by Nick Gipe

Created on: February 23, 2009   Last Updated: March 03, 2009

We've all been there. A friend or spouse has convinced you that they know a "shortcut" that will save you a great deal of time to wherever your destination may be. Like a fool, we always listen because we want to arrive at grandma's house on Christmas morning, rather than later that day, but of course we get lost on a back road that is straight out of every horror that we have watched since we were 5 years old.

Of course we arrive, eventually, just in time for the New Year's party and nobody asks where you have been because everyone knows that you took one of your famous, even legendary shortcuts. Believe me I have been there and back, and then there one more time. It's just plain embarrassing. Don't get me wrong, I plan the trip on a map, using a yellow highlighter to mark the roads I am going to use. Every time, somewhere along the way, I will miss my exit and have to go ten extra miles before being able to backtrack.

The worst is when you miss your exit twice, once from each direction. Without fail, every time I stop to fill up the gas tank or use the restroom, I can never seem to find the highway again. I have asked for directions and still manage to lose myself on a road without a name. Oh, I have tried the little GPS receivers that can find your location within three feet anywhere in the world and somehow, as sure as the sun rises, I get lost. I have tried many, many navigation systems and last Christmas, my father recieved a gift from my aunt, it was a Garmin.

Now, I had watched the commercial and just shrugged it off as just another navigation system, but I tell you as honest as I am writing this, the first time Iused it, I took a trip from my driveway to Chicago, it is about a four hour drive, i did not get lost once. At all. The entire trip, and the return trip. The screen is easy to read and it gives you clear instructions with enough warning ahead of time i could cross 4 lanes of traffic in time to make my exit. I thought the trip through the city was going to be the worst part, but nay, it wasn't.

The Garmin gave me the quickest route I have even taken through the city. The restaurant feature is very useful when you are searching for a specific type of eatery and shopping feature is a definite plus, too. No more getting lost when I'm not familiar with an area. Even around home, I am still finding new restaurants and shopping centers. All in all, it is one of the most useful navigation tools that I have ever used.

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