Traveling with a family of five can be an adventure on its own, even without traveling anywhere exciting. Having to keep track of the whereabouts of our children and assure their needs are met constantly in the hopes of an enjoyable vacation can be quite exhausting. Of course we take pictures, and lots of them, everywhere we go. With all we deal with in our travels, the last thing we remember to do is document the places we visit. We are all avid hikers, and being close to the White Mountain National Forest, spend a fair amount of time exploring there each summer. Often, when going through the pictures back at home, I have a hard time recalling exactly which trail is which, or which covered bridge we are posing in front of.

 

Camera manufacturers realize this problem and have answered by creating cameras with built-in GPS functionality. Basically, each picture comes complete with a  GPS coordinate tag making the task of identifying where the picture was taken foolproof. The latest in this list of cameras: the Pentax Optio WG-2.

 

The 16-megapixel Optio WG-2 has the added bonus of being super rugged, perfect for taking along on any adventure you can imagine. Any adventure? Yes, even scuba adventures as it is rated for use up to 40 feet underwater. If you are trekking through the rainforest, it comes with 6 LED lights around the 5X optical zoom lens, perfect for macro shots. It will withstand a 4.9 foot drop and up to 220 pounds of pressure, and operates in temperatures that dip to as low as 14°F.

 

Reviewers are raving about the GPS location technology contained within, stating it picks up a signal quickly rather than the few minutes it can take similarly equipped cameras. The camera automatically records GPS location data with each photo taken, as well as recording GPS information on the route you are traveling. This allows you to see the route you traveled back at home on Google Earth or Google Maps.

 

Check it out for yourself, retailing for about $349.95. It doesn’t offer a slew of fancy photographic features, but for those who love a good adventure in nature, whether hiking, mountain biking, or snowshoeing, this camera will withstand just about any situation you subject it to.