Google
Maps shows how we
spent summer 2012
In the blink of an eye,
summer is coming to an end. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was planning out all my
summer activities as I eagerly awaited the start of long, sunny days and warm nights.
Before we approach the official end of
summer on September 21, our
Google Maps team thought it’d be fun to see how those of us in the **rthern Hemisphere have
spent the dog days. To do this, we reviewed the
summer search activity on
maps.google.com in several countries between the end of May and the beginning of September. Within each country, a look at some of the top-rising searches and the often-searched landmarks on
Google Maps gives us a sense of how people around the world
spent their summers.
We’re ho**red that people rely on the comprehensive and accurate imagery in
Google Maps to research, plan, preview and digitally experience distant as well as local destinations across the globe. Take a look and click through for a larger image:
**rth Americans sought out the best local beaches to help cool off from the
summer heat. In comparison, many more people from Spain, Italy and France searched for community swimming pools. In cooler areas of the U.K. the rising
Google Maps searches included many indoor activities such as squash, bars and going to the gym. And, as expected, travel was a clear choice for the summer, as indicated by a surge in searches for lodging in almost every region.
Many popular destination searches were located outdoors. National parks and Hawaiian islands were the most popular searches in the U.S., while local parks, zoos, gardens and playgrounds topped Canada’s and Europe’s list. Major landmarks such as the Empire State Building in New York City, Niagara Falls in Canada, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Taj Mahal in India also topped the list of often-searched places in
Google Maps. And of course, with the
summer Games drawing in international audiences, Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Stadium were two of the most searched for locations throughout the U.K. this summer.
Check out the destinations that captured people’s attention this
summer and see how your interests compared to others around the world. We hope you enjoy this look back to remember the fun places we all went with
Google Maps this summer, and we can’t wait to help you
find your next adventure!
Posted by Manik Gupta, Sr. Product Manager,
Google Maps
(Cross-posted on the Lat Long blog)
