Travel & the Travel Journal

As I get ready for each trip I make, one of the purchases that I most look forward to it buying a new travel journal.  Over the years I’ve struggled with how to make a travel journal work best for me, and I think I finally have it figured out.

What do I want?  I want something pretty with nice paper.  It needs to be an easy size to tuck into a day bag and take with me no matter where I am or what I’m doing.  It’s usually expensive enough to be meaningful and have value, but not so expensive that I stress if it gets banged up a bit.  A travel journal should have a few worn edges after all.

Along with the journal I pack a glue stick, a decent pen, a few cheaper pens, and some odd and ends of colored pencils.  These don’t take up much room at all, and I’ve found that having a few things at the ready help make the process easier for me.

I collect stuff as I travel, and much of it will wind up glued into my journal.  Stuff like bits and pieces from brochures, ticket stubs, business cards, matchbook cover, postcard, stir sticks, drink napkins, coasters, wine labels, and all sorts of other “treasures” from the road. Having a glue stick handy makes it easy to glue things into my journal right away, instead of letting them get lost on the journey.  More importantly, it means that I will glue things in and make notes NOW instead of putting it off till later. . . or never.  And many times having visuals in my journal help me find the words to express thoughts and feelings about my travels.

Finding time to write (or perhaps making the time) can be difficult.   After several hits and misses, I’ve found a few key travel journaling times that work best for me:

• In the morning over coffee.  Whether it’s where I’m staying (house, apartment, villa, hotel room), at a neighborhood cafe, or sitting on a park bench with a cup of java nearby, this seems to be a time when my mind is full of reflection.
• Over a glass of wine at a cafe.  This unhurried, relaxing time is good to watch the world go by and write about it.  If you’re traveling alone, it’s also a nice way to enjoy a a beverage alone without being disturbed.
• On a train, plane or bus.  Don’t miss what’s going on outside the window, but if it’s not compelling I’ll use the time to do a little writing.  It helps break up some of the monotony of travel time.
• In taxis.  On the way to the airport, I try to write about the excitement of the trip and what I’m looking forward to.  On the way home, it’s about the reentry process and reflections on the journey.  This is ultimate start and end of the trip, and it’s interesting to see how things measured up in between.
• Sitting outside on a nice day — a park, beach, piazza, cafe, or anywhere that I can grab time and space.  Slowing down, and taking some time to observe and enjoy the world around me, always gives me plenty to write about.

If you’re traveling with kids, a travel journal is a great activity for them as well.  It can be something for them to do when weather and circumstances forces them indoors, it’s a way for them to practice writing and thinking skills, it fosters creativity, it promotes a love of travel, and it’s perfect for those times when you need a little peace and quiet.  You can encourage the process by developing themes or ideas to help them get started writing.  And let them choose their own journal so they have ownership in it as well.

What I like about a travel journal is that it doesn’t have to be perfect.  Just like the journey itself, a travel journal reflects the ebb and flow of your life on the road.  You can take notes, draw, or write whatever you feel.  You can glue and cut as you see fit.  You can write a lot, or write a little.  If it gets too thick you can get a large band to put around it, or tie it with ribbon or cord.

And when you get home you can put it on your bookshelf and take a look back whenever you want to think about your travels.  It may be a prompt for future writing, or it may be a archived book of memories.  You may use it as a reference to check back for information, you may read it to remind yourself of the journey, or you may never pick it up again.  Or, it may be something your grandchildren read long after you’ve left this world as they discover what a “cool” life you’ve lead.

It’s time to buy another travel journal.  It will be one of my best companions as I head off to Europe.

Photo credit:  SXC

NOTE:  This is a sponsored post; the opinions expressed herein are my own.

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