Travel Journaling: Ideas on How to Document Your Trip
Since Jr High or so, I’ve journaled. I remember being envious of kids on TV shows who lived in big cities with cozy coffee shops. I lived in a small town (this was before Starbucks had taken over the world), and as soon as one opened in the town next door, I remember spending a lot of time there with a cup of coffee or tea, writing in my journal. It’s a bit embarrassing to think about now (I’m sure a lot of terrible poetry was written), but my love of writing has always been a cornerstone of my life.
And so being able to document my travels through writing, or photography, or video has felt like a gift. It’s been a beautiful way to reflect on what I’ve seen, learned, and experienced on my travels and offered me a deeper connection to the places I’ve visited. It’s also lovely to look back many years later on what I’ve written.
So below I’m offering a few different ways to journal and capture the moments, thoughts, and feelings we experience while traveling.
Traditional Journal - writing with pen & paper
Nothing beats the feeling of picking up your pen at the end of the day and writing about the adventures you’ve had while they’re still fresh in your mind. And though traveling with a journal can add some weight to your luggage, some of us wouldn’t be without a tried and true paper journal. Fill it up with thoughts, ideas, and memories from your trip that you can return to again and again.
The art-inspired travel journal
Artistically inclined? Sketching in your journal is a beautiful way to capture the scenes you encounter while traveling. This obviously requires a few more tools, but there are amazingly compact watercolor kits that can be packed into your luggage almost unnoticeably. Another idea is to leave the watercolor palette at home, but take photos of things you’d like to sketch or paint later. I love these watercolor sketches that artist Leslie Feeling did while on her trip to Venice. I also love how artist Andrew Hackländer uses tiny sketches with watercolors to journal his travels. Capturing the feeling of place through your own vision is something truly special.
The photography journal
If drawing isn’t your thing, you can take photos during your trip, then print them on a mini photo printer once you return home, and glue them into your journal. Then you can write a bit about your trip with visual reminders. Kia Marie Hunt uses this method, and has some great inspiration on her site.
The scrapbook journal
Very similar to the photography journal, you can collect things like ticket stubs, candy wrappers, and other ephemera and use scrapbooking methods to decorate your pages. Or you can mix art, photography, ephemera and writing to create something truly unique. And if that feels a bit too time consuming or overwhelming, you can simply use decorative washi tape to give your written journal pages a little oomph.
Pre-printed journals
If you’re the type that has trouble figuring out what to write about, there are a number of pre-printed travel journals on the market that come with prompts and more to help inspire you.
Apps that you can journal through (my favorite is Journi)
If paper isn’t your thing, or if you’re trying to travel lightly, there are apps that let you keep memories of your trip and share them with friends and family, or just keep them for yourself. My favorite app of this type is Journi. With Journi, you can take photos of your trip and write small journal entries, then share this with family and friends. Think of it as an Instagram only for you and those you want to share your travels with. You can also print what you’ve created and make a photo book!
Vlogging
Video journaling is another way to capture the essence of your trip. Using simple software, you can film your days then edit to footage to share with friends and family, or to keep for yourself as a reminder of the experiences you had while on the road.My first time vlogging was during my most recent trip to Italy this past April. And though at first it was awkward to spend so much time in front of the camera, it was such a joy to relive my trip after I returned that I didn’t care. If you missed my Italy series (or you want to watch it again), you can check it out here.
So, as you can see, the sky’s the limit when it comes to ways to document your experiences. If you’re feeling a bit intimated or unclear on what to talk about, below are a few prompts to get you started.
SOME PROMPTS TO INSPIRE YOU….
General things to talk about: activities you did that day, what you ate, weather, how you felt today…
How have your expectations of the place you’re visiting differed from reality?
What is the first thing you noticed upon arriving? Describe this in detail using as many of your senses as possible - how it smelled, how the sun/wind/rain felt on your face, what you heard, etc.
Write down a short history or some interesting facts about he place you’re visiting.
What are you learning about yourself on this journey?
What have you been most thankful for on this journey?
Has anything about this place made you feel comfortable/uncomfortable? Are there any ways that your comfort zone has been challenged?
Is there anything on your trip that is making you feel more connected or more isolated than you usually do?
Was there something that felt deeply familiar to you about this place, even though you’ve never been here before?
hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
Roam & Gather is a small travel company offering soul-nourishing, curated travel experiences that help connect people with global communities, like-minded travelers and themselves.
If you'd like to see what new journeys are available, head over to our departures page; to receive travel tips and news on when new departures open, sign up for our newsletter, or if you'd like to get in touch you can reach out here.