As human beings, we all want to feel as though we belong and know our heritage. While most of us travel to visit family, there are many people who are embarking on family history trips to learn more about their ancestors who are no longer with us.
Otherwise known as genealogy, this process involves heading to the land of your ancestors to uncover your family history.
While some people are happy to stick with the internet in finding out more about their family tree, others prefer to go in person and head to cities, towns, streets, and houses that their ancestors once lived in.
If you have an eye for travel and want to track your roots, here are a few things you can do to best prepare for your upcoming family history trip.
Consider Budget & Location
Like with any trip you embark on, it’s vital that you work out your budget beforehand. Exploring your family roots may require you to go to the other side of the world, so unless you have the finances in place to fund your trip, it’s likely that you won’t get any further than your front door.
To begin with, it’s advised to pick a location that is closer to home and less expensive to travel to. You may find that while your ancestors were born in one place, they may have traveled and settled in a location much closer to home.
Be Prepared
Once you have a location in mind for your family history trip, it’s important to get important documents in order. Whether it’s wedding announcements or birth certificates, the more details you have, the better. You can also obtain Obituary Records on websites like Public Records Reviews that can help you fill in the gaps of your family tree.
Public Records Reviews allows you to search birth records, death records, and address history, which can be an eye-opening experience and help you uncover family mysteries.
Reach Out to Family
In addition to using websites to find records about your family, the internet can be a powerful tool in reaching out to relatives that you may otherwise not know exist.
Once you’ve completed a DNA test, you may find family members online who partially match your own. If you’re lucky enough to track relatives online, they can be a great resource in uncovering more about your family history. Make sure that you plan a visit to see them during your trip, especially if they live in an area you envisage on visiting.
Map Out Your Time
Whether you’re looking for a particular ancestor, or there’s a destination that you need to explore, you need to map out your time wisely. If you only have a few days in the area, you need to make sure that you do everything you have planned.
It’s likely that you will want to explore several spots in your mission to find out where your family came from, so there are several factors to take into account, such as driving times and time on the rails. To get the most out of your trip, being flexible is key.
Call Ahead
For those who are planning to do a document dive or records search on their family history trip, it’s vital that you call ahead. There are many invaluable treasure troves that may house important information about your family, such as city halls, churches, and libraries.
The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination and find that these establishments are shut, so researching online into opening times is crucial. Once you make initial contact, there may be volunteers or staff members who want to assist you on your guide to uncovering your family history.
Hire an Expert
If you’re dedicated to tracing your family’s roots, but you don’t have the time or resources to research and prepare, you may want to consider hiring a pro instead. Once you’ve pinpointed a destination of interest, there may be many professionals in the area who want to take your case on and begin digging.
It’s advised to begin using the Association of Professional Genealogists who are experts in their field.
Manage Your Expectations
Millions of people tune into genealogy television shows that aim to uncover family histories for civilians and celebrities. If you’ve watched one before, they usually have a happy ending, so while you will want to uncover as much as you can during your family history trip, you also need to manage your expectations.
Being realistic and preparing for disappointment will mean that you aren’t too disheartened should you not find what you want. There are some people who spend their lifetime trying to piece together their family history, so staying committed and not giving up is important.
Many people are curious about their family history, making a genealogy trip top of the agenda.
Before embarking on your mission to learn more about your heritage, using all the tips above can help you prepare for a successful family history trip.
