How to add maps to a travel diary
Add simple, useful maps to a travel diary so each trip day has a clear visual log. This guide covers sources, file options, embedding, and ways to pair maps with photos and text for a digital scrapbook or blog.
Published
Quick facts
- Data format
- GeoJSON for map features
- Map source
- OpenStreetMap: open licence data
Why add a map to your diary
A map shows where you visited and turns a written log into a visual trip record. For a daily diary or a vacation blog, a small map next to each day entry or set of photos helps readers and future you understand routes, distances, and locations at a glance.
Collect coordinates and files
Start by gathering the points and lines you want to show: places you visited, a route for one day, or boundaries for a neighborhood. Export or record coordinates from your phone, a GPS device, or an online map editor. Save those features in a reusable file format: GeoJSON for map features is a lightweight, text-based option that works with many map tools. If you need base map tiles or background streets, use OpenStreetMap: open licence data as a free source of map detail.
Make a simple map file
Use a GeoJSON editor or a mapping tool to create layers for points (pins), lines (routes) and polygons (areas). Label features with a name or date so they appear in your diary as 'Day 1' or the place name. Keep files for a single trip in one folder so you can attach specific GeoJSON files to each day or to the whole trip.
Embed maps in a diary or blog
Choose how your diary will display the map: an interactive embed, a static image, or a printable map. For an interactive map, load your GeoJSON for map features into a web map widget or an embedding service that accepts GeoJSON. For a static diary or scrapbook page, export a PNG or JPEG of the map and place it next to your day entry and photos. If you use OpenStreetMap: open licence data as the background, follow the licence terms when you attribute the map on the same page as your map or in a credits line.
Mark daily pins and routes
Organize your diary entries so each day has its own layer or file: one GeoJSON for Day 1, another for Day 2, and so on. Show daily routes as lines and key stops as pins. Include short notes for each pin — a photo, a sentence about why you visited, or a tag like 'visited.' This makes a digital log that reads like a daily scrapbook and supports filtering by day in an interactive viewer.
Final note: adding maps with Travelbook
When you add maps to a diary entry, keep files organized, name each day layer clearly, and include at least one photo with each map for context. Travelbook provides tools to upload your GeoJSON files, attach photos, and display daily maps alongside text so your trip log is complete and easy to browse.
Common questions
- What file format should I use for routes and pins?
- Use GeoJSON for map features when you want a single, editable file type that stores points, lines and polygons. Many mapping tools and web widgets accept GeoJSON directly.
- Can I use OpenStreetMap data in my diary?
- Yes. OpenStreetMap: open licence data can be used as a base map. Make sure you include the required attribution on the page or in a credits section.
- How do I pair maps with my photos?
- Export a map image for each day or attach the GeoJSON layer to an interactive viewer, then place the photo(s) next to that map in your diary entry. Add captions that explain where and when the photos were taken.
- Is it possible to print maps from my digital diary?
- Yes. Export a static image of the map at the resolution you need, include attribution if you used OpenStreetMap: open licence data, then add the image to your printable diary layout.