Perhaps you want a Garmin GPSMAP that can go anywhere with you. One weekend you might be boating, another weekend mountain biking. You want crossover navigator maps so you don’t have to purchase separate GPS systems for every vehicle you own. Depending on your needs, there are many different Garmin GPS navigation systems, depending on what you’ll be using them for.

Garmin knew that active individuals needed a reliable crossover device to help them navigate their way. In this world of James Bond caliber adventure, we find ourselves traveling by various modes in our pursuits. At the very beginning of the Garmin line of GPS maps, there are aviation navigator maps for pilots to travel by land, air and sea, such as the GPSMAP 96 or 196, for example. From those basic grey-scale models, Garmin has advanced to full-color portable devices like the GPSMAP 495 and 496, adding airport maps, pre-loaded maps, 3,000 favorite locations, traffic information services, voice prompts, satellite radio and weather.

The Garmin GPSMAP 76 series ranges from $200 to $428.56, depending on the model. The marine-friendly GPS navigation systems are great for serious outdoor adventurers who want a barometric altimeter, electronic compass, location tracking and turn-by-turn directions. The grey-scale Garmin GPSMAP comes with the 76 and 76-S models, while the 76Cx and 76CSx models display in 256 colors with transflective screens. The higher end GPSMAP 76cx and 76CSx models also beat the cheaper 76 models in that they have high-quality receivers for when you’re in deep canyons, dense forests or far-off mountain ranges. Additionally, the more expensive models accept pre-loaded data cards if you want to add more maps without linking up to the computer. If you want geocaching and games, then you’ll need the 76Cx or 76CSx, but if you want the compass and altimeter, you’ll need the 76 or 76Cx.

A Garmin GPSMAP may come in various formats. When you’re on the road, you’ll probably be using “City Navigator” maps, which include over 6 million points of interest, traffic data and detailed street information. When you’re sailing, you’ll use the “Blue Chart” GPS navigation maps with 3-D perspective, coastal points of interest, depth contours, shipwreck locations and auto-guide technology. Hikers will use the “Topo US” maps that include terrain contours, elevation information, trails, bodies of water, routable roads and points of interest.

The Garmin Nuvi 760 GPS is an almost unanimous favorite amongst consumers and professional reviewers alike. It comes with all of the must-have features in a GPS plus many of the extras that you will quickly decide can’t live without. In addition, since it doesn’t have all the frills the newer models are coming out with, its price has dropped making it very affordable.Most reviews are overwhelmingly favorable, and it is difficult to find a nuvi 760 user who doesn’t highly recomment it.

If you do a lot of traveling or are living in a new, unfamiliar city, the Garmin Nuvi 760 can be a lifesaver. Imagine taking a wrong turn and ending up in downtown Manhattan during rush hour! Nightmares like that won’t happen to you if you have this unit. It will help you find the right turns by even announcing the names of the roads you’re approaching.  Reviewers say the navigation is excellent and very reliable and that it’s extremely easy to use. In fact, they have said that the navigation is just as good as that of much more expensive units.

The Nuvi 760 has been run through every kind of test imaginable and has been favorably compared to other similar products. GPSmagazine.com, PCmagazine.com, and About.com all make comparisons to other brands and other Nuvi models. In almost all of the tests, the consensus is that the Nuvi 760 is their top choice for a mid-priced GPS. Even if it doesn’t have all the features that are present on newer models, the ones it has all perform very well.

One website, GPSnow.com states that Garmin is phasing out this model and recommends the 765T, a newer model with more features. But for the most value, the 760 is the overall best choice when you take in to consideration the price you pay for the features you get. The Garmin nuvi 760 can be purchased for about $200 while the 765T will cost you anywhere between $375 and $700. There are some extra features that come with the 765T that you won’t find on the 760, so it will be up to you to decide if it is worth the higher price.

The accessories and maps are all available for the 760, and it will do everything you need a GPS system to do at a very reasonable price. With GPS technology advancing so fast these days, it is difficult to keep up to date without spending quite a bit of money. The bottom line is that the Garmin Nuvi 760 is going to give you sound, dependable service for years to come. It is an excellent value for the price.

If you’re looking for the games GPS has to offer, then you might be surprised to see how few there are. Poker, Solitaire and mazes may not interest you. However, there are a few special GPS games that players can enjoy that console or computer players cannot. In fact, GPS navigation systems have turned the concept of games on its head. The common perception is that kids who play these games are lethargic, but GPS games have kids outdoors on active adventures.

One of the newest games GPS has come out with is called “Geotagging,” which is offered by the Surreal Scania website as a new approach to art. Located in southern Sweden, artists have created videos of the local landscape, then geotagged their contemplative videos to play on GPS navigation systems when users pass these points. The artistic representations beg the question, “What is real and what is imaginary?” The filmmakers show how imagination and location interplay with one another. A similar project was filmed in Singapore and can be found at www.gpsfilm.com. While this concept is new to North America, it’s expected to take off soon, with the increasing popularity of site navigation.

If you have ever watched “The Amazing Race,” then you’ve got the concept of the increasingly popular Geocaching games GPS has to play. Teams or individuals will receive sets of coordinates and will race from waypoint to waypoint, performing different tasks at each location and competing for prizes. In their ventures, seekers often find hidden containers with inexpensive toys, keepsakes or items and log books; they then replace the item with something new and record their name in the log. To find hosting in your area, check out www.geocaching.com to see if one of the 673,265 geocaches can be found near you.

Social networking has also reached the world of GPS devices. In addition to participating in some of the games GPS has to play, like “geocaching” and “geodashing,” you can also share your experiences of particular locations with others. At www.mscape.com, you can access games, music, images, text, videos, animations, narratives and games that are embedded in your location! You can then create your own mediascape or modify an existing one as well! To access these amazing interactive navigator maps, you’ll just visit the site, download the free software, connect your GPS to your PC, copy the player and starter mediascape onto your navigation device, start the player and head outside to play!