New Tool for Travelers

A friend of ours showed us one of the newest feature of Google Maps... it's called StreetView. They have included a limited number cities so far (including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco -- all places that The Insider Travel Guides cover), but the maps offer a 360 degree viewpoint of most sections of each city (at about 50' increments). StreetView places a little 'man' symbol where you drop him and allows you to 'spin' around in a pop-up balloon to view the area. It also allow allows some limited pan and zooming in the image. We think this will be a useful tool for travelers as they plan their trip, since it allows you to view street level photographs; take virtual walks; and find shops, restaurants, parks, hotels and more.