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Planning a Genealogy Vacation
Vacations are always fun, but if you can plan a vacation that incorporates genealogy research, it can be incredibly rewarding. If you go with family, the fun is multiplied!
I am currently planning a trip to northern Germany with my father, my sister, and my boyfriend. My father's great-grandfather was born in Stade, up near Bremen and Hamburg. My father has never been there, nor have I or my sister.
Here are some keys to preparing for a genealogy trip, be it to the next state or across the ocean.
Research your Family
Do all research that you possibly can do before you leave. You don't want to spend hours and hours in an old church only to find out when you get back home that your ancestors were in the next town over. Use LDS records, send mail requests to churches and town halls. You should be able to get just about every fact from home, and then go out to verify records and enjoy being in the locations.
Research the Location
Don't just learn about your family's records. Learn about the history of the area, what it was famous for, what sorts of natural features it has. The more you know about the environment and its traits, the more you can appreciate just what your ancestors' lives were like when you are there. If you learn that blueberries were a prime export, you can make sense of all those blueberry recipes in your archives, and maybe seek out an "authentic local blueberry pie" at an inn while you're there.
Get Feedback from All Travelers
While you might have a very set idea of what should be seen and where you should go, ask all of your traveling companions to give completely honest input in to what they want to see, what will interest them, how they like to travel. Every one of us has different interests and different ways we like to visit a new location. Find compromises that helps each person enjoy at least a portion of the trip.
Plan Loosely with Down Time
Don't jam pack the trip so that every second is a necessary moment. If you hit traffic, or bad weather, or other issues, it will turn your trip into a nightmare. Instead, plan lots of extra time to account for problems, and assume that all plans are conditional. That way you might be pleasantly surprised if 100% of things go perfectly, but you're well prepared for the occasional glitch.
Stay Happy
Easier said than done, but one of the primary things we remember from trips is the way we interacted with others that were there. Long after we forget the monument or the headstone, we remember the simple joys of driving along and being with Dad. So let things roll off your back, and make sure everyone brings books to read, music to listen to, and journals for taking notes.
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Note - Lisa Shea wrote this content for the genealogy site at BellaOnline.com - you might still find this content there as well. That's fine :) I gave permission!
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