Traveling is, for sure, about living in the moment, gaining new experiences, and escaping from everyday life. But most importantly, it’s about making memories and having stories to share for years to come.
Here are some of the fun ways I like to remember my travels:
Photos
For myself, it is so important to have tangible memories and keepsakes from my travels. I love nothing more than scrolling through old photos of my trips; it really brings my memories to life and gives me something physical to share with my friends and family back home. I also print my photos out to hang throughout my house. I love when guests come over, and we can chat about old trips.
You don’t need a fancy camera to snap some great shots on your trip, but if you are looking to make an investment in a nice camera for your travels, I currently use and would recommend the Canon EOS Rebel T6 DSLR. This camera has Bluetooth, so you can load your photos right to your phone to share with friends and social media instantly.
If you want to have physical photos of your trip, I think a Polaroid camera is a super fun way to commemorate your trip. They even have Polaroid photo albums to store them in. Something like the Fujifilm Instax Mini would be the perfect camera for any trip!
Instagram Highlight
I absolutely love creating Instagram highlights of my trips. It’s like a mini movie of my archived adventures. I have a few friends that also archive their trips like this, and I find it is a great resource when I am planning for my own vacation.
GoPro or Action Camera
I currently use an off-brand action camera I bought on Amazon, and it has seriously been one of the best investments I have made. I love creating minute long videos of my trips to share with my friends and family. My dad has actually done this for all our trips since I was a child. My family loves going back and watching old vacation videos.
Souvenirs/Collectibles
I know a ton of people who collect souvenirs from their trips. Whether it be shot glasses, hats, or postcards, I think it is a great way to bring a piece of vacation home with you. I personally always grab a t-shirt on my trips, usually from a local establishment we went to during our trip.
Scratch Maps, Travel Journals, and Shadow Boxes
You have probably seen these on Esty or Amazon before. Scratch maps are a great way to mark down everywhere you’ve been. I used to have my scratch map hanging in my cubicle at work, and it was always a great conversation starter when coworkers walked by.
There is no better way to remember your travels than when you put pen to paper. A travel journal becomes a personal souvenir that you can pass on to future generations. There are so many fun journal templates to help you get started. Check out this Travel and Leisure Article for the best recommendations.
If you are a crafty or artistic person, this is probably right up your alley. Shadow boxes and scrapbooks are just another way to make your trips last forever. These are best if you want to save old ticket stubs from when you visited Broadway, or your airline ticket from your first trip abroad. It is a great way to tell a story of your entire trip in a fun and creative way.
So no matter how you create your memories, be sure to make them last forever!
