If you’re planning a long trip this summer your first stop should not be the gas station or the oil change place, but instead your computers.
Software programs and Internet sites offer everything you might need to plan your trip, from detailed maps and hotel information to “virtual vacations” that let you visit potential destinations without ever leaving your home.
TripMaker Deluxe 1998 (Rand McNally; Widows; $45) includes routing tool that finds the quickest, shortest or, most scenic way to your destination, and it prints out accurate and well-detailed maps add directions. Also along for the ride is the Mobil Travel Guide, with information on 7,000 restaurants and 12,000 hotels. A nifty feature is a list of “Rainy Day Attractions” that will keep you and the kids busy even when the weather doesn’t cooperate.
A feature less likely to be utilized is TripMaker’s compatibility with lap top computers and a Global Positioning System to pinpoint your position on a map as you drive. It even records your trip for replay upon your return. And you thought home movies were boring (star) (star) (star) 1/2
USA 98: Streets and Destinations (Sierra; Windows; $50) is one of the heftiest packages we’ve lifted lately and a look inside reveals why It’s packaged with a couple of CDs brimming with maps and business end entertainment listings — Frommer’s USA, a 1,000-page guide to America’s most popular tourist spots, and a thick book of coupons.
With info on 70,000 hotels and 380,000 restaurants, the database of restaurants and hotels is much larger than TripMaker’s though the information provided is more superficial. Still, if you need to find the ATM closest to your remote campsite, USA 98 will tell you. All in all, it’s a handsome ensemble, with a variety of options for customizing maps and directions. (star) (star) (star) 1/2
AAA Map `n’ Go (DeLorme; Windows; $39) offers the usual assortment of maps and lodging information but it goes the extra mile with some options that should appeal to more creative user. For examples a slide show feature lets you insert photos from your trip onto the maps, then add text and narration to create a multimedia virtual vacation. You then replay the highlight reel on your PC, or you can even e-mail it to friends and relatives in a cleverly constructed file that will play itself when launched.
Other features include a budget planner, a list of 80 especially scenic drives, and an extensive database of radio stations and their formats. Moreover: for an extra $159, DeLorme will sell you a Global Positioning Receiver that not only will pinpoint your exact location as you travel, but also. will signal when an important turn is coming up. (star) (star) (star) 1/2
Where in America is Carmon Sandiego? The Great Amtrak Adventure (Broderbund; Windows; $10) is a rarity: a travel-oriented program aimes at kids. If you’re planning a family trip on Amtrak, and have children aged 7-12, you might want to hop aboard. Kids learn the routes of such famous Chicago-based trains as the Empire Builder and the California Zephyr, and the have some fun along the way too, (star) (star)
WEB SITES
A variety of Web sites exist to help make your vacation go more smoothly–or even to let you travel vicariously without leaving the comforts of home.
www.previewtravel.com offers a wide variety of services.
A FareFinder shows the best available airfare; a Travel Newswire contains late-breaking news and special deals from various vacation spots; and Fodor’s Destination Guides offer comprehensive information on nearly a hundred major cities. (star) (star) (star)
www.mapquest.com offers detailed maps of the U.S., Canada and other international destinations. You can plan a top using the Mobil Travel Guide, or plan a move to a new town with a link to MoveQuest.com. (star) (star) 1/2
www.randmcnally.com lets you make airline, car rental and hotel reservations. The info can then be incorporated into TripMaker Deluxe to print maps with complete information on each reservation. The Web site also offers information on road conditions and weather forecasts. A related site, www.randmcnallystore.com, offers thousands of travel-related products for sale. (star) (star) (star)
www.HistoryTravel.com is produced by the History Channel, and it offers information on thousands of historical sites throughout the country, as well as a frequently updated calendar of festivals. The site also offers links to companies that offer tours of notable places. (star) (star) (star)
www.kidscamps.com is the place to start if your child is thinking of summer camp. Information on thousands of camps is offered, grouped thematically under such headings as Sports Camps, Family Camps, and so on. (star) (star) 1/2
www.Taoswebb.com is emblematic of a new trend in Web sites–virtual tours that are produced by a city’s tourism office. This colorful and intriguing glimpse of Taos is one of the best.(star) (star) (star)
www.citynet.com is a good place to start if your travels are taking you to a major city. Reams of information is available on restaurants and bars, though the data on museums and cultural events is sketchy, and information on Chicago was annoyingly hard to find. (star) (star)
www.LLBean.com offers information on more than 900 national and state parks throughout the country, and lets you search by name, region or activity. More than 2,000 wildlife and nature photos are included, and the pitches for L.L. Bean’s products are remarkably restrained. (star) (star) (star)
www.virtual-vacation.com is a sweet little site that lets you create a virtual postcard from a spot you probably haven’t visited but wish you had. You then can add a greeting to the pretty shot and send it to a loved one free of charge. (star) (star) 1/2
www.roadsideamerica.com is one of the most enjoyable Web sites I’ve stumbled across in a long time. The Roadside America books focus on spots that are offbeat as well as off the beaten path. This Web site has all the wit and bemused good humor of the books, as well as equally amusing photographs. The listings for Illinois include such gems as a tour of Metropolis, which celebrates itself as the hometown of Superman; and Ahlgrim’s Funeral Parlor of Palatine, which has a death-themed miniature golf course in the basement–just the perfect spot for a quick getaway (star) (star) (star) (star)
