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Canadian-made gifts for travellers: A map for 2027 adventures

Info Wanderlust
3 days ago
5 min read

A new year can start with a big plan or a small dot on a map. Maybe it's the coast you've talked about visiting for years, a hometown you want to return to or a weekend road trip with no fixed itinerary. The adventure doesn't have to be far away to deserve a place in the story.


If you're looking for Canadian-made gifts for travellers, consider a cork push pin map made to hold both memories and possibilities. At Wanderlust Creatures, our handcrafted 3D travel maps are made in Calgary using Portuguese cork and Canadian spruce. They bring a little of the journey home and leave room for whatever comes next.


A travel story made in Calgary


Our first push pin map began with a simple wish: To share our own adventures. We painted a map on plywood, added pins and handmade flags and found a way to put our travels where we could enjoy them every day. That early project grew into the cork maps we make today.


Each of our 3D maps is laser cut with cork laid over a wood backing. The layers give the map its distinctive look, while the natural grain brings its own variation. Made in Calgary means the work happens close to our team. The materials have their own places of origin: The cork comes from Portugal and the spruce from Canada.


Choosing a map from a Canadian maker is one way to connect a gift with the people who make it. It's also a chance to give something that can change as the recipient adds their own stories. Learn more about our story.


Why cork and wood?


Materials matter when a gift is meant to be enjoyed beyond one season. We use Portuguese cork for our maps and Canadian spruce for their backings. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak. Once a tree is mature, the bark can be harvested and grows back. Our team saves production scraps for reprocessing into new cork sheets, and our travel maps page describes minimal plastic packaging.


Those details don't make a product impact free. Making and shipping a map still uses materials and energy. We share the choices behind our maps so you can decide what matters to you, without asking you to take a sweeping environmental claim on faith. Read more on our impact page.


A map that welcomes another chapter


A map can mark where someone has been, but it doesn't have to stay fixed. Pins can represent favourite trips, a place to revisit or plans still taking shape. A thoughtful gift leaves room for the recipient's own choices instead of trying to finish the story for them.


If you're giving a map to a household, invite everyone to choose a first pin and share a memory. A map for one person can start just as simply: Mark home, a favourite trip and somewhere that makes them curious. There's no right number of places to have visited before you begin.


Find the right Canadian-made map gift


Start with the space the recipient has. Measure the wall or other display area and compare it with the product dimensions. Our map sizes are written as width by height. A map that fits their room is more useful than one that looks impressive but has nowhere to go.


For a first travel map


The 24 x 14 Natural Cork map offers a world view on a spruce backing. Its listing includes white and black push pins, a heart charm for home and a hanging kit. Product choices can change, so review the current listing before ordering.


A smaller map is also a good invitation to begin without pressure. Pick a first destination for the gift note, then let the recipient decide where the next pin belongs. Their story might grow through long trips, familiar weekends away or both.


For a bigger view or a favourite region


The travel map collection includes larger 3D designs and regional maps. A world map gives a broad view of past and future journeys. A Canada or Alberta map might be a better fit for someone whose favourite adventures are closer to home. Check individual listings for sizes and options.


Choose a labelled map if place names are part of the appeal. A Minimalist map keeps the border lines but does not show country, province or state names. Think about how your recipient likes to explore: Reading the map, telling stories through the pins or a little of both.


Start your 2027 travel goals map


A map can turn a list of wishes into something easy to return to throughout the year. To start, choose three kinds of places: Somewhere you've already loved, somewhere you'd like to revisit and somewhere entirely new. Give each group a pin colour or use a legend that makes sense to you.


Then add one small next step beside each goal. That could be checking the best season to visit, setting a savings target or asking a friend if they'd like to come along. A destination can move from wish list to itinerary whenever you're ready. There is no deadline to fill the map, and plans can change.


If the map is a gift, include a note inviting the recipient to choose their own first 2027 destination. For couples and families, leave room for different wishes. The fun is in comparing the places everyone picked, not in agreeing on every pin straight away.


Make the gift personal


A custom phrase or a legend can add a detail that belongs to the recipient. Browse our map add-ons and check the choices available for the map you're considering. If you're unsure about placement or a particular phrase, contact our team before ordering.


Prefer to let the traveller choose their own size and style? Explore our gift cards and design your own map gift bundles. Check the details and terms before purchasing. The Black Friday map offer is for standard personalized maps; don't assume it applies to gift cards or add-ons.


Plan your holiday order


Our planned Black Friday offer runs from November 5 at 3 p.m. through November 30 at 11:59 p.m. Calgary time. The offer is 25% off standard personalized maps only. The maximum discount is 25%, and the offer cannot be combined with other offers or codes. Check the final checkout total before placing your order.


Order by December 10 for Christmas delivery. We have limited handmade capacity, so ordering earlier helps our team plan production. Pickup is available until December 24. Third party delivery dates can't be guaranteed. If you have a firm deadline, contact us before ordering and review our policies and FAQ.




 
 
 

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