The Power of Ancestral Travel
There’s something deeply moving about understanding where you come from. It could be the way your grandmother’s eyes light up when she shares stories of her childhood home or the sense of wonder that comes from looking through old family photographs. For many women, this curiosity has grown into a powerful movement—traveling not just for relaxation or adventure, but to connect with their family history.
Whether you're traveling alone, with your mother, or introducing your children to their roots, these journeys offer more than just sightseeing. They provide a chance to understand the choices, sacrifices, and dreams of the women who came before you and how their experiences shaped the opportunities you have today.
Why I Love Ancestral Travel
For me, ancestral travel has always been more than just a passing interest. My mother’s family traces its roots back to Ireland, where she was the second generation born in the U.S. My father’s side is Portuguese, making him the first generation born in this country. Even with such a direct connection to my heritage, there was an unshakable pull to visit both Ireland and Portugal.
Ireland became my first international trip, and I’ve returned six times since, often leading small groups of travelers eager to experience it for themselves. Along the way, I've learned a lot. Here are some insights that might help you plan your own heritage trip.
What is Ancestral Tourism?
Ancestral tourism differs from general heritage or genealogy trips, which often focus on research and records. Instead, it's a deeply personal journey, especially for women who often take on the role of memory-keepers in families. Women are typically the ones who preserve family recipes, maintain photo albums, and remember the stories passed down through generations. This natural inclination makes ancestral travel particularly meaningful for women seeking to understand their place within a broader narrative of female experiences.
Why Women Seek Their Family Origins
The desire to explore one’s roots isn’t always driven by curiosity. Sometimes it stems from a longing for answers, healing, and connection. Many women describe these trips as unexpectedly emotional. Tracing the lives of the women who came before us—especially those whose stories may have been forgotten—can bring both joy and grief.
Standing in the same kitchen where your great-grandmother kneaded bread or walking through the garden where she grew herbs can create a profound sense of connection. These moments make the past feel real and tangible.
Planning Your Heritage Journey
If you're wondering where to start, don't worry. The process might seem overwhelming at first, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make it feel much more approachable.
Begin with the Women in Your Life
Your first and most valuable resource is likely sitting right at your kitchen table or just a phone call away. These conversations can reveal unexpected details about daily life, family dynamics, and the challenges your ancestors faced.
Gather the Paper Trail
Once you have names, dates, and stories, it's time to dig into the documentation. Collect birth and marriage records, immigration documents, letters, and photos. Use sites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org to build your family tree and connect with other researchers working on the same family lines. Don’t get discouraged if some records are missing or hard to find; immigration records, in particular, can be incomplete or contain errors.
Consider a DNA Test
Services like 23andMe or AncestryDNA can help uncover regions and relatives you didn’t know about, especially when the paper trail runs cold. These tests can reveal ethnic backgrounds that weren’t passed down through family stories and connect you with distant cousins who might have additional information or photos.
Research Your Destination Thoroughly
Before booking flights, spend time learning about the places you want to visit. Look for destinations with access to local archives, historical societies, or active genealogy communities. Some countries have special programs for returning descendants. Research local customs, learn a few phrases in the local language, and familiarize yourself with the historical context of when your ancestors lived there.
Travel Safely, Especially if You’re Going Solo
Ancestral travel often takes you to small towns and rural areas that are off the typical tourist path. Plan your routes carefully, secure accommodations ahead of time, and remember to share your location with trusted contacts back home. Make sure you have comprehensive travel insurance, backup copies of important documents stored separately from originals, and emergency contacts both at home and at your destination.
Common Destinations for Ancestry Tourists
Ireland and Scotland
Both countries have strong recordkeeping systems and special programs designed to help visitors connect with their heritage. Ireland’s EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum offers a unique opportunity to learn how your Irish ancestors may have emigrated and connect with a genealogist who can help with your research. Scotland offers similar resources through clan societies and heritage centers.
Italy
Italian communities tend to have strong oral traditions, and many towns maintain detailed church records that can help trace family lines. The food culture can also play a significant role, as recipes and cooking techniques often pass directly from grandmother to granddaughter.
France
France holds special significance for many families, especially those researching World War I and World War II memorial sites. The meticulous record-keeping of war graves and preserved battlefields and memorials provide tangible connections to family members who served or lived through these conflicts.
Questions to Ask Older Relatives
Before diving into databases and archives, start with the people closest to you. Sometimes the most revealing conversations happen over a cup of coffee.
- “What were your grandparents like when you were little?”
- “Do you remember any family traditions we no longer do?”
- “Were there any places that were special for our family?”
- “Do you have any recipes, letters, or keepsakes from older generations?”
These questions can lead to valuable insights and help guide your travel plans.
How Can Women Follow in Their Family’s Footsteps?
Join Local Cooking Classes
Learning to make dishes the way your ancestors did can be a powerful way to connect with their daily lives. Whether it's pasta in Italy or traditional recipes in France, these experiences bring the past to life.
Visit the Family Church, Village Market, or Cemetery
These are places where your family lived their daily lives. Sitting in the pew where your great-grandmother prayed or walking through the market where she bought vegetables can create a deep sense of connection.
Take Part in a Regional Festival
Local celebrations often preserve traditions that go back centuries. Participating in these events helps you understand what brought joy and meaning to your ancestors’ lives.
Hire a Local Guide
Professional guides or local historians can provide context that transforms your understanding of your family’s experiences. They can explain what life was like during specific periods, point out architectural details you might miss, and help you understand how historical events affected daily life in their community.
Starting Your Own Heritage Journey
You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin. Start with a name or a story and follow where it leads. It might take you across the world or just across town to visit an elderly relative.
Sometimes the best moments come from unexpected encounters: a conversation with a stranger who recognizes your family name, a photograph in a local museum that looks a lot like your grandmother, or simply the feeling of recognition when you turn a corner and see a landscape that feels like home.
In following the footsteps of the women who came before you, you're not just honoring their memory—you're reclaiming your own story and preparing to pass it on to the women who will come after you.
