by Glenda K. Fralin

Created on: February 12, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

My special recipe for making travels memorable is to become as involved as possible with the fun and education of the trip. Keep track of the good and the bad. There are certain pieces of equipment you will find helpful. First you will need yourself or whoever you are traveling with. Please don't forget your tickets and luggage. And, for pity sake take some money or credit cards. If you leave without them there will either be no trip, or it will be an adventure you didn't want.

Equipment you will need to take along for purposes of memory gathering are: a camera (preferably digital), video camera (optional), batteries, if you have one a laptop computer, and a notepad or notebook of some kind.

Moments to gather are any that you fancy, but do be a part of them. Get the unexpected shots, the scenic views, and the special poses that say "I was here." Sometimes it is better to buy the scenic post cards instead. By purchasing a few postcards you get the best of professional photographers. This can also help get you our from behind the camera so you join in the fun and awe of the journey.

Get pictures of interesting people you meet or see along the way. If you can get their name even better, but make a note for a caption. Taking notes at the end of the day about highlights will be invaluable later for writing a memoir. You take each trip only one time. Even if you return to the same destination, it will not be the same travel experience. If you're that boring, stay home. Smile that way a tease.

Once you return home, you have enough references to be able to make yourself a nice scrapbook or memory book. This is where the rest of the trip starts. Your journey is not over when you return home. You are going to relive it, so make it interesting. Some tools that I have found valuable are computer programs like Photoshop, M.S. Publisher, Word and more. If you prefer to scrapbook, you can do a great job with your imagination and craft. The stores are full of scrapbook materials including kits, frames, patterns and stickers.

Sort through your memorabilia and make a kind of plan for it. The beauty of the computer is you can edit and change as you go if you change your plan or layout.

If you like to write poetry you have loads of materials in front of you to set off those poetic juices. Programs like M.S. Publisher have tools for laying out, overlapping, cropping, and framing pictures, just to name a few. What you are making can even be used as a coffee table book.

By using the computer programs available to you, you are not stuck with anything that doesn't work out. If you make sure to save all the original material, you can change the way you have enhanced a postcard or photo, change captions, write short memoirs in M.S. Word and insert them into the booklet. Your own creativity and imagination are your best tools.

When you have your scrapbook or your computer generated table book your travel memories are in front of you whenever you like. Guests can pick them up and browse without feeling as if you have to push your trip on them. I've heard travel presentations that were interesting and some that were so boring I wanted to cry. Mostly, unless they are of the people involved, or a professional presenter it gets dull because they don't feel involved. By allowing you, you family and other guests to pick up your book on their own; they become self involved in the process of your travel memories. Enjoy your travels.

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