See Walt Disney World in 3D on Google Earth

Google Blog is reporting that

Walt Disney World Resort in 3D, an interactive, virtual Walt Disney World has been completely recreated on Google Earth. This revolutionary project features 3D models of four Orlando theme parks and more than 20 of Disney’s Resort hotels. Incredible in scope -- containing over 1,500 3D models -- Walt Disney World Resort in 3D is the most detailed 3D rendering undertaken on Google Earth to date

Also check out this awesome video put together by GEarthBlog which gives you a quick tour of 3D Disney World Magic Kingdom.

Trip Planning made easy with Google Maps

Just in time for your Summer Vacation...

Check out this video put together by folks at Google which shows you how easy it is to create Travel Maps using Google Maps. It shows you how to create placemarks of your travel destination, take a scenic route to your travel destination, check out the area around your travel destination, add photos to your map, find hotels near your desired location and finally share the map you have created with friends. (via Google LatLong Blog)

Traveling 48 States by road in 106 hours

3 Friends from Utah started out on a journey from Vermont and ended up 106 hours later at 4 Corners (Place where UTAH, ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO AND COLORADO meet).

What's so great about this journey is that they touched all of the lower 48 states on this trip. Take a look at the map below as to how they did it. I tried to recreate this in Google Maps by plotting directions from Brattleboro, Vermont to Four Corners. Using the click and drag feature I tried to modify the route on Google Maps. Unfortunately I could only get to Idaho and then maps.google.com would not let me modify the route any further. If anyone is successful in routing on Google Maps (Vermont to 4 corners and touching all 48 states) let me know.

Unusual/Funny Names of Places in United States

MSN City Guides had a post out there on "Unusual City/Town Names" in United States which led me to create a Google Maps Mashup of the places mentioned in the MSN post. I have also added more names I found on the web like Chicken, Alaska. How about "Unalaska, Alaska". Let me know if you know of any other funny names and I will add those.

The World's Worst Tourist Traps

What defines a tourist trap? According to MSN Travel

For some, it’s the tacky T-shirt shops or overpriced museums; for others, it’s the crowds or the chain restaurants.

Here's a Google Maps View of some of "MSN Travel's" least favorite travel experiences.

(Related: America's One Trick Towns)

TripTouch.com: A Cool Travel Mashup

I recently bumped into TripTouch.Com - a simple looking and yet a powerful travel mashup.

It provides travelers with trip planning tools (hotel, flight booking), diverse local information like news, weather. In addition it also provides "you the traveler" with reviews and photos from fellow travelers, a blog to document your trips. All this in one easy to use website.

TripTouch includes a mashup from several sources, including Google maps, Eventful. TripTouch also has agreements with Kayak to provide travel booking services for hotels, hostels, cars, flights and cruises. The site has approx 4,000 world-wide destinations listed.

Here is a screen shot from TripTouch showing info on Rishikesh, India a place I would like to visit one day.

Embed Google Maps in your blog or website

Google Maps can now be embedded with ease into your blog or website. From maps.google.com just click "Link to this page" in the top right-hand corner. Copy the text that you see in the second box and then paste that text into your blog editor or into the HTML of your webpage. Simple as that (via). Example follows:

Here's a Google Maps View of Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive and then continuing on to Blue Ridge Parkway. More on Scenic Drive through Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway check this blogpost "Fall colors: Blue Ridge Parkway".


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