Tourism maps of downtown: do we need more?

Wayfinding sign, downtown Lanesboro Tourism map, downtown Lanesboro Tourism map, downtown Lanesboro

Tourism map, downtown Lanesboro Tourism map, downtown Lanesboro Tourism map, downtown Lanesboro 
Lanesboro has wayfinding signs like Northfield. But throughout downtown, they have many tourism maps, in various sizes, in all sorts of places. Could we benefit from this?

Update: 7/06, 10 am. I’ve added these photos:

Kiosk with downtown directory on Sesquicentennial Plaza Tourism map (handout), downtown Lanesboro
Left: Kiosk with Northfield downtown directory on Sesquicentennial Plaza
Right: Tourism map (handout), downtown Lanesboro

Update: 07/10, 8 am. I’ve added these photos of the pad of tourism maps now available in The Sketchy Artist (thank you April Ripka), Studio Elements, and probably other stores downtown.

April Ripka with pad of downtown Northfield tourism maps at The Sketchy Artist pad of downtown Northfield tourism maps

10 Comments

  1. Dan Bergeson said:

    We have the the NDDC downtown directory posted in the kiosk at 5th and Water, but nowhere else. It’s handed out year-round in downtown businesses as well. The CVB has maps of Northfield available at the Chamber Office, but they’ve never produced them in a large format for posting around town. It’s a great idea; why don’t you send them your suggestion?

    July 4, 2011
  2. April Ripka said:

    I have never had any maps dropped off at my store. I’ve heard about them, but never seen them. It would be great to be able to hand out to visitors!

    July 6, 2011
  3. Griff Wigley said:

    Dan, I’ll ask!

    When does the NDDC downtown directory get updated? The current version on the kiosk and on the NDDC site (PDF) is 2010.

    July 6, 2011
  4. Griff Wigley said:

    I’ve added two photos to the blog post above:

    * The kiosk with the downtown directory on Sesquicentennial Plaza

    * The handout of the tourism map for downtown Lanesboro

    July 6, 2011
  5. Griff Wigley said:

    Hey, someone (Ross?) has been handing out downtown tourism map pads. I took a photo of April Ripka at The Sketchy Artist with one on Friday during the Art Crawl. Studio Elements also had the pads. I’ve added two photos to the blog post above.

    July 10, 2011
  6. Griff Wigley said:

    I emailed Kathy Feldbrugge, Executive Director of the Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce, about this issue. She replied:

    A new Northfield City Map was produced by the Chamber this year. It has been distributed around town to key locations, and mailed to visitors who have requested it. If anyone wants to have a supply at their place of business, they can call or e-mail the Chamber office regarding the quantity they’d like. Maps are also obtained by visitors on a regular basis at the Chamber office. The Chamber provides the NDDC downtown map, state map, Rice and Dakota County maps, as well as the new Northfield City Map.

    Also, the Visitors Guide produced by the CVB, and the Northfield Guide produced by the Northfield News, include a version of the City Map, and the City Map is on the CVB website. Does the City want more kiosks in town, and if so, does the Streetscape Committee/Fund have money for additional kiosks? If yes, the CVB and NDDC could possibly provide the maps/information for the kiosks.

    July 13, 2011
  7. A.Ripka said:

    thanks again for the maps (Ross); they will be very helpful! in fact, half of them are gone already thanks to the great turn-out of out-of-towners over the past weekend. it really is a great guide.
    in response to the Chamber reply – honestly, I guess I don’t see why we need to ask for them. maybe I’m wrong, but I would assume it would be in the city’s best interest to automatically distribute them to the downtown shops. I’m not trying to be a snob or anything, but many shop owners would agree that “calling the Chamber for maps” doesn’t get too high on the long list of things to do, if we remember to put it on the list at all. heck, i didn’t even know i was supposed to put it on the list! my bad?
    I’d be curious to know where the “key locations” are. Seems I’m constantly giving directions to folks from out of town. rarely do I see any Northfield’esque maps/pamphlets/guides in their hands except what they picked up from the store. So they are either not stopping by the Chamber, or they are not hitting up the key locations? hm.
    (If anything, i really do hope the NAG has maps.)
    I realize this may seem a trivial thing, but if Northfield is to become more of a ‘destination,’ I would imagine this to become a bigger issue.

    July 14, 2011
  8. Susan Hvistendahl said:

    At least newcomers to town get maps (even a separate one of Dundas)when I call on them for Welcome Services. Remember, if you know of newcomers, let them know of this service and they will get maps and coupons and information about the town galore. By the way, another couple and I handle Northfield/Dundas and lately I’ve done 10 calls per month. And they are all so excited to be in our town.

    July 21, 2011
  9. Griff Wigley said:

    I was told today that this tourism map issue was discussed at this week’s Chamber/Convention & Visitors Bureau meeting.

    Anyone have details/comments?

    July 21, 2011

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