The official blog for Google Maps
Is your goose cooked on Turkey Day? Never fear, Google Maps is here!
November 24, 2014
Thanksgiving dinner is the meal we look forward to all year. And chances are...all of your family and friends agree! So if you’re hosting and not exactly a whiz in the kitchen, making the meal can be daunting. Good news: if you burn that Thanksgiving turkey, all is not lost. Here’s a go-to guide to keep your family festive (and fed).
Our friends over at Zagat.com have made it easy to find top-rated restaurants for Thanksgiving. With city spotlights in
Austin
,
Denver
,
NYC
and
San Francisco
(to name a few!), you can check out top-notch Thanksgiving dinner options -- whether you want a traditional Thanksgiving meal or would rather try tacos or sushi.
If your family is a fan of Italian, Zagat recommends
Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria
in NYC. You can make sure the ambiance is right with the Google Maps “
See Inside
” feature and check out the info card to see diners' ratings and reviews as well as the Zagat summary. Once you decide where you want to go, Google Maps’ turn-by-turn directions will get you there as quickly as possible.
Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria, NYC, NY
If you’re up for a feast,
EDGE Restaurant and Bar
in Denver has what you need. Zagat recommends the three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, veal sausage-and-sage stuffing and an herb-rubbed beef tenderloin with sweet potato gratin and porcini mushrooms. Check out the gorgeous dining room to get you in the mood!
Edge Restaurant and Bar, Denver, CO
Or if you have a sweet tooth, skip straight to dessert in San Francisco. Just in time for Thanksgiving, one of Zagat’s top ice cream shops is creating sugary confections that are sure to please you and your family. Save yourself the time (and stress!) of baking and pick up some pies and sweet treats at
Ice Cream Bar
on Cole Street.
Ice Cream Bar, San Francisco, CA
Whatever--and wherever--you decide to feed yourself, Google Maps and Zagat wish you a Happy Turkey (or sushi or pasta) Day!
Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Turkey Traveler
7 traffic tips to get you to the Thanksgiving table
November 18, 2014
Thanksgiving means gearing up for a turkey feast, Thanksgiving Day parades, local
Turkey Trots
and annual
football showdowns
. It also means braving some of the worst holiday traffic conditions of the year.
You’ve got enough on your plate this Thanksgiving without having to worry about traffic, too. So, Google Maps looked at Thanksgiving traffic conditions over the last two years for 21 cities across the U.S.
1
to find the most useful information to make your holiday trip a little easier.
Whether you’re traveling near or far, Google Maps’ traffic tips will help you navigate the roads like a pro, so you’ll be feasting on Turkey Day delights with friends and family in no time. Here are seven tips in pictures to guide you through the holiday:
1. Avoid traveling on Wednesday:
2. But if you must leave on Wednesday:
3. Good news for local travelers — Thanksgiving Day traffic is a breeze:
4. Travel back home on Sunday, not Saturday:
5. Expect to spend more time in traffic than average if you live in these three cities:
Philadelphia, Austin and Washington, D.C. saw the three biggest increases in traffic during Thanksgiving week.
6. Get these three items ahead of time:
Last-minute runs to the corner store can be unavoidable as you prep for the big day, but not all last minute trips are created equal.
7. Leave extra time for Christmas shopping:
Your biggest worry this Thanksgiving should be whether to go for the cranberry sauce or gravy. And with these traffic tips in hand, plus
real-time traffic info
provided by Google Maps on
Android
or
iOS
, you’ll be spending less time in traffic and more time with the people you care about this Thanksgiving. Now that’s something to be thankful for!
Posted by Aaron Nelson, Google Maps Product Manager
1
Google Maps looked at 21 cities across the U.S. from the Monday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after Thanksgiving for both 2012 & 2013: Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, D.C.
Explore U.S. landmarks in honor of Veterans Day
November 11, 2014
In 1919, after the World War I armistice, President Wilson proclaimed
November 11
a day dedicated to honor and remember the servicemen of the armed forces:
"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
Today, whether you recognize
Veterans Day
,
Armistice Day
or
Remembrance Day
, you can now celebrate servicemen and women by touring some significant
U.S. historical places
in Street View in Google Maps.
Visit
West Point Cemetery
and explore the historic burial ground of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Overlooking the Hudson River, some of the cemetery’s tombs date back to the American Revolutionary War. To walk further back in time, travel to the
Gettysburg National Military Park
in Pennsylvania, the site of the infamous 1863 Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.
