I actually carried and used a little compass with the maps at Disney World and SeaWorld. The first time I went to Disney World I found myself disoriented, so the last - most recent - time I went the compass came with me.

When I lived in the Chicago suburbs and took the train downtown I found that same simple small compass very useful for quickly orienting myself. Without it I'd pop out of a Union Station door onto a sidewalk without any real idea which way was which (given my very poor ability to remember the Chicago street names and their relative locations). I think a lot depends upon whether you know the local reference points (roads, stores, ...).

Here on the northwoods roads of Wisconsin I'm constantly confused about which way is which. My truck has a compass, which I constantly reference. Wandering around town things are pretty simple since the towns are sooo small. Heading into the woods means a compass is absolutely needed - and probably a GPS with a few pre-saved waypoints too.

Ken K.