The problem with GPS devices - be they integrated into the car's dash, stand alone handsets or even as a feature on your mobile phone - is that they've opened up a Pandora's Box of new distractions.
With the ability to load points-of-interest (POIs) onto many of GPS devices comes a whole new concept of travelling: It's not the destination, nor the journey, but all the weird stuff that acts as a never-ending detour.
"But it's only 15 kilometres out of our way and they say it's the biggest ball of string in the world," has replaced the common whine, "are we there yet?"
POI-Factory.com, for example, is a website full of such distractions, whether it's a list of the Tim Hortons in any given region, your bank's ABM locations, the closest Beer Store or more practically, known red light cameras and speed traps.
With about 10 per cent of their visitors from north of the 49th, there's a wealth of Canadian POI as well, but the most popular by sheer weight of numbers are American. They do however provide an interesting insight into what people are looking for. And, according to POI-Factory.com these are the most downloaded files for last week.
- Rest Areas: When you're on the go, sometimes you just gotta go.
- Complete State Parks List for the USA: Seeing the USA in your Chevrolet should include the majestic natural wonders of the continent.
- Wal-Mart + Super centers:: Somewhat incongruous with number two.
- Starbucks Coffee - US : They obviously haven't heard of Tim Hortons yet.
- Offbeat Tourist Attractions - US: Ahh, yes, the world's largest ball of string. Big Apple or Giant Lobster anyone?
- Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives: The latter of the trio sounds most intriguing.
- National Parks : More natural beauty.
- Target Stores: Maybe that's why they never made it in Canada - without GPS we couldn't find them.
- Cracker Barrel Country Stores: Roadside gas-and-go stops seem like they're everywhere but apparently you can't find one when you need one.
- National Monuments: Sometimes Mount Rushmore is hard to locate on an old fashioned map.