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If you’re anything like me, the start of season 5 of Game of Thrones on April 12 simply cannot come soon enough.  However, I have a temporary solution.  If you too can’t wait to see our heroes/villains battle across Westeros once again, then please join in me in nerding out over some maps.

In a previous post, we looked at a map of Westeros that showed the political boundaries of the various kingdoms and dynasties that controlled the continent.  However, if you keep digging online, you’ll uncover some rather unique creations by the many loyal fans of the books and tv show.  Here I have assembled the five oddest maps I found.  Some of them depict Westeros in a completely different artistic style, and others bring the locations (and atmosphere) of Westeros to the real world.  Let’s take a look!

1. A Disney Version of Westeros

Map of Westeros by Kitkat Pecson, via http://www.neatorama.com/2012/07/29/if-mary-blair-drew-game-of-thrones-maps/

Westeros is a dark, violent place where no character is ever truly safe from peril.  But what if it wasn’t?  This map illustrates Westeros in the style of Mary Blair, who drew many of the classic cartoon Disney movies, such as Peter Pan.  Now there’s a world I’d like to live in.  Even the moon door at The Eyrie looks inviting!

2. Super Mario World Style

Super Mario World Map of Westeros, by Reddit user titan413, via http://www.digitalspy.com/fun/s151/game-of-thrones/news/a392437/game-of-thrones-map-recreated-super-mario-world-style-picture.html#~p1L9wu1VrxVeij

If you came of age in the 1990s, the above map is sure to fill you with nostalgia for the classic videogame Super Mario World.  One inventive reddit user rearranged the topography of that world to resemble Westeros.  He did a really great job, and I can recognize all the familiar locations (such as The Twins and Harrenhal) from the sprites he used. Now if only the White Walkers would turn around when you looked at them, like the boos from the Mario game, the Night’s Watch would be all set.

3. The Sports Map of Westeros

Sports Illustrated Map of Westeros, via http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/sports-illustrated-most-influential-game-of-thrones-map/

Sports and nerdiness together at last!  I must confess that I do not follow sports that closely, so I don’t get half of these references, but it is funny to see the territory beyond The Wall referred to as The Land of Always Hockey.

4. The United States of Westeros

United States of Westeros Map, via College Humor, http://www.collegehumor.com/post/6902181/game-of-thrones-if-youre-an-american

The United States are converted into Westeros in the map above.  Some of the locations make perfect sense, like Casterly Rock being New York City while Washington, DC is King’s Landing.  Others seem like odd choices, but the post on College Humor has an explanation for each one.  For example, Qarth is Savannah, Georgia, because it is “a wealthy port city, the inhabitants think that it’s the greatest city that ever was or will be, and yet no one outside the city cares. Filled with many rich creepy people.”  (Keep in mind that this is College Humor, so everything is a little tongue in cheek.)

5. West New Jerseros

Map of West New Jerseros, by Ian van Halem, via http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/04/winter_is_coming_nj_man_blends.html

Finally, we find ourselves (inevitably, as always) in New Jersey.  A fan of the series created this map of “West New Jerseros” after Peter Dinklage jokingly stated in an interview that the show was filmed in Jersey.  It actually sort of works, although I’m not sure that the Jersey Shore is really the seat of political power like King’s Landing is.

Hope you enjoyed the maps as much as I did!  And remember: Spring is coming, and with it, a new season of Game of Thrones!