Where can I find the address when I travel?

Nothing beats that intuitive sense that says, “I know exactly where I’m going.” Unfortunately, we are simply not programmable, as robots are. We can’t just download addresses into our brains to store them forever, so we rely on maps. Over the years, cartography has become much more than just street maps and road atlas functions. Today we use online maps to advise us on local business, news, weather, traffic, and more.

Google Maps has become the template of choice for various local food maps. At Menurequest, you can plot restaurants on a map of your city, as well as read / write reviews, make reservations, and get driving directions. In Philadelphia, Communitywalk is an incredible resource for local event organizers looking to solicit participation from several nearby restaurants.

At Toeat, you will find a number of dining options in your neighborhood. In major cities like New York, Paris, Bangkok, and Chicago, you will find baked goods at Yummybaguette. Or you may need to get your burrito fix at Burritophile. Drinkers may appreciate Wineandtimes, which helps plan a winery tour, as well as Drinktown, which lets you learn about all the local alcoholic beverage specialties.

Google Maps isn’t the only “mashup creator” on the block, of course. Several non-Google applications have emerged to fulfill a wide variety of functions. For example, if you live on a fault, visit Lerdorf, as you can see the “Real-time Earthquake Map”. If you are looking for nearby bloggers, movie times, gas prices, or driving directions, you can view “Atlas” (based on MSN’s Virtual Earth platform) at Atlas Freshlogicstudios.

One of the most popular mapping sites is Flickr, where amateur photographers can share their images and create maps of their favorite places, people, and things. Readers have given rave reviews to Gutenkarte, where lighting enthusiasts can read entire books (such as Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days”) chapter by chapter, while viewing a map of the places discussed in the book. If you prefer news to fiction, don’t miss local and world news on Mappedup or Poly9 Viavirtualearth (where MSNBC news is plotted on a map!)

You can find directions on your computer, on your GPS device, or even on your cell phone. The trend is for programmers to find ways to bring you maps online, no matter where you are. For example, if you find yourself lost somewhere with little time to recover, fear not: Loki can track your location via satellite and send you a map to your next location on your mobile phone. Various phones, from the iPhone to Android G1, make MapQuest technology, Google Maps and Yahoo Maps available to you when you’re on the go.

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