When you’re getting ready to go on a trip, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid unpleasant surprises. This means that you need to do some in-depth research.
The following websites will give you a great start — and they’re lots of fun too!
In no particular order, check out the five sites below:
Google Maps is a map service that you view in your web browser. Depending on your location, you can view basic or custom maps and local business information, including business locations, contact information, and driving directions. Click and drag maps to view adjacent sections immediately. View satellite images of your desired location that you can zoom and pan.
It goes without saying that you’ll want to know what kind of Weather you can expect. The weather isn’t under your control, but you can avoid going to the Caribbean during hurricane season.
Panoramio is a geolocation-oriented photo sharing website. Accepted photos uploaded to the site can be accessed as a layer in Google Earth and Google Maps, with new photos being added at the end of every month. The site’s goal is to allow Google Earth users to learn more about a given area by viewing the photos that other users have taken at that place. The website is available in several languages.
According to Flickr, they’re the best way to store, sort, search and share photos online.
When you’re researching your trip, you can look at hundreds of photos of possible locales.
When you return from your trip, Flickr can help you organize that huge mass of photos you have. Make them public or keep them private. Even tell stories about them.
http://www.google. com/earth/index.html
Get the world’s geographic information at your fingertips. Google Earth promises that if you download their software you can:
- Fly to any place around the world.
- See 3D buildings, imagery, and terrain.
- Find cities, places, and local businesses.
Spend a couple of hours on line and get a good head start on your research. Then go to your local bookstore or library and do some in-depth reading. Before you know it you’ll be the local expert on Florida’s Beaches, the Silk Road or Argentina’s Northwest Passage.
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My name is Lisa (pronounced Liza) Wolfe. I'm a writer, photographer, political scientist, new media maven and editor/creator of The Heritage Traveler. I earned my travel stripes as a trip planner and tour leader in the Middle East, and as a "top 10" travel agent in the United States. I've also designed individualized tours to hard to reach places and established exchange linkages while working in World Heritage areas in the Caribbean. My goal now is to provide you with accurate and complete information on ethical and sustainable heritage travel. I hope you will visit The Heritage Traveler often. Meanwhile, Happy Traveling!