Photo Credit: Martha Ginsberg

We’re sure you won’t want to forget a single thing about your once-in-a-lifetime Backroads biking, multisport or hiking adventures, so why not keep a travel journal?

A travel journal is the perfect place to record your daily activities on your Backroads trip and to help you capture your most amazing experiences and memories along the way. We promise your trip will not only be an active vacation; it will be one that inspires.

For example, you’ll want to record moments like this one from our Myanmar Biking Tour where in Yangong, you’ll take part in a candle-lighting tradition at the Shwedagon Pagoda. You’ll soak up the powerful ambience of this sacred Buddhist site. Better to write down your thoughts about the ceremony before your mind moves on to the next adventure.

You’ll also want to remember visiting a hummingbird sanctuary during your Costa Rica adventure where you may feed these amazing (and fast) birds by hand!

Surely you will want to record your awe-inspiring routes on our New Zealand Bike Tour where you’ll ride the TranzAlpine Train over Arthur’s Pass and then pedal to ocean “geysers” in Punakaiki.

Here are a few tips on how to create a travel journal for your Backroads adventure:

• Before your trip, purchase a notebook or journal and some nice pens, a few pencils and even some crayons (more on that later). You may also want to purchase a small notepad and pencil to stash in a pocket so you can jot down notes while you’re out and about. (A pencil works great because if it gets wet, it won’t run.) You can use the notes on the small notepad as inspiration for a more detailed journal entry after your adventurous day or simply rip out the pages from your notebook and affix them in your journal.
• When you write, don’t forget to record the date and your location. However, don’t worry about writing everything in exact chronological order. The point of the journal is to get the information and inspiration down on paper when it’s fresh (or at the very least, when you remember it!).
• Keep in mind, a journal doesn’t have to be “just words.” It also can be a great place to collect postcards, a story from the local newspaper, a menu, a sketch, a label from a great beer or even a pressed flower.
• Consider asking one of the local people you meet to write in your journal a sentence or two about their country or town. You might also consider bringing along some crayons and asking a local child to draw a picture in your journal.

The places Backroads takes you are off the beaten path, truly “back roads travel.” We pride ourselves on offering you a unique experience and encourage you to record the events of your trip so you can look back and remember.

Need help booking your adventure vacation? Visit our website to peruse our latest trips, including winter escapes! Or call one of our trip consultants 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific time at 800-462-2848