1. A computer-implemented method for the selection and display of context-based animated objects and streaming video content, the method comprising executing on a processor the steps of: in response to a query for display of recreational user activity within a presentation of an electronic cartographic map on a programmable device display screen, driving the display screen to display the electronic cartographic map populated with a selectable animated content object that is associated with boundaries of an area within the electronic cartographic map, wherein the area is correlated with an opportunity for a user to engage in a type of location-based recreational user activity within the area boundaries; and in response to a selection of the animated content object, driving the display screen to display animated content data that is selected from the group consisting of a live-action video of the location-based recreational user activity and an animation representation of the location-based recreational user activity.