tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57737336064843253142024-03-13T19:09:33.248-07:00Roots TravelerEverything and anything related to Genealogy Travel/Heritage TravelRoots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-23359502282588021672011-04-21T14:45:00.000-07:002011-04-21T14:45:07.486-07:00History and Roots TravelOne of the most important things to do when you are starting to plan your roots travel is to pick up a history book.<br />
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If you really want to connect with your ancestors, you will want to be able to understand the world they lived in. You can do that through history books, newspapers of the day, etc. However you read your history, it is vital that you understand both local and world history.<br />
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Try to look for anything that might have affected your ancestors. Was there a flood that year in the neighborhood? Who was president and what policies were in place that might have affected your ancestors? What businesses advertised in the newspaper? Is it possible your ancestor frequented them? What was going on in the world?<br />
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By understanding the world your ancestors lived in, you will better understand your ancestors. You might find places that are still around that were around when your ancestor lived. You will find differences and similarities to our time. Those differences and similarities will become the framework for your travel, as you try to understand the world your ancestor lived, grew up, and died in.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-42155204367234021502011-04-14T13:31:00.000-07:002011-04-14T13:31:03.966-07:00Planning a Research TripSo you want to go on a research trip? Whether you plan on going by plane, train, or automobile, a successful research trip requires pre-planning.<br />
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If you are going to an archive or library, you will want to check the online catalog before you go and write down the call numbers of the records you plan on accessing. While you are at it, also make a note of the opening hours--you wouldn't want to show up when they are closed.<br />
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Make sure you have a plan written out. A research plan makes it much more likely that you will stay on task and find what you are looking for.<br />
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If you are planning on visiting churches and cemeteries, check the opening hours and make sure you have mapped out how to get to them. You don't want to spend any time getting lost when you have limited time available to you.<br />
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Take a camera with you in case you need to photograph the records you find. A magnifying glass for old records is also often recommended.<br />
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Check out about.com's page on <a href="http://genealogy.about.com/od/research_trips/Genealogy_Research_Trips_Vacations.htm">Genealogy Trips and Vacations</a> for a great list of to-dos before your trip. They have tips for a variety of types of research vacations.<br />
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With the right planning, you can have a successful research trip. It is all about planning. The more you put into your trip beforehand, the more successful you will be.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-1441980100074768432011-04-11T16:49:00.000-07:002011-04-11T16:52:05.975-07:00Making the Most of Your Family ReunionSo you have a family reunion coming up? Have you thought about how you are going to make the most of it?<br />
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Family reunions are a great way to do roots travel, as I wrote in an <a href="http://www.rootstraveler.com/2011/02/family-reunions-as-roots-travel.html">earlier post</a>. Whether the family reunion takes place somewhere exotic or at the park just down the road, you should be prepared to make the most of the reunion.<br />
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Here are a few things you can do:<br />
<ul><li>Take a tape recorder or a camcorder to interview an older relative. You never know when your next chance to interview them might be. Make sure you are ready with lots of great questions that will elicit interesting conversation.</li>
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<ul><li>Have everyone write a one page history of themselves. You provide the paper and pens and let them do the rest. Then, put everyone's responses together in a binder or create a book. </li>
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<ul><li>Prepare a list of research needs for your genealogy and distribute it to everyone. Ask if anyone is interested in helping you out in your research. You might be surprised who volunteers or who has more information that you need.</li>
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<ul><li>Make the reunion fun with games and activities that will have people coming back to future reunions. For example, have a talent show, tape it, then distribute DVDs after the reunion.</li>
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<ul><li>Make t-shirts for everyone. This is pretty common for family reunions. And did you know that Family Roots Travel does designs and t-shirts for family reunions? Contact Family Roots Travel for more information.</li>
</ul>These are only a few tips. There are hundreds of things you can do to make your family reunion great. But with these tips and the proper planning, you can make a family reunion a source of great information, family togetherness, and most of all fun. Whether the reunion is on a cruise or at a park, you will learn more about your family, and that is what roots travel is all about.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-44527899290217658592011-04-04T16:21:00.000-07:002011-04-04T16:21:59.120-07:00Cemeteries and Roots TravelIf you are like me, you enjoy looking through the cemetery on your roots travel, hoping to find the grave of an ancestor. The search can be incredibly exciting when you find the gravestone you are looking for, or it can be vaguely disappointing if you don't find what you are looking for.<br />
