每个人都知道谷歌地图(Google Maps)有多么有用。但对大多数人来说，谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)只是一种新奇事物。
这与事实相去甚远。谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)有几十种实际用途。这些想法将节省您的时间，减轻您旅行时的压力，或者让您在舒适的沙发上进行冒险。
让我们来看看Google Maps Street View的 8 个最有用的用途。
1. 使用谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)探索度假胜地(Vacation Spots)
想象一下(Imagine)，您正计划全家去田纳西州(Tennessee)的大烟山(Smoky Mountains)度假(family vacation)。您知道这里有很多购物、远足和用餐的好地方。但是你如何找到最好的呢？
当然，您可以依靠Google 评论或本地向导(Google Reviews or Local Guides)，但为什么不在您旅行之前访问您感兴趣的地点呢？
为此，请使用Google 地图(Google Maps)查找您想参观的城镇。然后切换到卫星视图并放大(Satellite View and zoom)所有商店、用餐区和其他景点的位置。然后将街景图标(Street View icon)（小黄人）拖到地图上您要探索的街道位置。(street location)
一旦你在街上，只需使用箭头沿着那条街来回移动。单击(Click)并滑动鼠标以左右查看您实际到访后可以参观的所有景点。
<<探索度假街.jpg>>
旅行中最令人沮丧的部分之一是将餐厅或景点放在您的行程中，这在网上听起来很棒，但是一旦您到达那里，附近的环境看起来就很糟糕。使用街景视图(Street View)提前探索您的度假胜地(vacation spot)，确保您将家人带到总是令人兴奋和有趣的环境中。
2. 通过历史视图查看(History View)地点的变化
(Google)多年来，谷歌一直在向世界各地发送他们的带摄像头的车辆。这意味着谷歌(Google)已经储存了许多地方的大量历史照片。
在街景(Street View)中，您可以选择位置地址(location address)正下方的小计时器图标(timer icon)。您会在过去的照片下方看到一个滑块。(slider bar)将条滑回您想查看的年份，然后选择要放大的照片。
对于当地历史学家来说，这是了解地方如何随时间变化的绝佳方式。对于城镇管理人员和政治家来说，这是了解当地城镇投资如何改变社区（无论好坏）的有见地的方式。
对于环保主义者来说，历史视图(History View)可以让您检查清除或其他商业利益如何随着时间的推移对自然景观产生负面影响。
但是请记住，您无法预测Google在哪个季节拍摄了照片。因此，如果两张照片之间的季节不同，比较自然景观等事物可能会更加困难。
3. 探索您未来公寓的社区(Neighborhood)
寻找公寓(Apartment hunting)很难。您需要确保公寓功能包括对您重要的事物。成本必须合适。学校和当地经济也很重要。
但是你在公寓列表(apartment listing)中看不到的一件事是该公寓周围的社区是什么样的。
这就是谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)可以提供帮助的地方。
输入您潜在公寓的地址，然后将街景(Street View)图标拖到地图上。
使用街景(Street View)探索社区可为您提供很多通常无法从公寓列表(apartment listing)中获得的见解。
- 附近的街道和人行道是否保持良好状态？
- 您在当地房屋外看到旧车或垃圾吗？
- 走在街上的居民是什么样子的？附近看起来很(neighborhood look)危险吗？
- 公寓楼或房屋(apartment building or home)的外部是否维修良好？
您会惊讶于Google Maps Street View(Google Maps Street View)可以为您未来的租赁选择提供多少洞察力。
4.不使用煤气(Using Gas)放松欣赏风景(Scenic Views)
世界各地都有一些令人叹为观止的景色，等待着欣赏。当然，您可以投资购买机票、酒店和租车，只是为了欣赏这些美景。或者，您可以输入位置并坐在沙发上探索这些壮丽景色。
这不是人们(way one)一直想要的旅行方式，但是在工作了漫长而紧张的一天之后，使用街景(Street View)沿着新罕布什尔州怀特(New Hampshire White)山脉著名的(Mountains)Kancamagus 高速公路(Kancamagus Highway)开车不是很好吗？或者探索加利福尼亚(California)的内华达山脉(Sierra Nevada Mountains)？
或者，如果海洋是您的最爱，您可以沿着挪威的(Norway)大西洋路(Atlantic Ocean Road)进行虚拟风景驾车。
观看海鸥翱翔、海浪荡漾和阳光照耀的海岸风光以及Google 地图街景(Google Maps Street View)。
唯一缺少(thing missing)的是从打开的窗户吹进来的海洋气味。(scent blowing)
5. 使用谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)探索废弃的地方
如果您喜欢探索，那么您可能想转向使用Google Maps Street View探索废弃的地方。
在世界各地，有一些历史悠久的城镇在时间的流沙中消失了。在西弗吉尼亚州(West Virginia)瑟蒙德(Thurmond)这样的废弃城镇，您可以看到只有过去的幽灵才会造访的旧砖石银行(brick and stone banks)或监狱。
或者前往海外，看看苏格兰杜伊(Scotland)赫湖的艾琳多南(Loch Duich)城堡(Eilean Donan castle)遗址。
您可以瞥见废弃的主题公园、城堡、庇护所、监狱等等。
这种街景(Street View)探索需要进行一些调查，因为废弃地点的确切位置通常并不总是公开的。
但是如果你能找到位置，你可以调用谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)来开车过去看看。如果幸运的话，其他人会亲自到访该地点，并在Google 地图(Google Maps)中留下实际照片，以便您更仔细地查看。
6.徒步前寻找登山口(Find Trailheads)
作为徒步旅行者最烦人的部分之一就是找到许多登山口的位置。您要做的最后一件事就是浪费整个上午(morning driving)在山脚下开车寻找小径的起点。
在大多数情况下，您会在Google 地图上找到许多起点位置（通常会在此处找到(Google Maps)停车场(parking lot)）。
其他时候，特别是对于不太受欢迎的小径，您需要切换到谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)并探索该地区，直到找到小径。
