Here's an edible alternative to salt dough maps! Use the refrigerator sugar cookie dough. Roll out and place on a cookie sheet in the shape of your map. Cook according to directions. Mix up frosting (or buy the pre-made kind) with blue for bodies of water, green for fields and forests, grey (or black) for roads, and brown (Use cocoa for especially good flavor!) for mountains. Use M&M's for cities or capitals.
Save till Dad gets home and tell him you are having "country" for dessert. That should keep him wondering...