Whether you’re dutiful to a daily diary or often haven’t time to compile a to-do list when at home, you may wish to start keeping a travel journal when you go away. Yes, we know, you take tons of pics to share with friends or swipe through solo to recall great times. But a travel journal is different—the process is an introspective creative experience, and the rewards of the result can be uniquely fulfilling. By trying out some travel journal ideas, you can find fun, fresh ways to capture and then relive favorite jaunts.
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“While the photos you take on your phone are visual reminders of your vacation, travel journaling is expressive, autobiographical writing that lets you preserve the emotional, sentimental connection you have with the places you visit,” says poet and educator Paula Curci, a certified Journal to the Self ™ instructor. “When you’re finished, you have a tangible personal touchstone that lets you relive the journey in a deeply meaningful way.”
To Begin, Pick the Best Book
Just about any notebook can be used to create a testament to your trip. But travel journaling is extremely popular, even in today’s digital world, so there’s no shortage of dedicated products available to make the process fun and easy. For example, some travel journals feature questions and prompts to get you going.
Your ideal medium will depend on personal preference as well as your destination and other aspects of your journey.
- Planning to write on the fly (or at least take notes)? A hardback journal offers a solid surface so you can work on your lap.
- Headed to the rain forest, a rafting adventure, or other wet environment? Think about a notebook with a waterproof cover.
- Just taking a carryon for this trip and really need to pack light? Consider a pocket pad.
- Intend to sketch as well as scribe? Unlined pages are better suited to artwork.
- Want the end result to serve as a scrapbook? A large journal with quality paper stock is perfect for securing souvenirs, such as the colorful leaf you find in a beautiful park or the embossed paper napkin from the fabulous restaurant where you dine.
- Prefer to skip pen and paper entirely? There’s no rule that you must use a traditional notebook. Feel free to compile the journal on your device, perhaps choosing a format that allows you to add images. Penzu, for instance, is a free, customizable online journal.
Another of our travel journal ideas: Pack the right writing instruments. Treating yourself to a quality pen or marker can make the process feel more special than just jotting stuff down with a ballpoint. You may also want different colored pens to signify separate places or experiences. Pencils and erasers are important for folks who’ll want to draw or who hope to start with basic note taking and then edit the snippets later into narrative prose.
Read more: What 12 Women Discovered During an Umbrian Creative Retreat
The Three “Rs” of Travel Journaling: Record, Remember, Revere…
Now that you’ve got your gear, how should you go about writing? “It’s up to you, how you wish to gather your thoughts about location, activity, and companions—and the emotional connection you have to them,” says Curci. However, her “three Rs” can be a general guide:
- Record by making notes as close to “in the moment” as possible. And if note taking isn’t doable, a photo of the place or activity will serve as a trigger. Refer to the image (of the vista, the painting, whatever) when you have an opportunity to write about it.
- Remember how you felt during the experience and write from the heart—and all your senses. What were the aromas in that pastry shop? How did the rushing river sound? Why did touching those silk scarves make you smile? Capturing the emotion is among the best travel journal ideas.
- Revere the precious parts of the experience. What did you learn from it? What is the “takeaway” you can bring to your everyday life at home? Who was with you, and what did it mean having them there; if you were alone, how did that move you?
Also choose a format for your journal. If narrative writing comes naturally, the diary method might suit. Simply date each entry and then tell your story, filling the pages with what you did that morning, afternoon, and evening. Be as specific as you like (e.g., including addresses of shops or restaurants for future reference), but what’s most important is emotional truth—how seeing the sculpture, riding the zip line, hearing the encore, eating the meal made you feel.
Choose a format that feels right for your journal: a diary, bullet points, or whatever suits your style.
The bullet journal method, similar to making an outline, may be ideal if you want help gathering your thoughts. While it will look and read more like a list, it can have all the depth and meaning of narrative writing. Put the date and event at the top of the page and then respond to “bullet point” prompts—as few or as many as you wish.
More Travel Journal Ideas: Use Prompts
Writing prompts are gentle nudges to get the words flowing. Those tailored to travel include:
- What did you learn today?
- What did you see today that you wouldn’t see in your home town?
- Where did you eat, what did you have, and what surprised you about it?
- What was the most beautiful thing you saw today?
- What made you laugh today?
Give yourself plenty of room to respond. Depending on the size of your journal, three to six “bullets” per page ought to provide enough space to fully explore each prompt. Be specific: What was the joke the tour guide told, the secret ingredient the waiter disclosed, the memory triggered by the spiritual vibe in the cathedral?
What, Who, When, Where…
“Before you leave, turn to your personal passions to find a focus for your journal,” Curci suggests. Are you a foodie? Make sure to get some recipes. Appreciate architecture? Remember the amazing buildings you see. “Also consider intention—your travel journal as a document to your mission,” Curci adds. If you’re on a yoga retreat, consider your fitness and spiritual growth goals. If you’re on safari, what animals do you hope to see and why are they important to you?
Entries should mention the locals you meet to ensure you’ll never forget them (even though in the moment, you may feel the details are unforgettable!). Guide, chef, merchant, fellow traveler, or just random human beings you encounter. What did they say that was fascinating, made you laugh, or even gave you a sad or bittersweet feeling? Include dialogue if possible.
Write down the tidbits you want to remember: a comment that made you laugh, smile, or even gave you a bittersweet feeling.
You’ll be busy while away, and you want to be in the moment—you can’t spend your entire vacation with your nose in a notebook. So think a bit about how much time you can realistically devote to journaling.
“Evaluate your itinerary to figure out when and where you’ll be able to write, and then try to commit to it,” Curci suggests. Will you be on a tour bus every day? Did you build in downtime for lounging by the pool or sitting by the sea? Perhaps you can make quick notes in the moment and then give yourself writing time in bed at night before turning off the light or first thing in the morning. Carry your journal with you as much as possible so you can pull it out at will, while parked on a bench in the museum or waiting for others to assemble in the hotel lobby.
The Tech Side of Travel Journal Ideas
Technology may come in handy, too. Consider a note-taking app that makes it easy to organize, categorize, and retrieve notes. One with a cross-device syncing function can send notes from your phone to your tablet, for instance. And a dictation function lets you create audio you can replay later when you have a few minutes to write.
Technology can help you take notes, dictate anecdotes, and share images you love.
One caveat: If tempted to use a platform like Facebook or Instagram as your travel journal, uploading pics and typing messages, just make sure you’re not sharing your travel details with everyone. Create subgroups to share with (include just your nearest and dearest), or wait till you are back to post your photos and videos. Public posts and messages basically tell the world that you’re out of town—something bad guys don’t need to know!
Prior to your trip, look into some journaling guidance on YouTube; Overall Adventures, My Life Emits, and All Things Journaling are just some of the ones popular with Redditors. Once you begin in earnest, the first few attempts may be a bit thin, but soon enough your journal juices will be flowing. “Everything suggested above is just that—suggestions,” Curci says. “Really, there are no rules. Don’t overthink it, just write freely!”
Wishing you bon voyage—and bon mots!
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