By Kristen Burgess
There is one beach vacation I will never forget. It wasn't really that unusual as far as beach vacations go. The only big difference between this one and all the others we went on is a gift my mom bought me before our vacation even started - a small plastic box with a journal inside.
The journal was designed for a kid recording a beach vacation experience. I was thrilled to get it and had a lot of fun writing in it as we vacationed. The best part, however, was the happy memories it brought up for years after the vacation (my favorite being the fact that my brother and I slept in the huge walk-in closet of one of the rooms in our beach house - just because we thought it was fun!)
Keeping a travel journal doesn't require a special guided book, though you can probably find one much like my mom got me if you want one. Otherwise just look for an attractive little journal you can carry with you. A smaller size is probably best for an adult's journal because you can easily carry it with you. A larger size would be best for a child to write in.
There are different options in journal paper. A lined journal will make it easy to keep your writing neat and is very helpful for younger children to keep their journals neat and legible. Blank pages can be nice, however, if you want to include sketches, drawings, and photographs. Some journals alternate between blank and lined pages - this may be a perfect solution!
Pick up some sort of case or cover for your journal. My mom gave me mine in a plastic box so I could also add seashells and other mementos in there. That can work, but you may want something that covers the journal more directly. There are a number of book sleeves on the market that can work. You can also easily make something at home, or go with the simplest solution - resealable plastic bag. This will keep your journal safe from the elements while you're out combing the beaches or climbing mountains.
You can record anything you'd like in your travel journal. It's best to start with the dates of your trip and where you're traveling to. If you'll be touring to multiple places, you may want to write or paste a photocopy of your itinerary in the opening pages of your journal. You can go back and add page numbers to your journal as you fill it up. You'll be able to easily reference specific areas of your trip when you look back through your book.
Write down your traveling companions. Are you traveling with your family, or with friends? Are you on a school or another group tour? Write down things about each person - what you like about them and how they enrich the trip experience.
Record where you're staying. Maybe you're staying in lavish hotels. Perhaps you're staying in whatever hole you can scoop out along the Appalachian trail. Or maybe you're staying in youth hostels or host homes as you travel abroad. Wherever you stay it's an adventure and a new experience. Be sure to write down what you liked about it - and what was challenging.
If you meet any new friends along your journey you can record details about them (and their contact information) in your journal. You'll be able to send them an email, or perhaps become pen pals, after you're home from your trip!
Other things to record are what places you eat and what kinds of foods you liked. You should of course record your observations about the sights you took in, the activities you enjoyed, and any special events you went to. These memories will probably form the core of your journal. Remember to leave room for pictures, or if you enjoy drawing add in a sketch to go with your written memories.
You'll truly enjoy paging back through these memories after your trip. Your journal is also a wonderful item to share with friends and family for years to come.
Kristen is a natural born writer, and loves finding topics of interest to her. Visit her newest site at http://www.touchscreencarstereo.org/ and get solid information on touch screen car stereo systems.
Article Source: Capture Memories With a Travel Journal
Visit Leather Bound Travel Journal
(http://leatherboundtraveljournal.com/)
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