Pictures and souvenirs are probably the most common ways in which we attempt to catalog and remember our travel experiences. These images and items transport us to the memorable moments we spent on our vacation adventures. I love pictures and I love to purchase souvenirs or travel treasures as I call them. Despite having walls lined with travel photos and shelves brimming with travel trinkets, I’ve found a travel journal has become my most prized travel memory.
My first travel journal was a simple small, lined book. It’s dear to me because it was a gift from my husband on our first anniversary. Whenever there is a down moment during our trips, I write about the day’s happenings. I like to take advantage of time spent in the car or on the train to write in the journal. I write about what we saw, restaurants we went to and funny or interesting things that happened to us. Whenever I reread the pages of the journal, vivid images and memories surround me.
My first travel journal covered 26 different trips over the course of 11 years. It chronicles a variety of adventures including; a family RV trip to Yellowstone National Park, anniversary adventures to Greece and Germany plus a backcountry hiking adventure in the Porcupine Mountains with one of my best friends.
What’s in a travel journal entry
Just over a year ago, I started a new travel journal. This one is a bit larger but still tells of the story of our travel experiences. It includes precious memories of our time in Glacier and Death Valley National Parks, the Netherlands and yurt camping in Minnesota. There are no rules, limits or parameters for how long journal entries should be or what I need to include in each entry. I simply remark on the things that captured my attention or moments of importance. I have found it useful to include the names of restaurants we ate at or hiking trails we explored. Friends and family often ask me later for recommendations when they hear we’ve traveled to a place they plan to visit. The journal has served as a great resource for assisting others on their journeys.
Though not a journal, the latest tool I’ve acquired to write about and plan for future adventures is this Travel Listography. I plan to use the book to record the places we’ve been and where we hope to go. The book contains 155 pages of lists. Examples are a list of outdoor adventures like cliff jumping in Mexico or beaches/oceans/seas to visit. I plan to add a float in the Dead Sea to this list. This book had added so many new experiences to my list of possible adventures.
Of all the travel treasures I’ve collected over the years, the one that stands the test of time is my travel journal. I hope that one day I’ll have a pile of them archiving our travel stories. Further cementing our families love for adventure and exploring the world around us.
Happy Adventuring, Rochelle