var map;
    var NorthCarolinaRegionsGeoXML; 

    function CreateCityMarker(city_id,city_name,latitude,longitude)
    {
      var point = new GLatLng(latitude, longitude);

      var MarkerOptions = { title:city_name };
      var marker = new GMarker(point, MarkerOptions);

      GEvent.addListener(marker,'click',function()
      {
        var openWindowStr = '<strong>' + city_name + '</strong><br><a href="display-city-' + city_id + '.php">Click here</a> to find inns that are<br>located in or near this city.';
        marker.openInfoWindowHtml(openWindowStr);
      });

      map.addOverlay(marker);
    }

    function initialize_region_map(region_id)
    {
      if (GBrowserIsCompatible())
      {
        // initialize KML overlay 
        NorthCarolinaRegionsGeoXML = new GGeoXml("http://www.ncbbi.org/google-maps/northcarolina-regions.kml");

        // initialize map
        map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map_canvas")); 

        switch(region_id)
        {
          case 0:
          {
            map.setCenter(new GLatLng(34.840859,-79.980469), 7); 
            break;
          }
          case 1:  // coastal
          {
            map.setCenter(new GLatLng(35.240859,-77.080469), 8); 
            break;
          }
          case 2:  // mountain
          {
            map.setCenter(new GLatLng(35.240859,-82.580469), 8); 
            break;
          }
          case 3:  // piedmont
          {
            map.setCenter(new GLatLng(35.240859,-79.680469), 8); 
            break;
          }
        }  // end of switch

        map.addControl(new GMapTypeControl());

        map.addOverlay(NorthCarolinaRegionsGeoXML);

        var count = 0;
        while(count < TotalCities)
        {
          CreateCityMarker(cityIDAry[count],cityNameAry[count],latitudeAry[count],longitudeAry[count]);
          count++;
        }

      }
    }