was "better". Or make any comment about "comparison" of various methods.
I simply said I like & use a paper map. But please don't let that stop you from trying to make an argument, as usual.
I simply said I like & use a paper map. But please don't let that stop you from trying to make an argument, as usual.
#14
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I try to embrace technology but it does not try to embrace me. There are only so many times you can listen to "recalculating....recalculating.....recalculating" before you just have to turn that bitch off and pull out a map.
#16
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What we do is study the route the night before on our tablet/phones, then use a phone in the car as guidance. We enter the name of our next destination
Try to stay with me here. I was talking about the INITIAL PLANNING for the trip. Then do whatever it is to get to wherever you want. Personally, my smartphone doesn't take to getting pins stuck in it very well.
I save magazine articles (Southern Llving, Garden and Gun), Diners Driveins and Dives places, destination shopping etc. Put THOSE pins in a map.
And no, I don't use a map in my car now, but might for a trip like this as others have said to plan the night before for close attractions.
It's possible there is even more than one way to plan a trip, NewBe
Try to stay with me here. I was talking about the INITIAL PLANNING for the trip. Then do whatever it is to get to wherever you want. Personally, my smartphone doesn't take to getting pins stuck in it very well.
I save magazine articles (Southern Llving, Garden and Gun), Diners Driveins and Dives places, destination shopping etc. Put THOSE pins in a map.
And no, I don't use a map in my car now, but might for a trip like this as others have said to plan the night before for close attractions.
It's possible there is even more than one way to plan a trip, NewBe
#18
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I have a GPS system that came in my car which has a good map that I can view at any time. But, I find that Google on my phone is better and more accurate.
Before I leave I view the whole trip on Google on my computer. What I particularly like is switching from map to actual views.
Before I leave I view the whole trip on Google on my computer. What I particularly like is switching from map to actual views.
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I won't, Dukey, as long as you don't drive with your nose in a map anywhere that I may be driving.
And why does everyone seem to be arguing with me? I gave my preferred way--notice the use of the word "preferred"--and everyone except suze gave their *preferred* way. Technology is a time and space saver. Maps are a good old standby. This is simple fact. Now, you may prefer the old standby, but it's probably because you couldn't make technology work for you.
If you have tried and disliked technology, so be it. If you've never tried it, your advice is useless.
Flame me all you like, but you know it's true.
And why does everyone seem to be arguing with me? I gave my preferred way--notice the use of the word "preferred"--and everyone except suze gave their *preferred* way. Technology is a time and space saver. Maps are a good old standby. This is simple fact. Now, you may prefer the old standby, but it's probably because you couldn't make technology work for you.
If you have tried and disliked technology, so be it. If you've never tried it, your advice is useless.
Flame me all you like, but you know it's true.