West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY, USA
On the Gulf Coast of Texas, stand on the runway of the
USS Lexington
, nicknamed "The Blue Ghost," an Essex-class aircraft carrier built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the
Battleship North Carolina
, the most highly decorated American battleship of World War II.
USS Lexington, Corpus Christi, TX, USA
You can also explore historical collections of U.S. leaders and military personnel, like the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library
, the
West Point Museum
and the
Museum of the Confederacy
. Here explore photos, uniforms and tokens from past events throughout American history.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, New York, USA
This
U.S. Highlights gallery
is our small way of thanking veterans for their service. We hope you’ll take a few minutes today to honor and and recognize servicemen and women both past and present.
Posted by Deanna Yick, Street View Program Manager
Google Maps: Your best accessory this season
November 5, 2014
Bold colors and textures are in—and Google Maps is on trend, with a slick new style to make traveling with Maps even easier. Over the next few days, when you open up Google Maps on your Android or iPhone, you’ll be greeted by bright colors and a fresh new design. This new look is all about creating surfaces and shadows that echo the real world; with Google Maps’ new material feel, layers and buttons come to life so you know just where to touch to get directions, recommendations and imagery.
Getting around with Google Maps is even easier with the new design
By tapping on a place’s info sheet at the bottom of your screen, you’ll send an info layer gliding up to the top, showing you photos, reviews, and more. And for the adventurous souls looking for a new place to dine or visit, you’ll see
more to Explore
at the bottom of your map.
Fluid transitions guide you through Google Maps
There’s more to this app than good looks—we also make it easier for you to get on with your day. Need to make a last-minute dinner reservation? You can now reserve a table right from the Google Maps app for restaurants found on OpenTable (U.S. only).
Make a restaurant reservation from Google Maps
On a cool winter day, a chilly walk or train ride may not always be the most appealing choice. Travelers
deciding
whether they should take an Uber or brave the frosty winds can now see estimates for Uber’s pickup time and price for their route in walking and transit directions in Google Maps. This option will appear if you have the Uber app installed, where available.
Wait time and price estimates for Google Maps’ Uber card
For Google Maps, giving you useful options and information is always in vogue. So as you’re traveling this holiday season, don’t forget to open up your Maps app for all the navigation help we have to offer—now with a fun new look.
Posted by Evelyn Kim, Google Maps UX Designer
Explore the haunted corners of the world... if you dare
October 29, 2014
Something wicked this way comes
… Whether you’re a trio of
witches back from the dead
or just a trick-or-treater, chances are you’re hitting the streets (or riding a broom!) on Halloween night. For those looking for an extra fright, take a tour of spooky places from around the world on Google Maps.
Start in 19th century Paris. While cheery guests listen to the beautiful arias at the Opéra Garnier, a dreary lake lies beneath the streets. Floating above the silent water, a
phantom
lurks. Are your eyes playing tricks on you... or is that a cloaked figure looming in the shadows?
Opéra Garnier (Paris Opera), Paris, France
Standing at the steps of
Craigdarroch Castle
in Victoria, BC, you might believe you’ve found the perfect home away from home. Think again… listen closely for the sounds of a piano playing softly throughout the house. The spirit of a ghastly pianist is said to linger in the corridors and windows.
Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, BC
If you’re feeling ill, the abandoned
Xinglin hospital
in Taiwan is
not
the place to go. For years, passersby have sighted now-deceased patients, both young and old, in the treacherous fourth- and fifth-floor windows. To this day, people claim to hear wailing in the night from inside the hospital’s haunted walls.
Xinglin hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
Not all spooky stories are made up. For three decades, the
Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
was home to some 1,500 of the world’s most infamous prisoners. Surrounded by bone-chilling waters, “the Rock” was notorious as the toughest prison in America.
Alcatraz Island, California, USA
If these spooky spots whet your appetite for fear, get up close with some of the most frightful locations in Google Maps Gallery and find ghouls and goblins in
haunted houses
around the world. If you’re looking for a laugh instead of a scream, take a
hayride
through your local corn maze, find the perfect jack-o-lantern at your neighboring
pumpkin patch
, and scout the best
trick-or-treat
routes near you.
Now get your cauldrons bubbling and monsters mashing because after all,
this is Halloween
!
