By Kristina Brewer
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February 25, 2020
You don’t need to be traveling to Timbuktu to write a travel diary. Your writing can start with a family vacation or a weekend getaway to California’s West Ventura. Travel journals are a place where you can write about trips you have taken, what you learned during and the experiences you had. It is a collection of adventures, stories, memories and discovery. It doesn’t matter where you're going or who you’re traveling with, an online trip journal can come anywhere. Every type of traveler can find a journal that's well-suited for them to record and reflect on their experiences exploring the world. From extreme planners to spontaneous trip-takers, nature-lovers, museum-goers, roadtrippers, jet-setters, and more ahead — scroll forward to turn the page on your next adventure. You can even find journal software that allows you to access your journal from any computer, smartphone or tablet. Enter Penzu , your FREE travel journal app; all you need is your mobile phone or tablet and can write in in it, with or without WiFi. You never have to miss an entry or forget a moment, as Penzu can come with you around the world. No internet necessary. Here are 5 tips to get the most out of journaling: 1. Use your journal to plan your trip Your trip journal can begin before your trip has even started. Use your journal to start planning the things you want to do. It can be anything from a cool restaurant you want to eat at, a hike you want to go on or different sights you want to see. Write down whatever is on your trip checklist, so you don’t forget it. Once you know what you want to do, do some research and figure out the best way to do it. If you want to go see a special monument, figure out the best way to get there and put it in your journal. If you want to do some cool activities, write down the contact information of the people, places or tours that facilitate them. Your journal is also a great place to keep the contact information of your accommodations and transportation. 2. Write about what you imagine it will be like Sometimes when you travel, your destination is wildly different than what you expected. Maybe you expected the local food to be bad and it turned out to be delicious. Maybe you imagined the town to be smaller than it actually is. Maybe you thought you would be more comfortable with the language. Whatever it is, think about writing it down before you arrive. It will be interesting to compare these predictions to what you actually experienced. 3. Write during your trip It is always easier to remember things when they are fresh in your brain, so try and write as much as you can while traveling; every day if you can. Your journal entries don’t have to be long, but let them highlight what you feel was most important or exciting. How did you feel during your visit to the local market? What did you smell, taste and hear? Did you learn something new from the person you spoke to at the bar? Were you surprised by the clothes people were wearing? What was the view from the top of the mountain like? Before you go to bed, try and recall what you did that day, what you thought and how you felt. This will serve as a great way to remember more from your trip but will also help you reflect and grow from what you encountered. 4. Add pictures to your journal Even though your journal is meant for writing, pictures are still worth a thousand words. Combining pictures with your first-hand accounts of what they represent, or what happened when they were taken, will make for an even more comprehensive narrative of your travels. Don’t worry about gluing or taping anything either. Penzu allows you to upload pictures straight into your online travel journal, so you can keep your pictures and words connected and organized. 5. Write about your trip after you leave Since you write about your trip before you arrive, you should also write about it after you leave. • What was it like? • What did you learn? • What surprised you? • What disappointed you? It is important to reflect on your travels, so you can retain new understandings and apply them to future adventures. This is also a great way to learn about yourself, other people you may have travelled with and how you can grow. Step back from all the things you did and try to see the big picture. It may surprise you. 10 Travel Journal Ideas To Inspire You The blank pages of your travel journal may not be serving as great inspiration, but your entries regarding your trip to West Ventura should! Here are 10 travel journal ideas to get those creative juices flowing, kick-start your writing and help you get the most out of your travels: 1. Why are you going? Not every trip needs an explanation and not every vacation needs a justification. People travel for all sorts of different reasons or for no reason at all, but if your travel has purpose, write about it. Even if you’re traveling for the sake of it, that is a reason worth talking about too. 2. Write about your expectations. As we mentioned above, expectations can wildly differ from reality, especially when going somewhere you’ve never been or going with someone you have never travelled with before. Jot down what you think the trip will be like or hope it will be like. 3. What are you going to do? Write about the things you want to do, the sights you want to see, the music you want to dance to, the food you want to taste. Writing it all down will get you excited and help you not to forget. 4. Write about the people. Did you meet anyone new? Did you make a new friend? Were the locals welcoming? Did you learn something new from a stranger? Did you learn something new from a friend? People can really make a trip. Whether you came with them, or met them there, write about how the people you encountered affected your experience. 5. Write about the food. Just because you call it your travel diary, doesn’t mean it can’t double as a food diary. If there are any foods you loved, dishes you hated or recipes you can’t live without, write them down to remember them all. Maybe some new fare you tried will influence your tastes when you return home. 6. The ups and the downs. What did you like most about the trip? What did you like the least? 7. Write about yourself. Reflect on the new experiences you had, what made you uncomfortable and what enticed you. Did you learn anything new about yourself on the trip? Did being somewhere else expose something you hadn’t seen in yourself before? Traveling can help people grow. Think about your journey and if it helped you grow in any way. 8. Write your own travel guide. If you knew friends were going to the same place, what would you tell them to do? Write down your recommendations and the stuff that should not be missed. 9. What would you have changed? Is there anything about the trip you would have changed? Is there anything else you wish you did? Anything you wish you didn’t do? Write about your travels and how you can improve them for the next time you go away. 10. Where do you want to go next? We hope traveling back to West Ventura makes the top of that list. As you can see, a travel journal is a must. You get the journal and allow RE/MAX Gold Coast to help you find the perfect vacation home in West Ventura . We have rentals in prime spots including Hollywood Beach, Silverstrand, Port Hueneme, Mandalay Shores, Oxnard Shores, Seabridge, Westport, Mandalay Bay, Oxnard homes and condos, Ventura Keys, Pier Pont, Faria, Solimar & Rincon BeachPark beaches and Ventura and Camarillo. Just call us at +1 (805) 832-4075.