Tracing Your Ancestry Through Solo Travel: A Guide to Genealogy Travel
Have you ever wondered where your family came from beyond the names of your family tree? One way to connect with your roots is through genealogy travel, also referred to as ancestry travel or heritage travel. Genealogy travel is a growing trend that takes ancestral research beyond your computer screen and into the real world, where you can trace the steps of those who walked before you. From traversing the cobbled streets of your great-grandmother’s village in Italy to perusing through church records in a French parish for birth or marriage certificates, ancestry travel turns history into an unforgettable experience. In this blog, we uncover all there is to know about heritage travel and what you can expect genealogy tours to reveal about the stories that shaped your family’s journey.
Cargèse, a village located on Corsica, France
What Is Genealogy Travel?
Genealogy travel allows individuals to visit and explore the places their ancestors once lived, worked or migrated from. The purpose of this heritage travel adventure is to uncover family history and deepen your connection to your ancestors. Ancestry travel can take many forms, as it’s dependent on your family’s varied background. For example, some may take genealogy tours that visit ancestral hometowns, while others may travel with the intention of digging through historical archives, visiting cemeteries or even meeting long-lost relatives. Through a combination of genealogical research, DNA testing and family records, those interested in uncovering their ancestral roots can trace their lineage and plan a meaningful, personalized trip that brings their family tree to life.
Planning Your Solo Ancestry Travel Adventure
Solo travel tours to unveil your family’s history can be an incredibly meaningful experience. Doing it on your own grants you the flexibility to go at your own pace and dive deep into your personal story without distraction. Here are some solo travel tips as you plan your ancestry tour:
- Do your research: In order to visit the past of your ancestors, you’ll need to know where they came from first. Conduct genealogical research by building your family tree with tools like Ancestry.com or MyHeritage. You can also gather documents like birth, marriage, and death certificates, immigration records, census data or military service files to begin tracing their roots. DNA testing can be another option to pinpoint your ethnic origins and regional connections. And don’t forget about your living relatives, either. Talk with grandparents, aunts, uncles and distant relatives to collect stories, names and locations that might not be documented.
- Pinpoint locations: With your research complete, identify key locations where your family members resided, such as ancestral towns, villages or regions. You can make note of cemeteries, churches and even old family homes you wish to visit.
- Plan your itinerary: Now that you know the area where your ancestors once lived, it’s time to create your itinerary. Map out a route that blends meaningful stops to honor your family’s heritage with cultural attractions to enhance your trip. Also, ensure you have ample time for further genealogical exploration and room for spontaneous discoveries, as you never know if a local historian or resident has information that can help to fill in the gaps of your family tree.
- Book your lodging: Next, book your accommodations. Consider staying in local inns or bed & breakfasts for an immersive experience, choosing places that are close to archives or public transportation hubs.
- Reach out in advance: Make sure to contact local archives, libraries and churches in advance of your visit to request access to records or set up meetings. You may even come across local Facebook groups or genealogy forums that help you connect with people in the region.
- Begin packing: With everything planned, now it’s time to pack and prepare for your genealogy tour. Bring physical and digital copies of key family documents, along with your essentials like changes of clothes, electronics and personal hygiene items.
Choosing the Right Heritage Travel Destination
When planning your heritage travel tour, choosing the right destination is essential. The “right” place can mean something different for everyone. For some, this might mean the place where their ancestors once lived, while for others, it might mean a specific region tied to their broader ethnic background. To choose, start with what you know, such as towns, villages or regions, and then prioritize the locations that have available records. From there, you can consider the emotional and cultural significance of potential destinations and choose an area that matches your interests.
Independent vs. Guided Genealogy Travel Tours: Which Is Right for You?
Whether you’re interested in solo female travel, traveling as a couple or a guided tour to uncover your genealogy depends on your preferences. Independent travel offers flexibility and the ability to travel on your own terms and can be great for those who are comfortable navigating foreign destinations alone or as a couple. However, an independent ancestry tour can be time-consuming to plan and requires the ability to navigate language and cultural barriers.
Guided tours are excellent for first-time heritage travelers and for those who want access to experts who can help interpret records and history. Through guided tours, you can share your experience with others on a similar journey and may have easier access to archives, museums and local experts who can help translate documents. At Road Scholar, you can find history tours with expert guides who can help you trace your past.
Preserving Your Journey: Documenting Your Ancestry Travel Experience
Documenting your ancestry travel experience allows you to preserve your discoveries and create a living part of your family history. To capture these details, bring a journal to write about each day’s events, including where you went, who you met, what you learned and how you felt. You should also bring a camera to take meaningful photos and videos that serve as physical evidence of your family’s roots. Key images may include old family homes, archives, churches and landscapes.
You can also organize your findings by creating folders to store documents, maps and archive records. At the end of your genealogy travel excursion, create a heritage travel scrapbook or photo book that combines your journal entries with photos, maps and a family tree chart to reflect upon and hand down to future generations.
Start Your Solo Genealogy Travel Journey with Road Scholar Today
Genealogy travel tours are more than just a trip; they’re a powerful and personal pilgrimage into your past. At Road Scholar, you can find educational tours, including multigenerational travel and solo travel, to meaningful locations for you and your family.