Google Maps 3D

If you use Google Maps and happen to have the Google Earth plug-in installed on your browser, you may be missing a cool little feature - 3D view.

Here's how it works. Use the get directions feature and plug in a start point and destination. Then click 'get directions'. You'll notice that right beside the 'Driving directions to...' bolded line just before the individual instructions is a 3D button. Click it and you will experience a bird-in-the-sky view of the trip.

There's a little pause / play button at the lower left, so if the map images aren't downloading and resolving fast enough, you can always pause to allow the images to load before you proceed. What I like about this feature is that you can get a fairly good idea of what you'll be seeing along the route before you even leave your start point. That's cool.