How to Make a Map With My Own Points of Interest
By Jordan Whitehouse
With the right map and a good idea of where you want to go, you'll be on your way to having a great trip. Google Maps has a "My Maps" function that allows you to have both of these. You can easily create a map of places you'd like to visit anywhere in the world, and you can add notes to those digital points of interest with three clicks of a mouse.
Creating the Map
Go to Google.com and click on "Maps," located in the navigation bar at the top of the screen. You'll be taken to the Google Maps Web page.
Click on "My Maps," and then click on "Create new map."
Sign in to your Google account. If you don't have a Google account, create one by clicking "Create an account now." Enter the necessary information to get an account; this should only take you a few minutes.
Enter the name of your map in the "Title" area of the web page you've been taken to. Choose to have a public map, which can be searched by anyone on the internet, or an unlisted map that can only be seen by those who have the URL to the map.
Find your first point of interest by locating it on the large map on the screen. Zoom in or zoom out by using the zoom tool on the left side of the map. Move to a different area by clicking on the map and dragging it until you come to the place you'd like to investigate. When you find the point of interest click and let go on the blue balloon shape in the top left corner of the map. Move the balloon to the specific area and click the mouse. A dialogue box will open up.
Give the place of interest a title. Click on the blue balloon to the right of the title dialogue box and pick a visual symbol for the place of interest. If you wish, type a note in the text box about the location. Click "OK."
Continue to add the blue balloons to the places you've found on the map. Create visual symbols for the places and remind yourself what you think is so special about the area. When you've finished adding all of your points of interest, click "Done," which is located just to the left of the map. Your map will be saved and available for you to see when you sign in to your Google account, under "My Maps."
References
Writer Bio
Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Jordan Whitehouse has been writing on food and drink, small business, and community development since 2004. His work has appeared in a wide range of online and print publications across Canada, including Atlantic Business Magazine, The Grid and Halifax Magazine. Whitehouse studied English literature and psychology at Queen's University, and book and magazine publishing at Centennial College.