After you activate your online account, you can start using ArcGIS Online.
Click on "Make a Map" on the homepage.
Start by typing in the city and state of an area you want to learn more about. The example below uses "Winter Park, FL".
The Default basemap view is Topographic.
You can change your basemap by clicking on "Basemap" and selecting another view such as: Streets, Open Street Map, USGS National Map.