Basically, what are the best ways to find things around Minneapolis when you've just moved there?

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by kuan

A bike is the best way to find out about the city. You see things through a windshield that you normally miss.

If I was a biker, I don't think I'd want to see anything through a windshield. At least somebody else's.

[Thegonagle]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Not to hijack the thread but -do you use the Verizon GPS? How is it? User friendly? Does it give voice directions? Thanks. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

It's not that great. It supposedly has voice directions, but I never tried them. (Data entry on a phone is never user friendly, if that answers that question.)

I DL'd VZNavigator from "Get It Now" before I took a little road trip this summer, but I actually deleted it from my phone when I got home. Every time you "drive off the screen," it has to connect to the network and load a new map. It also only works within Verizon's native coverage area. I was suggesting it as a "just in case" backup plan in case she got lost without a map, and doesn't want to spring for a real GPS.

For me, it was fun to play with, and it could be helpful in a pinch, but it's a poor substitute for the real thing.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by thegonagle

it's not that great. It supposedly has voice directions, but i never tried them. (data entry on a phone is never user friendly, if that answers that question.)

i dl'd vznavigator from "get it now" before i took a little road trip this summer, but i actually deleted it from my phone when i got home. Every time you "drive off the screen," it has to connect to the network and load a new map. It also only works within verizon's native coverage area. I was suggesting it as a "just in case" backup plan in case she got lost without a map, and doesn't want to spring for a real gps.

For me, it was fun to play with, and it could be helpful in a pinch, but it's a poor substitute for the real thing.

thanks!

[kuan]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

If I was a biker, I don't think I'd want to see anything through a windshield. At least somebody else's.

LOL!

Hey you know we were voted #2 best city for biking. Folks in general are very courteous toward bikes.

[Cruz Azul Guy]

Use google maps for navigation and then just driving around and becoming familiar with the area are really the best things you can do. Minneapolis is very gridlike and pretty easy to maneuver around in. Downtown is a little more tricky but drive around it a few times and become familiar with the one way streets and it really isn't that bad.

[jaygrant]

Originally Posted by Cruz Azul Guy

Use google maps for navigation and then just driving around and becoming familiar with the area are really the best things you can do. Minneapolis is very gridlike and pretty easy to maneuver around in. Downtown is a little more tricky but drive around it a few times and become familiar with the one way streets and it really isn't that bad.

This is great advice. When I first got here I used Google maps for navigation and I don't drive I use public transit so I learned the city in relation to how the transit system operates. Minneapolis is a rather compact city with shopping/dinning districts being in close proximity to each other which was odd to me at first coming from a more spread out city but Google maps was a lifesaver my first weeks here. I used it to find grocery stores as well as shopping and dinning near where I live and that helped me learn the city.