Is there a way to send an email to myself with an address in it, then view that address in either google maps or blackberry maps(or whatever), so that I can then use the GPS capabilities of the phone to show me directions to that address.
One way, yes, is to have that address listed in your contacts, and you pull up BBMaps from that contact (View *work* or *home* address; *according to place you enter the address in the contact).
Even if you could setup a default "mapping app" it would be difficult for the BB to identify physical addresses. Email addresses are easy to spot given that they follow the format mask. Phone numbers also have very clearly defined formatting.