Fun Travel Journaling Ideas for Kids

Family trips are more than just sightseeing—they’re a treasure trove of stories waiting to be remembered. One of the most engaging ways for children to reflect on their experiences and stay off screens is through travel journaling. Whether your child is a budding writer, artist, or explorer, a travel journal gives them a space to express what they see, feel, and learn.

In this guide, we share fun and age-appropriate journaling ideas that will spark creativity, enhance observation skills, and make every journey a story they’ll cherish forever.

Why Kids Should Keep a Travel Journal

• Encourages mindful observation of new cultures, environments, and people
• Supports literacy and expression through writing and drawing
• Creates a keepsake they can look back on years later
• Builds confidence and independence through daily reflection
• Reduces screen time with a hands-on, unplugged activity

Best of all, it becomes a family tradition and a quiet moment of reflection amidst the adventure.

1. The Classic “Daily Highlights” Format

For kids who like structure, a simple day-by-day recap is a great place to start. Use guided prompts like:

• Where did we go today?
• What was my favorite part?
• What new thing did I learn?
• What did I eat?
• One funny/surprising/memorable moment

Encourage them to write a few sentences or even a list—it doesn’t need to be long to be meaningful.

2. Draw What You See

Some kids are visual learners. Give them the option to draw instead of write.

Ideas to sketch:

• Landmarks or animals they saw
• Their hotel room or airplane
• A local meal
• Their family doing something funny
• Something they've never seen before

Include colored pencils or watercolor pens to make it more fun and tactile.

3. Postcard Journal Pages

Turn each entry into a “postcard” by having them draw an image on one side and write a short message on the other—like they’re sending a note to a friend back home.

This format is especially great for shorter attention spans or younger kids.

4. Sticker & Souvenir Pages

Make journaling interactive by adding:

• Entry tickets
• Train passes
• Museum wristbands
• Restaurant napkins or wrappers (if clean!)
• Dried flowers or leaves
• Stamps or local coins

Use glue or pockets in the journal to stick them in as visual reminders of the day.

5. Travel Bingo or Scavenger Logs

Create pages for travel-themed scavenger hunts like:

• “Find someone wearing a hat”
• “Try a food that’s new to you”
• “See a building taller than 10 floors”
• “Spot a bird, bug, or fish”
• “Hear someone speaking a new language”

Each item they check off can come with a doodle or short description.

6. Top 5 Lists

Let kids summarize each location with fun rankings.

Examples:

• Top 5 foods I ate
• Top 5 coolest things I saw
• Top 5 weirdest smells
• Top 5 things I want to tell my friends

It’s quick, creative, and perfect for older kids and tweens.

7. Maps and Routes

Give your child a printed map of the country or city you’re visiting. Each day they can:

• Color in places visited
• Mark where they slept
• Draw arrows showing movement
• Add small doodles to locations (like pizza in Naples or a fish in the Maldives)

This helps kids connect geography with real experiences.

8. “Ask Me About…” Prompts

Create a page titled “Ask Me About…” where they jot down cool stories to tell relatives or friends later. For example:

• “Ask me about the time we got lost in the spice market.”
• “Ask me about the camel I rode.”
• “Ask me about the monkey who tried to steal my lunch.”

These quirky prompts become conversation starters when you return home.

9. Emotions Tracker

Let your child reflect on how they felt each day.

Use a simple format:

• 😊 Happy
• 🤔 Curious
• 😴 Tired
• 😱 Scared
• 😍 Excited

They can circle or color an emoji and write why they felt that way. This teaches emotional awareness and encourages open conversations.

10. Make It a Family Affair

Why not journal together? Set aside 10–15 minutes each evening where everyone in the family reflects, draws, or writes. Share entries (if they want to) and relive the highlights of the day.

It becomes a bonding ritual and shows that journaling is valuable for all ages.

What You’ll Need

• A sturdy notebook or scrapbook (spiral-bound or travel-themed)
• Pens, markers, colored pencils
• Glue stick or washi tape
• Envelopes for small items
• Stickers, stamps, or travel-themed labels
• A small pouch to keep it all organized

Optional: Portable printer for instant photo entries.

A travel journal is more than a souvenir—it’s a storybook written by your child, in their own voice. It helps them slow down, observe more deeply, and take ownership of their adventure. Years from now, they won’t just remember where they went—but how it felt, what they learned, and how they saw the world through their own eyes. At Hi DMC, we craft journeys filled with discovery, culture, and family connection. Our itineraries are designed to inspire young travelers—and travel journaling is the perfect way to capture every step.

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