Decorating with maps is a great way to show off your favorite vacation destination. Whether you lean toward a nautical décor motif or want to reminisce about a special place, maps are classic decorations for any space.
Cork maps are a unique option when looking for a new map for your home or office. With an affordable price point for a beautiful and quality piece of art, cork maps make great gifts or stunning souvenirs from any trip.
Why Cork Maps?
Cork maps are beautiful ways to show off your favorite nautical location. These elegant yet understated maps are neutral enough to fit into any space while enhancing the area with their refined look and stunning detail.
Cork is an eco-friendly material that provides a unique background for a map. Cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees, making it renewable and biodegradable. Using cork for maps perfectly combines aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability.
While cork maps are more casual than traditional wood charts, there is room for both in your home or office. In fact, cork maps and wood maps can be used together to create incredible décor that reminds you of your favorite travel destination.
How Are Cork Maps Made
The development of cork maps is similar to how other wood maps are made. Artists use a few key materials and tools to make sure the map is accurate and attractive, including:
- Cork base
- Birch wood
- Accurate bathymetric charts
- Laser cutter
The 3D cork maps include a cork base topped with a layer of high-quality birch wood. The birch is laser cut into the shape of the land, and then the depths of the water are cut into the cork. Details on the wood include points of interest and roadways.
Artists use bathymetric charts to have accurate readings of water’s depths without missing any details. These fine points highlighted on both land and sea make Wood Chart maps stand out among other maps.
Top 5 Cork Maps
Commemorating your favorite trip or a special place is as easy as finding a map of that destination. Cork maps make the perfect souvenir or gift of a specific location.
Everyone’s favorite map is personal and sentimental, but we have a few favorites that are especially eye-catching. Check out these cork maps and find your new favorite decoration.
1. Hawaii: The Big Island Cork Map
A trip with a unique travel destination like the island of Hawaii deserves a particular commemorative map. This island is just one of 137 islands in the state of Hawaii, which is known as the world’s largest island chain. Of those 137, there are eight major inhabited islands:
- Hawaii (The Big Island)
- Kaho’olawe
- Kaua’i
- Lana’i
- Maui
- Moloka’i
- Ni’ihau
- Oahu
The island of Hawaii, known as The Big Island, is the largest island in the state. It covers over 5,000 square miles and is home to two active volcanoes and several cultural sites, making it one of the popular destinations for travelers visiting the Aloha State. Points of interest on the Big Island cork maps include Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa.
2. Cork Map of Lake Tahoe
It’s easy to see why so many travelers looking for a lake trip surrounded by mountains find their way to Lake Tahoe. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation destination.
There are many attractions and fun facts that draw people to Lake Tahoe. The lake has something for everyone, including casinos, outdoor recreation areas, ski resorts, and beautiful mountain views. Celebrities have also been known to frequent the lake.
This lake, shared by California and Nevada, is the largest alpine lake and the second-deepest lake in North America. A cork map of Lake Tahoe showcases these depths in stunning detail. The map also highlights landmarks such as Lake Valley, McKinney Bay, and Tahoe City.
3. Martha’s Vineyard Map
Martha’s Vineyard is a quintessential summer vacation vista, a popular destination for over 200,000 visitors each year. A classic vacation setting deserves a classic memento, like a chic Martha’s Vineyard cork map.
With 96 square miles of picturesque, upscale island life, Martha’s Vineyard is only accessible by boat or plane. The island is beautiful, with a unique shape and shoreline, making distinctive maps.
A cork map of Martha’s Vineyard would be perfect for residents of the island, tourists, and anyone who decorates with a refined nautical theme. Points of interest on the Martha’s Vineyard cork maps include Katama Bay, Long Point Wildlife Refuge, and Manuel F. Correllus State Forest.
4. San Francisco Bay Cork Map
Where can you find a bustling, coastal metropolis next to some of the most wondrous trees in the world? San Francisco has it all, with the vibrant business and tourism of the city next door to the famous redwood trees.
The city of San Francisco is just seven miles long and seven miles wide, but those miles are packed with museums, film festivals, and tourist destinations like Ghirardelli Square and The Painted Ladies.
The area surrounding San Francisco is included on maps, expanding the coverage area to encompass neighboring cities and sites. Make sure to find your favorite San Francisco stops on the cork map, including Berkeley, San Rafael, Golden Gate Park, and Redwood City.
5. Map of Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a destination for vacationers and historians alike. Recognizable as the site of an important American Revolution event, the Boston Tea Party in 1773, Massachusetts Bay holds many adventures for the modern traveler.
The bay has dozens of islands and one of the largest shipping ports in the northeastern United States. Boston Harbor is an estuary and natural harbor, making it an important spot for commerce.
The intricate details of the harbor are expertly displayed on cork maps of the area. With islands throughout Massachusetts Bay and the varying depths of the water, this makes one of the most stunning cork maps available. Spot landmarks such as Chelsea, Old Harbor, and Quincy Bay on these beautiful maps.
Whether you are reminiscing over a splendid vacation or want to show off your favorite beach spot, cork maps are an easy way to incorporate maps into your décor. Find a cork map of your special spot, surround it with photos and other souvenirs, and get ready to share stories from your trip.