PNW travels March 03, 2009, 09:31:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 99843"Jon & Loni" wrote: I knew this group would be chock full of ideas and experience. The first-hand knowledge can't be beat. --- True, and I certainly agree with the folks who said that one could spend a *long time* in "goseedo" in Oregon and Washington. In addition to never missing a national forest ranger station to get current information and pick up "stuff", I offer four resource suggestions for you and anyone who travels in OR and WA; I've found these very useful: The National Scenic Byways website: http://byways.org/ The site offers not only "national" scenic roads, but state and local scenic road designations, too. (Yes, there's a book, too, but the website contains more listings.)AAA road maps -- AAA's maps are worth the cost of membership, IMO. (I don't bother with the "tour books", but YMMV.) Benchmark atlases -- http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ The state atlases can be ordered from the Benchmark website or from Amazon; check the publication dates of any atlases that you may order from Amazon. Benchmarks are also available at B&N, but without a membership and/or coupon, you'll pay full price."Pacific Northwest Camping Destinations", Mike and Terri Church. Order from Amazon through their website: http://www.rollinghomes.com/northwest%20book.htm Very detailed and accurate, and online updates are available.I carry a packet of post-it tabs/strips to mark pages and a highlighter to mark routes on the maps.Joan P.S. Email me if you'd like me to bring any of these resources to MB for your perusal! ;-)
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #1 – March 03, 2009, 09:44:13 am Yahoo Message Number: 99849"Benchmark atlases -- http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ The state atlases can be ordered from the Benchmark website or from Amazon; check the publication dates of any atlases that you may order from Amazon. Benchmarks are also available at B&N, but without a membership and/or coupon, you'll pay full price." We've also found them at a discounted price at Costco and Sam's Club, around $14.00 if I remember correctly.We think they're by far the best, most comprehensive maps available and well worth the priceKate http://cholulared.blogspot.com http://www.cholulared.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/83282349@N00/Want to find us? Click below, we're #3096 http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=3096[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #2 – March 03, 2009, 09:56:01 am Yahoo Message Number: 99850On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:44:05 -0700, Kate Klein kate@...> wrote these inspiring words:QuoteWe think they're by far the best, most comprehensive maps available and well worth the price Compared to what??? Even Delorme?
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #3 – March 03, 2009, 10:01:05 am Yahoo Message Number: 99851Quote"Benchmark atlases -- http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ . . .QuoteWe think they're by far the best, most comprehensive maps available and well worth the price I agree! IMO, they're far superior to the Delorme atlases. Since we travel in the Western states, we have all of their atlases. The only Delorme atlases we have left are for Alaska and Texas, but are waiting for the day when Benchmark has atlases available for these 2 states, too!Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #4 – March 03, 2009, 10:03:43 am Yahoo Message Number: 99852QuoteWe think they're by far the best, most comprehensive maps available and well worth the price Compared to what??? Even Delorme? Yes, absolutely!!! Personally, I don't like the Delorme atlases (although the one they had for Nevada wasn't too bad). As I stated in a previous post, I feel that the Benchmark atlases are far superior to the Delorme atlases. However, Benchmark only has atlases for the Western states (so far, at least). That's fine with us since that's where we travel. However, if you travel in the midwest and eastern states, then you're stuck with Delorme.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #5 – March 03, 2009, 10:11:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 99853"We think they're by far the best, most comprehensive maps available and well worth the price Compared to what??? Even Delorme? " BUSTED! I have to admit that we happened on the Benchmark Press maps early on n our RVing days and have stuck with them. What I love is that they show all the small roads, they have topo maps, city maps, public land maps, info on campgrounds, parks, monuments, etc, all usually with phone numbers for contacts.So we haven't used the Delorme, which may be just as good (but I'm sticking with Benchmark, cause they always have what I want).YMMV (as Joan always adds)Kate http://cholulared.blogspot.com http://www.cholulared.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/83282349@N00/Want to find us? Click below, we're #3096 http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=3096[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #6 – March 03, 2009, 11:09:51 am Yahoo Message Number: 99859On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 09:11:01 -0700, Kate Klein kate@...> wrote these inspiring words:QuoteBUSTED! I have to admit that we happened on the Benchmark Press maps early on n our RVing days and have stuck with them. What I love is that they show all the small roads, they have topo maps, city maps, public land maps, info on campgrounds, parks, monuments, etc, all usually with phone numbers for contacts. I use Delorme for the lesser roads. The later editions better show topo features. They are color coded for public lands, CG's, boat launches, etc. They also describe trails, scenic drives, paddling trails, etc. They also show lat and long, useful for off-roading. Delorme scale is 1:150,000 or about one mile for every 2.5 inches on the map. What scale does Benchmark use? I might be converted.
