I contend that when it comes to map reading and navigating, there are two types of people: “tube” people and “airplane” people. Tube people navigate by the landmarks they see as they drive along, turning left or right as directed. I think that because GPS navigation systems present only a narrow slice of a route, they promote the tube view. On the other hand, airplane people see a place as if they were flying above it, and often prefer to navigate using cardinal directions, north, south, east, and west. When you look at a map of an area, whether in print or online, you see where one feature is in relation to others in the region: the airplane view.

Because I love maps, I also love air photos, satellite images, and drone videos. This drone video by Twin Cities videographer Tyler Mason looks at life around the 45th parallel from the air. It shows why I love living here. And it’s presented by Bring Me the News, a journalist-run website featuring all that is interesting, timely, and important to know about Minnesota.