OOOO this is really really cool! I was parked infront of one of my friends houses when the car drove by, it almost feels like I'm there!

I haven't had a chance to check it out, but as the sort of person who is nervous about driving somewhere new, I love the idea that I can print a map and have an excellent idea of what I'm actually looking for in landmarks and final destination. 

Bethany - that is cool to have your car parked there in the pic!  Very neat!  Google earth had pics of our old house and we pinpointed it to an exact day in June about 5 years ago now, based on the dismantling of the carnival across the street from our house, and the presence of a certain number of company trucks at our friends' landscaping business. 

yup, lol....ours was taken in early late fall or early spring, can't remember..but there are no leaves on the tree.  I have come to realize that to those who do not experience fall and decidious trees, they presumed the trees were dead.

We do need to remember that often google maps is inaccurate.  They place an address half a block (or more) from where it really is.  They include streets and intersections that don't really exist.  In the case of Atikokan they include an entire subdivision that was never built.  They are good for a guide but we need to read what is around us too.

And don't get me started on the directions they give for highway travel, that get times way off and often don't choose the most logical path.

Streetview isn't in our section of the city yet, only North of the 401 for Cambridge, it appears.

My kids were marvelling at their grandparents' GPS system, so we had a talk about when those are good, and when they aren't.  I think they are excellent for a one time visit to a new place.  It reduces time spent worrying and getting lost.

But in your own town, in your own city,  or in places we travel to often (grandparents, or whatever) we need to be able to find our way around, to get used to landmarks and locations and distances.  Knowing to be in the 2nd lane to avoid a busy right turn spot is handy, or having a sense of what else is in the area is important in case one needs to make a few stops.  If all we do is look up a spot and follow the pretty green line, we'll be stuck in our little houses and removed from our world very quickly.  I also see a danger in our kids losing the ability to find their way around, especially when they'll be relying on buses or friends often.  If all they  know is to turn on the GPS, or print a google map, they're in trouble.

Ooops - sidetracked!

Hey - I used Google Earth to "Sit" on top of the Great Pyramid of Giza!! That was fun.  And Baghdad was interesting.  And London.  And France!!!