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Optimize your road trip itinerary with OnTheWay

OnTheWay combines Google Maps and Foursquare data to show you the best stuff to see on your road trip.

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headshots_Rob_Lightner.jpg
Rob Lightner
Rob Lightner is a tech and gaming writer based in Seattle. He has reviewed games, gadgets, and technical manuals, written copy for space travel gear, and composed horoscopes for cats.
Rob Lightner

Road trips can be a blast, but sometimes recommendations can come too late. If you don't want to get back home only to hear about the amazing Corn Museum or outsider artist you passed by en route, check out OnTheWay, which mashes up Google Maps and Foursquare data to show you the best stuff to see along the way.

Here's how to use it:

  1. Point your browser to OnTheWay. (It has a great mobile look, but I used it on my laptop.)
  2. Step 1: Navigate to OnTheWay.
    Step 1: Navigate to OnTheWay.
  3. You may want to connect to Foursquare first; you can get better recommendations that way. Click the "Connect to Foursquare" button and then click through to tell OnTheWay who you are.
  4. Enter your starting point and destination, then click "Show me what's on the way."
  5. You may find several possible routes to choose; pick the one you like best and then click "Alright, show me stuff!"
  6. You should see a list of attractions helpfully broken into different legs of your trip.
  7. Step 5: Choose attractions.
    Step 5: Choose attractions.
  8. Pick one to view it and to tell OnTheWay you want to check it out in person.
  9. If a place of interest is in Foursquare, you can check out the info easily by clicking "See details." This brings up the Foursquare page in a new tab.
  10. Step 7: Foursquare info.
    Step 7: Foursquare info.
  11. Once you're done, OnTheWay gives you plenty of options for taking your itinerary with you. Show directions onscreen, e-mail them to yourself or your co-pilot, or print them out.
  12. Step 8: OnTheWay itinerary.
    Step 8: OnTheWay itinerary.

(Via Netted)