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #7 – March 03, 2009, 11:31:25 am Yahoo Message Number: 99860"Delorme scale is 1:150,000 or about one mile for every 2.5 inches on the map. What scale does Benchmark use? I might be converted."DorothyIt looks like they use 1:400,000 so, if I'm reading correctly, the Delorme may be more detailed. I think(?) that the Benchmarks are about 5 miles to the inch.Katehttp://cholulared.blogspot.com http://www.cholulared.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/83282349@N00/Want to find us? Click below, we're #3096 http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=3096[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #8 – March 03, 2009, 11:33:50 am Yahoo Message Number: 99861Quote Delorme scale is 1:150,000 or about one mile for every 2.5 inches on the map. What scale does Benchmark use? I might be converted. Here are the scales for the Benchmarks I have.CO - 1:200,000 CA - 1:300,000 NM - 1:400,000Malcolm 02BlueMB
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #9 – March 03, 2009, 11:56:15 am Yahoo Message Number: 99863On Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:33:39 -0000, bmwgt31995 no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote these inspiring words:QuoteHere are the scales for the Benchmarks I have.CO - 1:200,000 CA - 1:300,000 NM - 1:400,000 Interesting! Delorme uses the same scale for all states. And yes, Kate, the lower the second unit number, the more detail. If Benchmark varied the scale to fit each state on a fixed number of pages, I would understand. But, CO and NM are somewhat the same size and the scale is widely different. After using Delorme for over 15 years, changing scale by state would be difficult for me. So my mileage does vary in the instant case.Don
Re: PNW travels & Benchmark Press Reply #10 – March 03, 2009, 12:53:50 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99872QuoteDelorme scale is 1:150,000 or about one mile for every 2.5 inches on the map. What scale does Benchmark use? 1:250,000 (at least on the newest Wyoming atlas...I didn't check all the others). I don't really know what importance that plays, however. All I know is that we've replaced all of our Delorme atlases with Benchmark atlases when they've become available. You really must see one in the flesh to make your own decision.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: PNW travels Reply #11 – March 03, 2009, 01:16:07 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99878Quote Benchmark atlases -- http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ The state atlases can be ordered from the Benchmark website or from Amazon; check the publication dates of any atlases that you may order from Amazon. Thanks, Joan! Benchmark sells both atlases and folding maps, which they say contain the "same" information. Given the size of the atlases, I don't see how they could get everything onto a single folding map. Have you (or anyone else here) used the maps instead of the atlases and can compare the two? -- Jon
Re: PNW travels Reply #12 – March 03, 2009, 01:27:20 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99882Have you (or anyone else here) used the maps instead ofQuotethe atlases and can compare the two? -- Jon We don't like folding maps because they're too difficult to handle when in a vehicle without a large, flat surface to lay them out on. But I'd tend to question, too, how they could get everything crammed onto a paper map that is contained in their atlases...unless it's a really BIG folding map! ;-)Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: PNW travels Reply #13 – March 03, 2009, 06:41:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99892Quote Benchmark atlases -- http://www.benchmarkmaps.com/ The state atlases can be ordered from the Benchmark website or from Amazon; check the publication dates of any atlases that you may order from Amazon.Thanks, Joan! Benchmark sells both atlases and folding maps, which they say contain the "same" information. Given the size of the atlases, I don't see how they could get everything onto a single folding map. Have you (or anyone else here) used the maps instead of the atlases and can compare the two? -- Jon The folding maps don't cover a whole state. Rather, multiple maps are provided for each state. When we were in Tucson, we purchased a map that covered only the Southwestern corner of Arizona. This results in a manageable sized map with great detail. The down-side, of course, is the number of maps that you'll have to carry.Bill "Wild Thing" 06 MB NE 59
Re: PNW travels Reply #14 – March 03, 2009, 07:31:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99893"Bill Pratt" wrote: The folding maps don't cover a whole state. Rather, multiple maps are provided for each state. --- AFAIK, the *Benchmark* folding maps do cover an entire state, but the content detail, inclusions, and "area focus" in the atlases are much greater. Benchmark atlases are organized into two basic sections: Recreation and Landscape. The "Recreation" map sections (of a state) are far fewer and *much* less detailed than the "Landscape" sections; for example, the Benchmark California atlas contains 12 "Recreation" sections, while the "Landscape" sections number 77. The "Recreation" map sections give a broad overview of "recreation" locations, roads, cities and towns, and general topography; "Landscape" maps zoom in on small geographical grid sections and show just about everything but the gopher holes! (Well, not quite, but the maps *are* very detailed!) One really has to check out a Benchmark atlas to see if it's useful for his/her travel and camping style; I think they're great, and some other folks do, too, but they don't work for everybody.JoanP.S. A magnifying glass can be helpful for those with "old eyes"!
Re: PNW travels Reply #15 – March 16, 2009, 08:08:52 pm Yahoo Message Number: 100502QuoteAAA road maps -- AAA's maps are worth the cost of membership, IMO. (I don't bother with the "tour books", but YMMV.) Joan We get the Tour Books, discard all but the alphabetical city/town listings and the co-pilot reads the descriptions out loud as we pass through places. Of course I need all the help with geography I can get!Linda Allen
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