Start the Connection

Every person is a product of the generation that came before them, no matter how far away or separated by time. It does not take a close relationship to leave a mark on posterity, as each decision someone makes has a trickle-down effect for years to come. Some clans have held onto clear lineage records, while others have little idea where their story began. The depth of your understanding is unimportant as long as you are interested in learning more. Once you have decided to plan a vacation as a group, research the 1950 census records to find details about where your ancestors have been. There is so much you can uncover with even the most straightforward reports:

• Pictures of grandparents to share before you begin your journey,

• Birth dates and death dates for a better sense of what relatives may have lived through,

• Namesakes that may have been passed on to you,

• Occupations and residences previously unknown.

Visit Landing Areas

The data and facts can guide the decisions for establishing an itinerary and activities. If you can obtain residential addresses, set aside a moment to check them out. It can be empowering to see places that meant something in the past. Humble beginnings may remind you all of how hard your predecessors toiled to provide a future. On the other hand, grand domiciles might reignite an internal motivation that has waned. Consider the possibility of contacting the current owners and asking if you can step inside the rooms of holidays gone by. Another approach to link up with forebearers is to reserve a space at national immigration sites if you know which ones they arrived at. Many of these locations have been preserved and now serve as museums. Historians have gathered artifacts and documents that let you immerse yourself in the unknown just as they did years ago. Educate your family on each step of the process of coming to a new country. 

Explore Hometowns and Regions

International travel can open entirely different doors if you choose to sojourn abroad. Though your primary goal is to reestablish your bonds, splitting up for the day is okay, and getting to know the area individually. The conversations that are generated by time apart can be as valuable as if you had signed up for a tour en masse. When you reconvene for the evening, take advantage of your time together to dine at local eateries that may serve traditional fare. You can sip a glass of wine and share stories of what each of you saw. A teen might be intrigued to hear how earlier adolescents occupied themselves or what dating was like in an earlier era. Everyone could be surprised when they hear about social and cultural beliefs that have somehow stayed in practice. There is almost always a layer or two from history that lingers around, waiting to be discovered.

Sometimes it can be a chore to assemble a large menagerie, but if you want to secure family memories, it is worth the effort. 

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