Are you wondering how to make the best of your vacation? What can you bring back other than souvenirs that may get lost or broken? MEMORIES. It’s one of the best ways to create long-lasting souvenirs, and we are going to share with you a simple trick to do it.
Read more on our travels and a cute printable to help keep your record your travel memories.
MY LATEST VIDEOSA couple of years ago we rented a condo at the beach for EIGHT days. We had never all been together for that many consecutive days since the birth of our eight-year-old!
I had waited until the last minute to book, so there were plenty of discounts to be had. Stay 7 nights and the 8th night is free! I bit. I thought to myself….heaven. No cooking and cleaning for 8 days. Lots of listening to the waves while reading a novel. Lots of lounging by the pool. Lots of board games.
Creating Travel Memories
To make the most of my time off, I prepped meals in advance. The week before our departure, I made a huge grocery store haul. Every night after work, I would cook one meal to take to the beach in addition to the meal we would eat for supper. Needless to say at the end of that week, I was exhausted. But I knew it would be worth it when I did not have to cook or make the effort to get dressed up every night for dinner after a long day in the sun.
Fast forward to our arrival. The condo was beautiful…probably not the place for two rambunctious boys. Sparkling chandeliers, manicured courtyard perfect for tossing a football, heated pool within steps. We unload all our suitcases and sand toys. Ice chest in tow with 8 days’ of breakfast, lunch, and supper my husband says, “Sarah…I don’t see an oven.”
Um, yeah. There wasn’t one. There was a toaster oven/convection oven on the counter. There was a microwave oven. There was a dishwasher. And a refrigerator. OK. So, we had lots of soggy and warm meals that week. Super disappointing. After a few frozen in the center warm around the edge casseroles, we ended up blowing our vacation budget on restaurants in spite of the “deal” I was so proud to find!
How to create Travel Memories
We would likely forget these little details if we did not write them down. (I am trying to forget the whole oven thing!) My husband and I started this tradition shortly after we were married in 1999. I was a big scrapbooker then. When I had tons of time and no children. We have lists from all our jaunts. Even if we took a day trip, we would come up with 101 note-worthy events!
Recording these memories have become the highlight of our travels! Even my little boys are on the lookout during our adventures for unusual sights or events that are worthy of making our “101” lists.
One morning while the boys were demolishing chocolate-covered, sprinkle-topped donut kebabs from Charlie’s Donut truck in Alys beach, we saw a rainbow! That certainly made our “101”!
Travel Memories Printable
Because the trip home is usually not as much fun as the departure, we save this travel memories activity for the return trip. It’s amazing…the boys get so excited on the last night of our trip anticipating creating our list the next day.
If you find it difficult to get your list going, press on. Once you get past the basics, the obvious events, and get to #64 or so, you will be surprised at all the particulars you begin to remember. Don’t let yourselves off the hook with, “Ate dinner at Stinky’s Fish Camp.”
Look for the details that make the excursion your own. Maybe your son laughed so hard, he spewed water on his brother while eating dinner at Stinky’s Fish Camp. That makes a much better “fish tale”!
Kids are great at this exercise! They see and hear things you don’t. It is a refreshing vantage point to view your shared experiences.
Download your Travel Memories Printable. I know it is blustery and cold outside, but it’s not too early to start planning your next adventure. Tell me in the comments below…what is one recent adventure you have had that is “101” worthy?
If you are planning any trips to Disney World, we also have this great resource for a free Disney Packing List.
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