街景(Street View)可让您在远足的早晨浪费时间寻找位置之前，虚拟地“开车”找到位置。
找到位置后，您可以单击并拖动鼠标左右查看一个好的停车位置(parking location)。满意后，只需选择当前地址旁边的红色标记图标，然后在(marker icon)Google 地图(Google Maps)上标记该位置，以便日后查找。
将位置保存到您的收藏(Favorite) 地点(Places)列表中，以便您在旅途中可以通过手机访问它。
7.使用实时视图查看增强(Live View)现实步行路线(Reality Walking Directions)
虽然它不完全是“街景”，但当您在城镇或城市(town or city)中漫步时，您可以在手机上获得类似的视图，并提供前往您需要去的地方的路线。
这称为“实时视图”，它是街景视图(Street View)的实时增强现实替代方案。
要访问此功能，只需打开Google 地图应用(Google Maps app)并选择三行即可打开菜单(Menu)。向下滚动(Scroll)到设置(Settings)并选择导航设置(Navigational Settings)。在菜单底部，您会看到步行路线(Walking Directions)。打开详细的语音指导(Detailed Voice Guidance)。
现在，当您在Google 地图(Google Maps)中并选择步行作为您的交通方式而不是开车时，Live View将启动，并且语音会为您提供如何步行前往的方向。
8.以 0 美元的预算出国(Budget)旅行(Travel Internationally)
您是否曾经想参观诺曼底的(Normandy)海滩、(Beaches)巴黎的(Paris)卢浮宫或(Louvre)吉萨大(Giza)金字塔(Great Pyramid)？
谷歌地图街景(Google Maps Street View)让您可以访问所有这些令人惊叹的地方，而且您无需花费数千美元购买机票(plane ticket)即可到达那里。
只需按照与上述相同的程序即可。在Google Maps(Google Maps)中键入位置，然后将实时视图图标(Live View icon)放置在尽可能靠近该位置的位置。然后按住鼠标向各个方向看和探索。
您会惊叹于您可以探索的世界各地令人叹为观止的地方。即使您认为自己无法靠得足够近而无法看清楚，您也会发现之前访问过该地点的游客会在该Google 地图位置(Google Maps location)留下一些令人惊叹的照片。
8 Awesome Uses For Google Maps Street View
Everyone knows how useful Google Maps can be. But to most рeople, Googlе Maps Street View can feel like nothing more than a novelty.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are dozens of practical uses for Google Maps Street View. These ideas will save you time, reduce stress when you’re traveling, or let you go on an adventure from the comfort of your couch.
Let’s take a look at the 8 most useful uses for Google Maps Street View.
1. Use Google Maps Street View to Explore Vacation Spots
Imagine you’re planning your family vacation to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. You know there are wonderful places to shop, hike, and go dining. But how do you find the best ones?
Sure, you could depend on Google Reviews or Local Guides, but why not visit the locations you’re interested in before you travel there?
To do this, use Google Maps to find the town you want to visit. Then switch to Satellite View and zoom into the location with all of the stores, dining areas, and other attractions. Then drag the Street View icon (the little yellow person) onto the map at the street location you want to explore.
Once you’re on the street, just use the arrows to travel back and forth along that street. Click and slide the mouse to look left and right at all of the attractions you could visit once you’re actually there.
<<exploring-vacation-street.jpg>>
One of the most frustrating parts of traveling is putting restaurants or attractions on your itinerary that sound great online, but once you get there the neighborhood looks terrible. Exploring your vacation spot ahead of time with Street View ensures that you’re taking your family to environments that are always exciting and fun.
2. See How Places Have Changed with History View
Google has been sending their camera-topped vehicles around the world for many years. That means that Google has stockpiled an impressive collection of historical photos of many places.
