Google Maps is a lot more than a map! Have you ever wished you could preview a particular stretch of road to see if it's any place you'd actually want to drive? Google Street View is the tool for you.
On a computer: go to maps.google.com
- Find the road you want to view
- with your mouse, grab the little "Pegman" yellow figure in the lower right corner. Once you have him attached to your mouse, you will see blue lines in every location where Street View exists
- Drop him off on the stretch of road you want to see
On a mobile device: open the Google Maps app
- Find the road you want to view
- Tap the "Layers" button and choose Street View. You will see blue lines everywhere that Street View exists
- Tap on the stretch of road you want to see
Google Timeline is the feature that will show you all the places you've been. It's a great way to re-live a particular trip, remember where you were on a particular day, or fill in your mileage report. You need to turn on Google's Location History for this to work. Then you, and ONLY you, will be able to see all the places you've been (actually all the places your phone has been.) You'll also see details
like date and time, miles traveled, and photos you've taken.
For example, to see all the countries that have been logged by phone:
- on a mobile device only, Android or iOS, not computer
- Open the Google Maps app
- Tap the account button and choose Your Timeline
- From the tabs across the top, select World
Watch the Youtube show here to see detailed demonstrations of all this and much more. Once you learn about Street View and Timeline, be prepared to spend hours exploring!
