Exploring Gullah Geechee Traditions Along the Coast

The coastline stretching from South Carolina to Georgia is a place where stunning beaches and delicious seafood intertwine with the enduring legacy of the Gullah Geechee people.

Descended from West and Central Africans who arrived here centuries ago, the Gullah Geechee community persevered through unimaginable hardship. They forged a vibrant culture with unique traditions that continue to resonate today.

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​Embracing the Art of Navigation: Why Paper Maps are Essential for Digital Detox Travelers

The rise of digital detox travel is about more than just unplugging – it's about rediscovering a deeper connection with the places we visit. In a world saturated with digital directions, the old-school paper map is making a comeback, and for good reason.

GPS apps, while undoubtedly convenient, can make us overly reliant on technology.

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Discovery Map® Island Mashup: From Volcanoes to The Vineyard

Welcome to the world of islands, where unique vibes reign supreme!

Today, we're diving into the heart of the Big Island, Hawaii, and the charming Martha's Vineyard. Picture this: two amazing spots, each with its own cool culture, all surrounded by the big, beautiful ocean.

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Old School Cool: Ski Maps

With Jack Frost peeping around the corner, I have one thing on the brain; mountains. Though I don’t consider myself an athlete, I do have an affinity for, you guessed it, ski maps. And, oh, how far they’ve come...as mountains have grown over time, so have the maps.

Ski maps today have come a long way from their original form, with apps to measure your speed, distance, and track your location. But, there is something to be said for the nostalgic blast from the past holding a paper map (ahem) gives you. Discovery Map knows a thing or two about paper maps, and certainly about ski destinations, considering some of our locations are in prime ski-territory. Below you’ll travel back in time to view the evolution of ski maps, and don’t worry; it’s all downhill from here:

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Traveling with Pets: Hitting the road

As the days grow longer and the number of COVID cases decline, many of us have our sights on spring and summer travel. Some people have already started to pack up the car and take off for outdoor adventures whether they’re headed for the snow or the sand. Indeed, there’s rumbling afoot and people are once again seriously considering travel. We all know what it takes to be safe and by following the key precautionary measures recommended by the CDC and more people vaccinated against this coronavirus, prospects of changing up the scenery grow more promising every day.

With travel comes the question: do we bring our pet or have him or her stay home (or at a kennel or with a trusted friend). That’s the first thing you should ask yourself when considering travel with your cat or dog or in some cases, cats and dogs. (They are best in pairs, aren’t they?)

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Diversity in Discovery Map Destinations: Honoring Asian Americans

As part of our ongoing series that celebrates the diversity across America and beyond within our Discovery Map destinations, it seems appropriate to salute Asian people at this time. The Chinese New Year is Friday, February 12 this year and we are smack dab in the period of the new moon, which this year begins January 21 and ends February 20. Also called the Lunar New Year, this period marks the first moon of the lunisolar calendars, which are regulated by the cycles of the moon and sun.

Not all Asian people are Chinese, although a good number of them are, which partly explains why Chinese New Year is a big deal to many. Other countries also celebrate the Chinese New Year, including Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea and the Philippines. And you don’t have to be of Asian origin to embrace this holiday time or to appreciate the Asian-influenced food, art and cultural offerings that so many of us enjoy throughout the year.

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Travel Trends 2021

Happy new year to all! With a new year comes thoughts of realizing hopes and dreams, and often that happens through travel. Yes, we’re still in a global pandemic and our world – whether in the United States or beyond – sometimes feels downright crazy. But this ironically fuels both a desire to hunker in and batten down the hatches and alternatively to take flight. Most of us have been juggling this juxtaposition since last March yet with the COVID-19 vaccine being rolled out all over the globe, people are gearing up to head out and spread their wings. Whether plans are being made for this spring or next fall, there’s definitely a lot of pent up energy that needs to be released in terms of travel.

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Diversity in Discovery Map Destinations: Honoring Hispanic People

Part Three: Honoring Hispanic People

In the Map Geek’s last blog, Diversity in Discovery Map Destinations: Honoring Native Americans, the post ended with highlighting the rich Native American culture that’s still very much alive today in New Mexico. So this seems like a good place to start for this story.

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Diversity in Discovery Map Destinations: Honoring Native Americans

Part Two: Honoring Native Americans

As you savor spoonfuls of turkey soup and the last nibbles of pumpkin pie, The Map Geek would like to bring to your attention some of the highlights of Native American culture located within our Discovery Map destinations.

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Pondering Celestial Maps and Astronomical Charts

With all that has been happening in the world these past months, we could do as the ancients did and look to the night skies for answers. Many cultures, in fact, continue traditions, founded in millennia, of turning to the heavens for guidance.

“Early studies of the sky provided stability and structure to social and political organizations,” Dr. Edwin C. Krupp, a preeminent “archaeoastronomer,” was quoted as saying in a Nautilus magazine article. “A perfect example of this is the emperor in ancient China, who was regarded as the primary intermediary between Earth and the divine force in heaven. The emperor is sacred, and that stabilized and protected the way that the Chinese culture allowed itself to be governed, he continued.” The Map Geek has recently become hooked on the Netflix series “The Crown,” which infers a similar connection between the sovereign and the divine. If you were to look at pretty much every culture throughout the ages, you’ll find some measure of desire to link themselves with heaven.

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