Beer by satellite

I justed discovered a cool website that allows you to download Point of Interest (POI) files to your GPS unit.

The site is called POI Factory and there are tons of free downloads - lists of places that other people created and mapped out the coordinates to - so all you need to do is download the list to your GPS and the new POI's will show up on your map.

They also have locations of red light enforcement cameras to help remind you to not go through a yellow-ish light at certain intersections. Wisconsin doesn't have any of the cameras yet, thankfully, but Chicago has a lot of them.

The site also lets you create your own POI lists and upload them to the site for others to use.

Here are the Wisconsin ones I could find.

• Milwaukee Attractions
• Wisconsin - Door County Attractions
• Wisconsin - Door County Restaurants
• Wisconsin - Lakes
• Wisconsin - Landforms
• Wisconsin Brew Pubs & Breweries
• Wisconsin Elks Lodges
• Wisconsin Ham Radio Repeaters
• Wisconsin Interstate Rest Areas
• Wisconsin military sites (historical)
• Wisconsin State Parks
• Wisconsin Waterfalls
• Wisconsin Wineries

I already downloaded the Wisconsin Brew Pubs & Breweries list - which contained 57 different entries. Now I can search for breweries along my current route or near my current location, or just have my GPS alert me when a brewery is nearby.

Most of the major GPS brands support POI's and the POI Factory is definitely worth a visit.