I found a new favorite tool today – the improved Yahoo Map. I’ve always loved the online maps for directions, but now Yahoo will give you an interactive map of an area that can include things like restaurants, ATMs, gas stations, and more. Yahoo Maps

I tried it out in my own neighborhood for listing restaurants. It showed me the restaurants and when I clicked on the restaurant icons I got addresses, phone, and was a click away from searching for the item on the web.

I tried it out for Avon, Minnesota for hotel listings and came up with more than 12 options all positioned on the map so I could choose one on the river, if that’s what I wanted.

What a great tool for planning a trip or a meeting in an area that you don’t know well. Next time you need to peruse a general area give Yahoo Maps a try!