I've been using topo's since I was in Scouts in the 70's. If I'm looking for a new area (I've moved twice in the last 5 years) it's a great way to get started. I also like the aerial photography that is available from various sources.
The PGC mapping center is nice because you can switch among different base layers and the clarity remains pretty good even when zoomed in tight. There's a learning curve to it but it's kind of handy to search around.
