Ancestral Vacations: Connecting with Family History Through Travel

What is Ancestral Travel? It may sound like a pilgrimage, which, I suppose, in a way, it is — but it’s much less a religious journey and a bit more a type of adventure travel that takes us back in time.

Ancestral Travel, also called Heritage Travel or Roots Travel, is a growing trend in America. It is the idea of planning a family vacation around visiting the country where your family originated. It is an opportunity for genealogy enthusiasts to connect with family history in person. Ancestral travel allows people to connect with their roots and learn about their heritage by visiting the places their ancestors lived. It is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of your family story and heritage.

Planning an Ancestral Trip

Like any other vacation, you will need to plan. Unlike other vacations, the first planning point is — Genealogy Research!

Before you start looking at plane tickets, take time to trace your family tree. While old family lore and stories handed down can be entertaining, the best way to be sure you’re heading to the right part of the world is to research. You can do this on your own or hire a professional, but make time to find the appropriate documents, like census records, immigration paperwork, or church registers. These documents will help to pinpoint exactly where your family came from.

Please remember! Over the decades, maps have been redrawn, borders have changed, and countries have been renamed — some multiple times. You may know your Polish Family Roots lead back to Galicia, but if you’re not really paying attention, you could end up in Spain.

Once you have mapped out a paper trail leading from you back to the country in which your family originated, consider hiring someone locally for further assistance. Look around for a historical or genealogical society inside the country that is familiar with the area and maybe can even expand on your family history. If this sounds too daunting, or maybe you’re worried about a language barrier, you can search for a genealogist or a local travel guide. Both can help you learn about your heritage locally.

Before you jet off, research the possibility of relatives still living in the area you are about to visit.

Note: Reach out to any potential ancestors before you travel. Be courteous and respectful.

It is always possible some relatives may not want to make contact. It is okay! You can still walk the street where your ancestors did, but maybe they will want to meet you. Either way, learn this information before you travel.

By this point, you have enough information to start the physical action of planning the perfect ancestral vacation.

Focus on a few key sites to visit like:

- The hometowns or villages your ancestors came from and walk the same streets as they did, looking for buildings or houses they lived or worked in.

- If your family is or was religious, make time to visit churches, synagogues, or temples where they worshipped. These places may hold records about your family.

- Check out cemeteries where relatives are buried. Pay your respects and look for headstones with familiar names. Notice the names around your family plots — a lot of times, these are friends and extended family.

- Seek out museums or libraries that highlight the culture of the area. Learn about the place they called home.

Visiting ancestral sites can help you better understand the world your ancestors lived in and, in turn, help to transform the narrative you know about your family history. Planning an Ancestral Vacation will deepen your connection with your ancestors and provide a glimpse of the world your relatives left behind. It can be an emotional experience to walk in their footsteps as if you are reaching into the past across generations.

(Check out last week’s post: Genealogical Brick Walls: What they are and how to get around them. Follow my profile for alerts!)

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Aryn is a genealogist who researches family trees, cemeteries, and is a lover of social history. She assists others in discovering their family roots and heritage.