Check out this story about James Niehues, the person that hand paints all those ski resort maps that you probably have used or seen before.

Check out these maps and article about 15 fast food chains that dominate in the US.

Here is an interesting article from the UK about how map reading seems to be a lost art.  People have stopped being able to read maps in the age of automatic mapping … people are instead increasingly read by maps!  Map reading should be a basic life skill and maybe we should start teaching it in schools again.

What many people love most about the fall are the vibrant colors that mark the transition from summer to winter. Temperature, the amount of sunlight, and precipitation all affect how quickly the foliage will change from green to red, yellow, or orange. This interactive tool illustrates where autumn colors are peaking across the United States.

The map uses data from NOAA precipitation forecasts, daylight and temperature forecasts, historical precipitation data for this year, as well as other government and private data sources to visually indicate the foliage change between August and November, noting seven degrees of change. In addition to helping users plan a weekend getaway to enjoy fall’s many colors, the site offers some science trivia about what causes leaves to be certain colors and why leaves fall.  Check it out!