Wheelingit Travel & Campground Maps Are Updated!
As part of my annual year-end blog process I dig-in deep into all the travel we did during the year, including a written summary of our experiences and a top campgrounds list (all coming soon!). The very first part of that process involves updating our travel maps. It’s a tedious and detailed-oriented process, but I derive a geeky satisfaction from the results and truly enjoy seeing our year as a whole after-the-fact. Some of you probably think I’m nuts, but fellow map enthusiasts (I know you’re out there!) will totally understand. I looooove seeing my travel maps completed!
This year I’ve got THREE maps for you to enjoy:
Yearly Travel Map
For those of you not in the know, I’ve kept detailed travel maps for every year we’ve been on the road in my “Travel Maps” tab (top of the blog). The maps include all the places we’ve stopped and all the routes we’ve taken. In addition, each pin on the map is linked back to any blog posts that I wrote while we were in that area. So, you can simply browse to an area of interest, click the pin and you’ll instantly see a link to any blogs (and any campground review) that I did of that spot! I’ve got 8 maps (= 8 years of travel) so there are is lots of data to enjoy. Here’s the updated map for 2017:
Master Campground Map
This is something I created a few years back and it’s a compilation of every place we’ve stayed (with links back to the campground reviews I’ve done) since we started on the road. The map is updated once per year (at the end of each travel year) and each pin is color-coded to indicate the type of campground we stayed at. As an added bonus, for those with “beastly” RVs like us, you can be assured that every stop on here has a site that can fit you 🙂
Color Coding Key:
- Green Pins = Boondocking & Other Free Spots
- Dark Blue Pins = Public Parks (e.g. National Forest, State Park, National Park, BLM campground, COE Campground etc.)
- Light Blue Pins = Marina Campgrounds
- Pink Pins = Private RV Parks
- Yellow Pins = Elks Lodges (members only)
Master Travel Map
This is brand new and is crazy enough that it may only be of interest to me, but I had fun with it so I thought I’d share it. Thanks to the versatility of uMaps it took me only a few minutes to put together and it’s the combined map of every year of travel we’ve done so far. So ALL our routes, ALL our stops and links back to every single one of the 1,125 blog posts I’ve written since we started on the road in 2010! Enjoy!
How Do I Create These Maps?
For those interested in the nitty gritty behind my travel maps, I use two types of mapping programs.
For day-to-day travel (while we’re still driving during the year) I use Google Maps (My Maps). It’s simple and easy to use and allows me to quickly map between two locations without much trouble. I’ve used it for years, and if you’re a newbie mapper it’s one of the easiest programs to get started with. Those with GPS units (e.g. like the Garmin) can even import their travel into Google Maps. If you’re curious how our 2017 travel map looks in Google Maps then you can see it HERE (or just click on the pic on the right)
Then, at the end of each year I export this data into an open source mapping program called uMaps, which allows me to manipulate it in ways that Google does not. It’s not an easy program to use (it takes a learning curve!), but once you have the hang of it, you can do all kinds of nifty stuff like adding-in coordinates, using custom colors, overlapping maps etc.
For those interested in more, I’ve written in detail about mapping programs for travel bloggers in this post: Mapping Alternatives For Bloggers
There you go! Map and enjoy!
Thanks for the technical details behind your excellent maps! Endless adventures can be had with a map!!
I am a total map geek and LOVE what you do. So much in fact that, using your recommendation on uMap I made a membership map for the cattle association I belong to. The members love it–thanks! Here’s the link if you want a peek–or are thinking of adding a cow or three to your menagerie;) http://u.osmfr.org/m/118581/
WOW! What a super cool map! Good job!
Nina
Love your blogs save all of them . You guys give great in-depth info on travel .
They have help us with are rv vacation travels.
Merry Christmas & Happy Traveling New Year !
Thanks! Good information!
As a newbie to your website/blog, can I just say thank you for all your hard work and PLEASE make sure you have a back-up of this site! I would hate for you (and us!) to lose all this valuable information. We recently bought an Escape 19 travel trailer and have only ventured out a few times (Olympic Peninsula and Oregon coast), but we have plans to spend the rest of our retirement traveling the country. Thanks again!
Fear not. I keep TWO separate backups of this site, and occasionally back it up a 3rd time locally too. Good travels to you!
Nina
Thanks for the great work. I too love to map our stays and accumulate choice campground locations on Google maps. I’ll certainly explore the uMap app.
Wow, you can easily see where you still have to visit too. Beautiful job on the maps. Maybe some day when you retire off the road you can print it as a poster for your wall.
Yeah, I always find it interesting to view the results. You can easily see our love for coasts (and ocean) in these maps….it’s a pretty powerful picture.
Nina
Oh yes I have been waiting for this year’s. I am a map geek and LOVE these. They are like treasure maps! Glæde Jul Merry Christmas Feliz Navidad to all
THANK you! And glad to hear from other map geeks out there 🙂
Nina
Thanks for all you do for us. You inspire us to find new adventures, and to log what we do to preserve it for future reference. You are a blessing to the RV community!
Thanks for the updates. I use your maps as a resource for all our travels. May our paths cross. Merry Christmas and Have a Great New Year! Larry and Daph https://runningk-r.blogspot.com/
Happy Holidays to you and your furry family . . I have so loved following you and your travels . . well done!!
You know I made maps for a living, at least I think you know that, so of course, this post is a favorite! So much information, so much work! The map making tools that are available now to all of us are spectacular. But it still requires time and commitment. Thank you for doing this. I hope I never lose track of your great maps and can find them again when I need them!
I know for sure how tedious map making it, so Kudos to you Nina. I have turned over this task to my wonderful husband, who seem to enjoy working and updating our maps.
Thank you for the tedious work that you pour your heart into and for the time you dedicate to the talent of mapping. you are an inspiration. Have a Happy and Properous 2018.
Happy New Year to you too!
Nina