Google adds Neighborhood Search Capability

Google LatLong: Neighborhood Search Capability : Recently Google Maps introduced the ability to perform searches by neighborhoods. Neighborhoods tend to be somewhat informally defined but well recognized in certain cities. Neighborhood search is now available in fifty US cities, with more to follow.

Very cool. I use Google Earth for this sort of thing. When going away I fire up Google Earth and get the hotel I'm staying at on the screen and then turn on the Dining, Parks and Recreation, and Roads layers. See whats around and how the roads are situated. I'm pretty good at directions if I have an aerial view of the area in my head.