Florida Guide > Planning your Trip
Google Mapping
Everything is booked , flights, car hire and accommodation…..you may even have an itinerary providing you with directions to your Orlando vacation home…..but how confident are you of finding your way in unfamiliar territory, driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road and possibly in the dark.
One way to acquaint yourself with your route from the airport in graphic detail is by using the map functions that internet search engine “Google” provides and it’s all free.
Log on to www.google.co.uk click on ‘more’ and then ‘maps’ and a window will open with a map of the UK. Zoom out by clicking the ‘minus’ symbol and then whilst holding down the left mouse button drag to the right until the USA and Florida in particular fills the centre of the window. You will now be able to zoom in by clicking the ‘plus’ symbol and, of course, you can adjust the position of the map by holding down the left mouse button and dragging. Let’s, for example, zoom in sufficiently so that the city of Orlando and its surrounding counties are visible, then using the search tool at the top of the screen type in ‘Epcot’ and hit ‘search’. A list of possible targets appear at the left hand side of the window and also on the map itself….for the purposes of this example click on ‘A’ which will then provide you with a text bubble giving the target address (and also details of opening hours/payment methods). Click on directions ‘to here’ and type in Orlando Airport then click ‘Get Directions’
You will now have a map plotting your route from the airport and a full route planner down the left-hand side of the screen. You can, of course, adjust the zoom position using the plus and minus symbols, and reposition the map by dragging as previously mentioned. At full zoom the level of street detail is quite incredible and as an added bonus you can switch to a satellite or hybrid view by clicking on the appropriate button at the top right of the map.
Hopefully, you will agree that this web-based application helps build confidence and familiarity in navigating new surroundings and, of course, the maps can be printed off at any selected scale. As you become more proficient in using this tool the route and distance between any two points can be plotted making life that little bit easier when planning journeys and driving on Florida’s roads.
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