Posted by Susan Cadrecha, Google Maps Zombie Bride
Explore the world through Google Earth for Android with fast, accurate maps
October 22, 2014
Whether you’re sailing down the Mississippi River or trekking through the Swiss Alps, Google Earth can inspire your next adventure. To help power your digital travels,
Google Earth for Android
is getting an update over the next week—with an enhanced 3D experience, quicker updates to the map, and an easier way to view your KML files in Earth.
Starting today, you’ll see faster, smoother, and crisper transitions as you’re zooming into your dream destination in Google Earth. Thanks to a new 3D rendering technology—the first major 3D overhaul since Earth launched more than 10 years ago—sharper views of mountains and cities are just a virtual skydive away.
Built from scratch, our new 3D technology gives you sharper views in Google Earth for Android
As you’re flying around Paris or looking for things to do in Tokyo, you can rest assured knowing that the globe in your pocket will show you the freshest information, with Google Earth now getting the same updates as Google Maps. Roads and labels have gotten a visual refresh as well, making Earth’s styling easier on the eyes for you virtual explorers.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Roads and labels get a refresh in the newest version of Earth
And if you’ve created your own map for Google Earth—whether you’re a teacher preparing a history lesson, a researcher tracking changes in the environment, or just a geospatial enthusiast—you’ll now be able to open your KML files from Google Drive directly in the Earth app, so you can view it on the go.
Save a few clicks when viewing your KML files on the go
To discover the world with these updates in hand, head to the Play Store and download
Google Earth for Android
. Stay tuned for more 3D updates in the coming months!
Posted by Ashwin Limaye, Product Manager, Google Earth
Explore Gombe National Park through the eyes of Dr. Jane Goodall
October 21, 2014
In July 1960,
Dr. Jane Goodall
stepped off the boat in what is now
Gombe National Park, Tanzania
with a pair of second-hand binoculars and a notepad. She was 26 years old, and was there to observe and record the behavior of chimpanzees in the wild. This summer, after four planes and a boat ride, I took my first (wobbly) steps onto the shores of Lake Tanganyika. I was about to walk the same paths that Dr. Goodall took to do her groundbreaking research into the lives of chimpanzees. And now—thanks to a Google Maps partnership with the
Jane Goodall Institute
and
Tanzania National Parks
—so can you.
We were invited to Gombe National Park to capture a record of this historic place, where today the Jane Goodall Institute manages the longest-running chimpanzee research study in the world. It was here that Dr. Goodall first witnessed chimpanzees
fishing for termites
using a blade of grass as a tool to dig them out of their mounds. Using tools was an act previously believed to be unique to humans. Her observations revolutionized our understanding of chimpanzees—animals that share 98 percent of our DNA—and redefined the very notion of “human.” More than 50 years later, protecting chimpanzees and their habitat is central to the mission of the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI).
View of Lake Tanganyika at The Peak, Gombe National Park, Tanzania
Pushing through the brush, carrying the Street View
Trekker
, we collected thousands of 360 degree images along the narrow paths of the park to share with the world. We first stopped at a location Jane calls “The Peak”—her favorite vantage point. I could imagine her looking out over the canopies, peering tirelessly through her binoculars, writing in her notebook, and observing these beautiful animals as they
swung through the trees
.
A chimpanzee named Gizmo in Gombe National Park
In the spirit of preservation, the Institute plans to use Gombe Street View as a unique archive of this special place, available to future generations of researchers. This imagery complements JGI’s current monitoring efforts using
satellite imagery and mapping
to protect 85 percent of the remaining chimpanzees in Africa. Young people will also be inspired to explore the wild through the 360 degree imagery as part of JGI’s educational program,
Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots
.
This Street View collection
is our small contribution to the already rich legacy of science and discovery at Gombe. Wherever you are, take a moment to experience what it’s like to be Jane for a day: peek into
her house
, take a dip in
Lake Tanganyika
, spot the
chimp named Google
and try to keep up with
Glitter and Gossamer
.
We hope you enjoy exploring this living laboratory for yourself!
Posted by Allie Lieber, Program Manager, Google Earth Outreach
Special thank you to Dr. Jane Goodall,
Dr. Lilian Pintea
,
Bill Wallauer
,
Dr. Anthony Collins
and many more members of the Jane Goodall Institute in the United States and Tanzania, as well as
TANAPA
, for all of the knowledge and time they contributed to this project.
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