AN ODE TO MAPS

Maps have gone the way of magazines, books and brochures materials. In other words, they are now frequently viewed on mobile phones, tablets and computers. You now see tourists on street corners looking down on their phones, and tapping away, rather than looking down on maps and pointing. For many, it’s a matter of convenience. But does this mean that paper maps are becoming irrelevant? I don’t think so.

Just as magazines and books are still relevant to travellers, so are paper maps. The continual evolution of technology has made it easier to navigate new cities because you can see landmarks, directions, restaurants and more all on one page. This is something maps of course can’t quite do. However, because digital devices are so small, they don’t offer the same big picture perspective that a map does. There are some trade-offs between using paper maps and using your mobile device.

I’m not sure paper maps will ever fall into oblivion. There are just going to be times while travelling that you won’t have a cell phone or WiFi signal. In this case, a paper map is imperative. It’s becoming harder and harder to find destinations that are completely unplugged, but they still exist. Australia’s outback, Botswana’s Okavango Delta, Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory are just a few destinations where you’ll need a map. (Read Five unspoiled places to unplug.)

My advice is to use maps as a secondary, if not primary, resource when travelling. WiFi and cell phone signals will come and go, batteries will die, GPS devices will need updates — and may even give you wrong directions. You’ve probably heard stories of GPS foul-ups; there are lots out there. Believe me, there are times when you will need to have a map on hand.

And then there’s the special allure of paper maps. There’s a certain thrill of unfolding a crisp map and trying to navigate from point A to point B. My father and I would often take long road trips when I was a child, and he would simply hand me a map, point to where we were and where we were going, and then ask me to get us there.

Following a map is fun. And it’s a fun activity that can be done at home or abroad. Here’s an exercise I often recommend to intrepid travellers: open a map, circle an area of the map you haven’t been to or an area that appears barren, and then go explore it. And find out why19th century author Herman Melville penned: “It is not down in any map; true places never are.”

Want more Unplugged Travel? Be sure to join host and world adventurer Alan Bishop on T+E as he takes eight of the most self-proclaimed technology-obsessed Canadians, unplugs them and immerses them in a month-long challenge-based adventure through breathtaking National Parks and National Historic Sites across Canada. Watch OPERATION UNPLUGGED — only on Travel+Escape! Premieres Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. HERE’S A PREVIEW!

Read our full Unplugged Travel series of posts here!