linux program to draw custom maps

[Alan Humphries]

Hi! Does anybody know some kind of program in linux that can draw custom 
maps from point A to point B? All parameters should come from user input 
and also the program shoud be able to place some nice graphics in the 
place of houses, buildings and so on... I want to draw a map to indicate 
to people how to get to point X. But I wanted to make it more lively 
instead of plainly drawing roads and boxes to represent buildings. I 
want something more colorful but do not which to resort to something 
like gimp! Can this be done?
-- Cheers, Didier.

Have you tried inkscape, koularpaint, or karbon14 - they can draw and 
have colour
    Alan