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roupon, LivingSocial, MetroMix, Twitter…the list goes on and on. Which other sources do you consult before creating your coveted leisure plan? What if you could avoid the bookmark buildup and arrive at a single site where these services convene?
Already a self-proclaimed master of the Loop and Wicker Park areas of Chicago, my new job in River North provided me with fresh territory to conquer. My fellow intern comrade and I have already been scouting the area’s food trucks, but surely there is more to explore.
Low and behold, CityMaps comes to the rescue as the modern day treasure map.
CityMaps modifies plan-making into a more manageable process with a lively Social Map, available free both online and as an app. In addition to street navigation, CityMaps showcases the day’s tweets, deals, and movie showtimes/trailers. Looking to grab a bite? You can quickly pull up business information (including address, phone, menu and public ratings) plus book your reservation directly through OpenTable. Nearby parking rates and real-time train updates help you get around, and you can review user tips and photos powered by Foursquare.
The CityMaps “Featured” section encourages you to “Discover Your City” and reroutes information from reputable city guide source TimeOut Chicago, leaving you with an endless trove of recreational progression. Map locations are presented as Brand Logos, further creating a visual platform more prominent than plain text.
The creators of CityMaps acknowledged that “map” is both a noun and a verb, leading to the philosophy that “Today’s online maps are great at helping you get from point A to point B – but what about the journey in between?”
With its 2010 debut in New York, followed by assimilation into San Francisco, Austin and Boston, CityMaps arrived in Chicago in June 2012. Milwaukee and Las Vegas are next.
Is your business featured on CityMaps? The site is always looking to grow, so be sure to add yours to the map using their free “submit a business” email form. You just might be within a potential customer’s journey.
