![]() ![]() Love -> The things I loved about this set-up was no reliance on Google Maps, completely Open Source, completely customizable (routes, markers, inputs, display etc.).I immediately found myself in a love, hate relationship. After a lengthy discussion I was introduced to something totally new (for me) -> OpenStreetMap (a free, openly licensed map of the world being created by volunteers OR/ to put it another way NOT Google Maps) and uMap (a free, open source program to create interactive maps with OpenStreetMap). Fully Customizable Alternative to Google Mapsįeeling myself at an impasse I got onto Facebook and posted the question to some of my tech buddies there. Also most of these (not all) still rely on Google Maps for display. I can create nice, pretty maps, but just not with the route detail and level of customization I want. However most have the same limitation as the Wordpress plugins listed above. The interfaces are snazzy and easy to use, the maps look really sleek, and integration into blogs/social media is easy. Examples are ZeeMaps, TravellersPoint, and MapMe. Online Mapping Programs -> There are several big online mapping guys that other bloggers use to create interactive maps which they then insert into their blog. They’re great for folks who just want a really simple/easy map on their blog, but none of them met my requirements. ![]() ![]() WordPress Plugins -> There are LOTS of wordpress plugin-type apps such as NomadWorldMap, SimpleTravelMap, MapifyIt, GeoMashUp etc. most of which display/run ontop of Google Maps, but give you a much easier/simpler interface for integrating into your blog. The problem is that most of them are limited to showing simple markers (no routing) or markers with “dumb” routers (just a straight or curved line from one point to the next). I looked through a TON of options, starting with the simplest ones first: GeoMash gives you waypoints, but no route details Travellers Point gives you waypoints with curved lines between them, but no detailed routing. Now, I’m not an easy woman to please when it comes to stuff like this. What I wanted was a program that could handle unlimited stops, was clickable, zoomable & interactive (for the blog reader), could link to my blog posts, could show routes, and was either free or inexpensive. Simple Mapping Alternatives For Your Blog Google Maps is still a fabulous tool (and the one I would recommend for most folks), but this got me thinking about mapping alternatives for bloggers & how to reduce my own personal dependence on Google so that I’m not at the whim of their every last change.īasically I needed a brand new mapping program. Several of my blogger friends were reporting similar issues and/or running into waypoint limits when mapping driving directions (the new limit is 10). I wasn’t the only one having problems either. Argh! Where did my clickable blog links go? I lost them all sometime last year. The last set of Google upgrades in 2014 made route drawing much more tricky (the line tool just seems to be soooo hard/finnicky to use now), and (more importantly) all my blog post links which I’d diligently added to every waypoint marker somehow magically “disappeared” (the text is still there, but no clickable link). I’ve always created my maps by dropping pins & drawing routes using the line tool (like THIS). I honestly can’t complain given that their stuff is FREE, but every now and then the “upgrades” make me cringe. Google is notorious for updating/upgrading/changing/deleting things on a whim. So they’re partly for me, partly for my blog readers.īut…as with all things Google….things are always changing. Each year I start a new map and I keep a record of all previous years in our “journey” page. They’re a total pain in the backside to keep up with, but I love having them there to look back at and (sometimes) remind me of the routes we took. I’m a lover of maps and I’ve been logging our travel routes & stops in detail since we started RVing in 2010 using Google MyMaps. You guys are obviously all people of style □ The following post won’t interest nearly as many people, but for those of you who are interested in my new maps and/or creating travel maps for your own blog, read on… Thanks so much for the amazing number of clicks and comments on my last post. Pre-post note -> I had NO IDEA so many people were interested in boondocking “glamping”. Mapping Alternatives For Bloggers (And New Wheelingit Maps!) ![]()
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