In Street View, you can select the small timer icon just under the location address. You’ll see a slider bar under past photos. Slide the bar back to the year you’d like to see and then select the photo to zoom in.
For local historians, this is a fantastic way to see how places have changed over time. For town administrators and politicians, it’s an insightful way to see how local town investments have changed the community (for better or worse).
For environmentalists, History View lets you examine how clearcutting or other commercial interests have negatively impacted the natural landscape over time.
Keep in mind, however, that you can’t predict what season Google has captured its photos. So comparing things like the natural landscape can be more difficult if the seasons between two photos are different.
3. Explore Your Future Apartment’s Neighborhood
Apartment hunting is hard. You need to make sure apartment features include things that matter to you. The cost needs to be right. And the schools and local economy are also important.
But one thing you can’t see in an apartment listing is what the community around that apartment looks like.
This is where Google Maps Street View can help.
Type in the address of your potential apartment, and then drag the Street View icon onto the map.
Exploring the neighborhood using Street View gives you lots of insights you normally can’t get from an apartment listing.
- Are the neighborhood streets and sidewalks kept in good condition?
- Do you see older cars or garbage outside local homes?
- What do residents walking along the streets look like? Does the neighborhood look dangerous?
- Is the outside of the apartment building or home in good repair?
You’d be amazed how much insight Google Maps Street View can offer into your future rental choice.
4. Relax to Scenic Views Without Using Gas
There are some breathtaking views all around the world, just waiting to be enjoyed. Sure, you could invest in airfare, a hotel, and a rental car just to see those views. Or, you could type in the location and explore those views in all their grandeur while sitting on your couch.
This isn’t the way one would always want to travel, but after a long and stressful day at work, wouldn’t it be nice to use Street View to take a drive along the famous Kancamagus Highway in the New Hampshire White Mountains? Or explore the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California?
Or if the ocean is your thing, you could take a virtual scenic drive along the Atlantic Ocean Road in Norway.
Watch the seagulls soaring, the waves rippling, and the sun shining as you coast along with Google Maps Street View.
The only thing missing is the ocean scent blowing in through your open windows.
5. Explore Abandoned Places with Google Maps Street View
If exploration is your thing, then you may want to turn to exploring abandoned places with Google Maps Street View.
Across the world, there are historic towns that are lost under the sands of time. You can see old brick and stone banks or jailhouses visited only by the ghosts of the past in abandoned towns like Thurmond, West Virginia.
Or head overseas and check out the ruins of the Eilean Donan castle in Loch Duich, Scotland.
You can catch glimpses of abandoned theme parks, castles, asylums, prisons, and much more.
This kind of exploration with Street View requires a bit of sleuthing, as often the exact locations of abandoned places are not always publicly available.
But if you can track down the location, you can call up Google Maps Street View to drive by and catch a glimpse. If you’re lucky, other people have visited the location in person and left actual photography in Google Maps for you to get an even closer look.
6. Find Trailheads Before Going Hiking
One of the most annoying parts of being a hiker is finding the location of many trailheads. The last thing you want to do is waste your entire morning driving around the base of a mountain to find where the trail starts.
In most cases, you’ll find many trailhead locations (where you’ll usually find a parking lot) located right on Google Maps itself.
Other times, especially for less popular trails, you’ll need to switch to Google Maps Street View and explore the area until you find the trail.
Street View lets you “drive around” virtually to find the location long before you waste your time searching for it the morning of your hike.
Once you spot the location, you can click and drag the mouse to look left and right for a good parking location as well. Once you’re satisfied, just select the red marker icon next to the current address and mark the location on Google Maps so you can find it later.
Save the location to your Favorite Places list so you can access it from your phone when you’re on the road.
7. See Augmented Reality Walking Directions With Live View
While it isn’t exactly “Street View”, when you’re walking around a town or city, you can get a similar view on your phone with directions to get where you need to go.
This is called “Live View”, and it’s a real-time augmented reality alternative to Street View.
To access this feature, just open the Google Maps app and select the three lines to open the Menu. Scroll down to Settings and select Navigational Settings. At the bottom of the menu you’ll see Walking Directions. Turn on Detailed Voice Guidance.
Now, when you’re in Google Maps and select walking as your mode of transportation instead of driving, Live View will launch and a voice will give you turn by turn directions on how to walk there.
8. Travel Internationally On a $0 Budget
Have you ever wanted to see the Beaches at Normandy, the Louvre in Paris, or The Great Pyramid of Giza?
Google Maps Street View gives you access to all of these amazing places, and you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars for a plane ticket to get there.
Just follow the same procedure as above. Type the location into Google Maps, and then place the Live View icon as close as you can to that location. Then press and hold the mouse to look and explore in every direction.
You will be amazed at the breathtaking places around the world that you can explore. And even when you think you won’t be able to get close enough to get a good look, you’ll discover that tourists who visited that location before have left some amazing photos tagged to that Google Maps location.
