I love using Google Maps in my travels. I would take out my Lonely Planet and plot its places of interest, along with related information into Google Maps. I use it to plan my itinerary. Aside from conversations with people along the way, nothing can keep me fully engaged as when using a guidebook and map in my journeys.
Lately, I’ve used Google Maps to find family-friendly places when travelling with my wife and eight-month-old baby. I’m a new father and moving around takes special planning. There are specific considerations when going out with a baby. But travelling with a baby is really not more difficult, it’s just different.
This is what I want to share to those who also have a baby, those who plan to have a baby, and those who are clueless about having a baby. It may seem difficult but there are tools that can help. It would be a great deal to be able to access and filter into baby- or family-relevant information.
So I imagine that I am writing a backpacker’s guide for parents and families. I try to include useful and practical information that I myself would need such as availability of parking (we use a car seat) and diaper changing rooms (we have a baby). Also, I may give some background information about the place, i.e. some history, what the place is known for, what to do when there. But I try to package this into highly-accessible and easily-consumed information so as not to take away time from the moment.
Because most important of all, my goal is to share how the place suits families and friends – Does the place encourage an atmosphere that enhances great conversation, animated experiences, heart-warming memories? In this place, can we truly connect?
