How to check-out a campsite

[wavery]

If you like maps, check this out:
http://earth.google.com/

You can have a close up look at any part of the planet that you want. You can just put in your address and it will take you there. In some cases, it is close enough to see the cars in the driveway.

You can also just "Drag" your way (with a click of the mouse) to any spot on Earth and zooooooooom in on that spot. It's so cool. You can tilt the view to get a topographical view. Check out you favorite camping spots or new ones before you go. After you practice for awhile, it's just too cool (addictive). You can fly through the Grand Canyon and stop and look at anything you want, up close.

Check the "System requirements". It takes a pretty recent computer to run the graphics on this thing. I built my own PC and it has a pretty sophisticated graphics card for the grandkids gaming. Your experience with this software may vary.
http://earth.google.com/faq.html#5

Minimum configuration:

Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP
CPU speed: Intel

[AustinBoston]

I've been using Google Earth for several months.

In addition to the stuff you've described, you can view terrain at an angle to see a 3-d view of it.  (the controls are at the bottom of tjhe main window)  Try the Grand Canyon, it is hard to believe how good it is.

In major cities, you can view buildings in 3D as well, by turning the option on.

You can also use it to find directions and GPS coordinates.

The quality of the photography varies; in some areas, you get about 1/8 mile resolution, in others a few hundred feet, and in some, enough to see cars and even pedestrians.

Note: This is definitely NOT for those on dialup.

Austin

[wavery]

For anyone that may be interested in installing this progam on an older PC, I just installed it on my grandson's PII 400mhz Compaq, 256mb RAM and a decent 32mb video 3D card. It works just fine.

Here's where we will be camping this weekend