Travel journaling is the process of documenting your trips — such as experiences, memories and places visited — so you can preserve them as lasting keepsakes and memories. These journals can be created in either digital or physical form, and customized to whatever extent you choose.
As we head into summer, here is a guide to start your first travel journal, whether you already have upcoming trips to capture or are planning future adventures.
How Do I Begin?
To begin travel journaling, first consider what is most relevant to where you are now on your travel journey. Do you currently travel frequently? Do you want to travel more? Have you barely traveled, but have a large list of places you want to visit?
If you do not frequently travel, your best option is most likely to create a journal that focuses on your dream destinations, how to make them possible and your desired locations and activities in each destination.
If you are a frequent traveler or a nostalgic one, consider a journal that focuses more on highlighting the memories, activities, photographs and destinations from your travels, allowing you to update it as you go.
Travel Journals for People Always on the Move
When starting a journal to commemorate your trips, no matter how big or small, think of it as a photo album or memory book. How do you want to remember your trips? Is it through photos, keepsakes like plane tickets, written entries about your favorite experiences, food, maps, lists of all the places you went or a combination of these elements?
You can make it simple or maximalist, with a wide variety of clips, photos and designs. A simple one could just be photos with the date and location, or simple written or typed printed entries. A maximalist one would be a combination of drawings, written entries, keepsakes, photos, locations, stickers, etc., almost like a scrapbook.
The journal will leave you with a wonderful keepsake or coffee-table book, offering something for family and friends to flip through to learn about your travels, or for you to read whenever you want to relive old memories.
One of the most common struggles with travel journaling is not which photos or keepsakes to include, but what to write about.
While you do not have to write anything, here are some ideas to get you started.
Travel Journals for Aspiring Travelers
For those who hope to travel more, think of your journal as a manifestation and planning book.
Think of the places you have always dreamed of visiting, and brainstorm and research locations. Write these places down, and maybe even rank them. Write about how you can make it happen. Do you need to spend more hours at work? Do you need to allocate more money from shopping to a travel savings account?
Research affordable and safe traveling options — read Reddit threads, find news stories, watch YouTube videos — and write your findings down.
Below are some topics to get you started.
- Packing planning list
- Dream destination list
- Restaurant and activity list for specific destinations based on research
- A travel budget with the desired or planned period of time to reach your goal — no matter how far ahead that may be
This can serve as a great starting point not only to have a well-planned trip, but also to boost your motivation to travel. The more time you spend planning it and learning about specific areas, the more effort you will put into preparing financially and making it happen.
Creative Travel Journal Design and Decoration
Don’t be afraid to be creative with your travel journal. This means including drawings, scrapbooking, using colored markers and having fun with the design. Below are some options for decorative and design materials for your travel journal.
Not only is it a relaxing and creative activity, but it also gives you something to look forward to on future trips as you continue adding to it. It also becomes a meaningful keepsake for you and your family to relive your travels.
Remember or plan your travels and showcase your creativity and DIY skills along the way!
For further inspiration for your first travel journal, check out our Pinterest board.
Related Articles
The Mental Benefits of Miniature Crafting
Why Should You Try Food Journaling?
