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November 19th, 2025

Wednesday

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INTRODUCTION

Looking at Tourism with Maps!

Tourism isn’t just about vacations or travel. It’s about exploring places that teach us about the past, the environment, and the people who live there. It guides us to important spots that help us understand the stories, cultures, and environments that make destinations unique. Some travelers visit historical sites where important events took place or famous figures once lived. Others explore cultural destinations that show the traditions, art, and celebrations of different communities. Many people come for water adventures, like swimming in springs, walking along beaches, or boating through rivers. And some visit natural areas, where they can watch wildlife, hike through forests, or learn how to protect the environment.

 

Each kind of tourism tells a different part of Florida’s story. These places show us how people have lived, worked, played, and protected their surroundings over time. Some of these destinations are well-known and visited by millions, while others are quieter and harder to find, but still important to the communities around them. By exploring these maps, you will see how Florida tourism connects people to history, culture, water, and nature. You’ll notice how visitors help care for special places and why learning about them matters for the future. Just like stops along a long journey, each type of tourism helps us understand where we’ve been, what we value, and where we might go next.

 

So get ready to explore Florida and discover the adventures, memories, and meanings hidden in every corner of the state!

EARLY BIRD

Bell-Ringer:

Read the following scenario and record your responses to the four questions below. 


"Imagine it’s the year 1925. Florida is in the middle of a tourism boom. New hotels are being built, highways are being paved, and postcards show off the state’s beaches, springs, and cities to people all over the country. You’ve just been hired by the Florida Department of Tourism to help create a brand-new tourist map for visitors.

If you’ve never made one before, you need to figure out what kinds of information travelers in the 1920s would need to find their way around the Sunshine State. Your supervisor tells you that old maps can help inspire your design, but you’ll have to think like a historian first: What do these maps actually show about the time period and the people who used them?"

  1. What kinds of things do you think people in the 1920s wanted to see when visiting Florida?
     

  2. What information might a tourist map from that time include?
     

  3. What might those maps leave out or show differently than a modern map?
     

  4. Why might looking at old maps help us understand Florida’s history and growth?

Create categories based on your answers. For example, Natural Attractions, Cities and Resorts, Transportation, Cultural or Historical Sites, Missing or Excluded Information, etc. Try to list as many of your answers as possible under your category headings. Once this is completed, please share with a table partner and discuss:

 

  • Which categories do your answers have in common?
     

  • What differences did you notice in what you each thought was important to include?

Today's Lesson

Today we celebrate the power of maps! Maps do not just show us where things are, they help us ask questions, solve problems, and explore our world without ever leaving the classroom. This GIS day, we will explore the exciting and diverse tourist destinations that Florida has to offer!

Historical and Cultural Tourism

Let’s explore Florida through the eyes of a traveler! Together, we’ll discover historic landmarks, cultural traditions, and the people who make Florida such a vibrant and unique place to visit.

Click Here to Open the Historical & Cultural Tourism Map in a New Tab

Water Tourism

Welcome to Florida water tourism! Our state is a giant outdoor playground of beaches, lakes, rivers, and hidden springs. This map will take you though the spots people travel from all over the world to swim, paddle, dive, and explore.

Click Here to Open the Water Tourism Map in a New Tab

Eco Tourism

Florida is full of natural wonders, and eco-tourism helps us enjoy them responsibly. In this map, we will explore how people can travel, have fun, and protect nature at the same time.

Click Here to Open the Water Tourism Map in a New Tab

Featured Activities

After looking over the Historical & Cultural, Water, and Ecotourism Maps, you will select a tourist spot on one of the maps to explore - uncovering the interesting history behind it and it's impact on Florida! Using a one slide presentation, you will present the information and developments you found in a clear and engaging way.

 

You can choose to work individually or in groups to investigate your chosen/assigned spot, searching for important historical details and images from the attraction on Florida Memory. Also mention how the area have changed geographically over the years. 

 

In the end, you will create a short summary highlighting the interesting attractions they have found and noting whether they still exist today. This short research project promises to be a rewarding experience!

Additional Resources

Having trouble navigating the maps above? Here are some instructional videos that you can watch for each map that will teach you how to get familiar with MapMaker!

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