Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 7.2 An interpretive panel on Hadrian's Wall Path, England
presented authentic information (Christ, 2002; Mahoney, 1999). Despite the
ongoing academic debate about objectivity or subjectivity of authenticity in
heritage contexts (Timothy, 2011a), to be as authentic as possible so that
people understand the real stories behind the trails or sites along them it is
crucial to present dependable and accurate history. Thus, the human trage-
dies associated with some routes (e.g. the Trail of Tears and the Slave Route)
should also be presented, not just the rosy pictures of the past.
Maps and guides
For many people, maps and trail guides are an integral part of using a
trail. Today, this includes technology-based maps and global positioning
systems (GPS). Whether provided digitally for technology-savvy trail users
or in traditional paper form, maps and guides can help communicate rules
and regulations, encourage good codes of conduct, provide warnings and
hazards information, describe the levels of difficulty associated with cer-
tain sections of the path, and help tourists and recreationists find places of
interest along the way (Settina & Kauffman, 2001). Guides and maps are
key interpretive media for all route types and scales. Where nature is the
primary attraction, these media can help identify flora and fauna. In the
context of culture, they may be a principal means of disseminating knowl-
edge about historic buildings, archaeological digs or other cultural sites
along the way.
Interpretive panels
The importance of wayside interpretive panels has long been recognized
for providing information and directions to tourists and other hikers (Belan,
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