| Using Vacations for Genealogy | | | | area flat or hilly? Wear shoes that are |
| Using your vacations for Family History can be | | | | comfortable; can they get dirty if the cemetery is |
| very rewarding. Preparing ahead of time for your | | | | muddy? What type of transportation is there and |
| trip can save you time, gas and money. The | | | | do you have access to where you need to go? |
| following are things you can do before your trip. | | | | Vacations are also family time. Getting the kids |
| Call ahead and verify library, court houses, | | | | involved can be fun and a good learning time. |
| cemeteries, etc. hours of operations and locations. | | | | Young children can help look for headstones by |
| Don't forget lunch hours especially in small towns | | | | reading the surnames. We should also use this |
| where there may be only one worker. I recall a | | | | time to talk about our ancestor and how to show |
| friend who drove 2 hours to find the cemetery | | | | respect at the cemetery. Have the children look |
| was private land and was located within a locked | | | | for pictures or inscriptions. Putting flowers on the |
| fence. She had to call ahead to make | | | | graves can be a special time also. Learn ahead of |
| arrangements to visit the cemetery of her | | | | time how to do Headstone rubbings and teach |
| ancestors. | | | | this to your kids. Make a time line with your child |
| Take copies, not originals of your records | | | | at one end of the line and the ancestor you are |
| (pedigrees, family group sheets, pictures, land | | | | researching at the other end. What has happened |
| deeds). Take blank family group sheets and | | | | in the world between the two time periods? |
| pedigrees with you on trips to be filled out by | | | | On the trip, let the kids look for signs telling the |
| relatives you visit. | | | | counties, store names, lakes, parks or any other |
| Have good maps of the area you are visiting. | | | | landmarks. Were any of them in existence at the |
| Perhaps a map is available of what the area | | | | time of your ancestor? Someone once told me |
| looked like during your ancestor's time period. | | | | during a vacation the mosquitoes were horrific. |
| What county lines may have changed over the | | | | This made him wonder if they were around when |
| years? | | | | his ancestors lived there. What did they go |
| Go with a plan. It is a good idea to focus on one | | | | through? |
| family, but also be open minded. Most families | | | | Let the kids take pictures, label them and write |
| lived in the same areas and traveled together. | | | | stories. Don't forget to put dates, names and |
| But, at the same time trying to research too | | | | locations. Years down the line, who knows, maybe |
| many surnames can be overwhelming. | | | | 100 years from then, your descendants may |
| If you can get information at your local genealogy | | | | looking at your vacationing journal! |
| library or family history center, don't spend time | | | | Taking advantage of the resources available |
| on your vacation looking up that particular | | | | where you will be traveling will be useful if you |
| information. Use your time wisely on things you | | | | plan wisely. Genealogy vacations can be rewarding |
| can only get where you are visiting. Find out the | | | | if one is prepared. |
| weather situation and dress accordingly. Is the | | | | |