Hometown Puzzle
Your neighborhood is at the center of it all in this personalized map puzzle, created using a new and groundbreaking cartographic data set. This one-of-a-kind gift features a custom map that slowly reveals itself piece by piece as you assemble your neighborhood, starting with familiar areas and discovering new ones along the way. Be warned, there is no traditional guide print included—the fun, and the challenge, comes from identifying familiar landmarks and building out from there. (We’ll look the other way if you decide to consult an online map for a hint.)
From any starting point, we'll create a 400-piece puzzle of a six-by-four-mile area. A house-shaped piece in the center represents the address you choose, and gives you an easy starting point. The map shows main roads, contour lines, water features, vegetation, and notable buildings. It makes a great gift for anyone who wants the challenge of learning how places in their local community fit together.
Arrives in a presentation box with space for you to write a personal message. Specify recipient's full U.S. address, including street number and name, city, state, and zip code.
Please note: Personalized items cannot be returned unless damaged or defective. Please check your order carefully; once placed, your order for this item cannot be canceled. Specify your U.S. postal address for the delivery location. Puzzles are made in the UK and sent to the U.S. for delivery by the U.S. Postal Service. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
12 1/4''W x 18 1/2''L completed.
Please note: Because the puzzle is made in the UK and sent to the U.S. for delivery by the U.S. Postal Service, we are unable to provide shipment tracking information.
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 29 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
59%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Challenging (13)
- Entertaining (13)
- Fun (13)
- Educational (12)
- Interactive (7)
Cons
- Visually unpleasing (3)
Best Uses
- Adults (11)
- Family (10)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Parent (7), Educator (4), Puzzle whiz (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes (24), No (4)
Most Liked Positive Review
A great way to spend a holiday!
We bought a Home Town puzzle for ourselves and for each of my siblings' families, and everyone loved the puzzles! They are not too hard (perhaps 10 person/hours), but challenging, and...Read complete review
We bought a Home Town puzzle for ourselves and for each of my siblings' families, and everyone loved the puzzles! They are not too hard (perhaps 10 person/hours), but challenging, and you learn a lot about your neighborhood. My sister-in-law put hers together alone, and told us "It was pretty hard but very enjoyable. A good way to spend a holiday." I had to order additional puzzles for relatives that I had forgotten the first time around who wanted one once they heard about it. I think the price is fair, as each puzzle is made to order. We don't have the space, time, or patience for a large puzzle, so the size was perfect.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Dissapointed
We love to do maps and we looked forward to building a map of our neighborhood. Unfortunately, the map used to create our neighborhood was at least 15 years old. Our neighborhood is only...Read complete review
We love to do maps and we looked forward to building a map of our neighborhood. Unfortunately, the map used to create our neighborhood was at least 15 years old. Our neighborhood is only 10 to 12 years old. Majority of the puzzle was pipelines and bayous to match up. If you live in an area where the streets haven't changed in 20 years, the puzzle would be ok.
I suggest they update their maps or better yet, provide a current Google Satellite map.
Reviewed by 29 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Can Withstand Use
- Challenging
- Educational
- Entertaining
- Fun
Cons
Best Uses
- Adults
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
It took 3 weeks to receive this puzzle
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Challenging
- Educational
- Entertaining
- It's Accurate
- It's A Difficult Puzzle
- It's Pretty
Cons
Best Uses
- Adults
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
I wish I had gotten this when we first moved to the region. It helps to gain perspective of the whole area.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Educational
- Entertaining
- Fun
- Interactive
Cons
- Too Easy
Best Uses
- Adults
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
I purchased this gift for a puzzle fan who is hard to buy for. He was pleased with the personal, unique aspect of his own neigborhood - a puzzle he could not get at a store. However, if the option had been available, I would have purchased a larger puzzle with more pieces.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Challenging
- Educational
- Fun
- Unique To Each Child
Cons
- Can't Think Of Any
Best Uses
- Family
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
Expensive
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Challenging
Cons
- No Fun
- No Photo Of Completed Puz
- Pieces Not Interlocking
- Too Much Surrounding Area
Best Uses
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
looks like a good idea but does not translate well in this case
my sister deserves a refund
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
Cons
- Poor Quality
- Too Difficult
- Visually Unpleasing
Best Uses
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
What a disappointment this puzzle is. It is a prime example of a good idea, poorly executed. Any photo print may be judged by brightness, contrast, hue and saturation. The puzzle image fails in all four areas as it is drab with vague contrast, ambiguous hues and weak saturation. As if that were not bad enough, puzzle tiles are so similarly cut that erroneous pieces interlock easily adding further frustration. Too bad because if the actual puzzle had the qualities of the photo exhibited online when ordered it would be sheer joy to assemble. As it is, pass on this one.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
This was ordered as a gift. We received in good time, but our address was not on the map! Have not yet received the corrected puzzle; hopefully, it will be correct.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- None
Cons
- Maps Out Of Date
Best Uses
- Kindling
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
The map was woefully out of date (at least 7 years). Honestly - Apple Maps is more accurate. The home puzzle piece wasn't even close.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Challenging
- Entertaining
- Fun
- Interactive
Cons
Best Uses
- Adults
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
I bought this for my Mom's birthday because she loves doing puzzles. It arrived quickly despite the Frankenstorm. It was quite challenging to build but we had great fun piecing together our neighborhood.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Challenging
- Educational
- Entertaining
- Fun
- Interactive
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- Family
Comments about Hometown Puzzle:
This puzzle is a fabulous idea. My kids and I love getting together for puzzle night. I bought the Hometown Puzzle as a surprise for one of our nights and we had great fun. We lived at that address for 17 years and still learned about things that were around us from putting together the puzzle.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Displaying reviews 1-10
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From National Geographic:Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback. We're sorry that your puzzle was not as expected. We've done some investigation, and we believe that the discrepancy is due to the fact that this general area was in development over the course of several years and was completed in only 2011, and so would not be up-to-date until the next revision of the map in 2013. Regardless if this was the case or if it was simply an error on our part, we want you to be pleased with your order. Our customer service department will contact you today to see how we can make this right.