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My favorite memory from a cemetery was when I found an ancestor's grave from the early 1800s in a cemetery in Linlithgow, Scotland. I was searching around the cemetery when I came upon the grave of Mary Glenn. I couldn't believe my eyes. But there it was, and the death date matched. I took a photograph and some video. Then, as I walked back to the car, people were coming out of the church, the men dressed in kilts. Apparently there had been a christening that morning.<br />
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I thought about Mary Glenn. Most likely she attended that church and may have been christened there (all I had with me was the names and dates of death). It was humbling to think I might be walking the same ground my ancestor did so long ago. I had touched the gravestone, and in doing so I touched a piece of my personal history.<br />
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The roots traveler isn't always so lucky. At two or three other cemeteries I went to in Scotland, I didn't find any of the people I was looking for, although I did find graves with the same last name. They may have been cousins and that thought made the trip worth it.<br />
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So if you're planning on visiting a cemetery during your roots travel, make sure you do your homework before hand. Finding a gravesite of an ancestor is worth the time and research you put into it beforehand. You may still not find the grave you are looking for, but the search is part of the fun.<br />
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Have you found an ancestor's grave while roots traveling? If so, what did the experience feel like for you?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFsWQOe2EcwHOtl60elEcJIyoj-hxrsI3jpL5Rnhx1t02HQ9adcxVQnU9AaeDXwM8zoHrmmLTzgwzPHPeTOGQX7HG8ITDdp5iw8rQnx1FYitQnbq9HQQvCHuTKOS3W6Q9Gg_sgoG4yXI/s1600/IMG_2767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFsWQOe2EcwHOtl60elEcJIyoj-hxrsI3jpL5Rnhx1t02HQ9adcxVQnU9AaeDXwM8zoHrmmLTzgwzPHPeTOGQX7HG8ITDdp5iw8rQnx1FYitQnbq9HQQvCHuTKOS3W6Q9Gg_sgoG4yXI/s320/IMG_2767.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Church Cemetery, Cobh, Ireland</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One room house of a landless laborer</td></tr>
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The grounds of the museum are extensive, with buildings from different time periods and different levels of income. I found the one room cottage of a landless labourer especially interesting, as it was such a humble and small cottage, with only a fireplace and a bed. The schoolhouse was also interesting, with boys and girls separated into the two halves of the school.<br />
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Other buildings include eight different farmhouses (there is even one where the animals lived on one side of the room and the people on the other), a village street and a working pub. <br />
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Unfortunately, when I went there were not very many actors to bring the village to life. I visited in March, but apparently there are more during the tourist season.<br />
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So if you are in Ireland, plan a stop here. Also, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is a stop on the April 2012 itinerary of Family Roots Travel's Irish Ancestry and Heritage Tour. You can find out more about the tour by clicking the link. If you would like to learn more about the Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, you can visit the website <a href="http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/BunrattyCastleFolkPark/">here</a>.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-81596604981563821482011-03-30T16:53:00.000-07:002011-03-30T16:53:23.478-07:00Festivals and FunIf you are planning a trip to visit your roots, it's a good idea to check out whether there are any local festivals you might be able to plan your trip around. Local festivals can give you a flavor of the area that you won't necessarily find in the cemetery or the local church.<br />
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An example of such a festival is the <a href="http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/content.php?nID=246">National Eisteddfod</a> held every August in Wales. This festival celebrating Welsh heritage and culture travels to a different town every year but consistently showcases Welsh culture, music and visual arts. Not only that, but the entire festival is held in Welsh. But I don't understand Welsh, you might say. That is part of the point. You want to experience everything the destination has to offer, whether in English or not.<br />
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You can usually find out about a festival by googling the place you are going or by contacting the local tourist bureau. The tourist bureaus always have a wealth of information and you should be contacting them anyway before your trip.<br />
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So make your roots travel something to celebrate, by celebrating your heritage at a local festival.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-41396634543936725732011-03-29T13:11:00.000-07:002011-03-29T13:11:17.395-07:00Tombstone Tuesday: Lusitania<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjNmpK9Booyn2hInqsd1b2hYrYM_kAic3dgnBdtyvh_xxeg5CZe6uhhwk1ir6BSX2XYGgJpXfRyaTBHUcmivcjThpVd3X7mKefJvjD1bwxYf4yqkvQ263jtP1CEcHF2f5nLWO-pbiDIU/s1600/IMG_2769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjNmpK9Booyn2hInqsd1b2hYrYM_kAic3dgnBdtyvh_xxeg5CZe6uhhwk1ir6BSX2XYGgJpXfRyaTBHUcmivcjThpVd3X7mKefJvjD1bwxYf4yqkvQ263jtP1CEcHF2f5nLWO-pbiDIU/s320/IMG_2769.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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On my recent trip to Ireland, a tour I was on stopped at a small cemetery outside Cobh. In the cemetery there are three mass graves for passengers from the Lusitania whose remains were never identified or never retrieved by relatives. 1198 people died, of which 148 were buried in this cemetery.<br />
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The Lusitania was a passenger ship torpedoed early in World War I. You can read more about it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Lusitania">here</a>.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-43122770470014540622011-03-22T14:59:00.000-07:002011-03-22T15:10:25.889-07:00One Lovely Blog AwardTammy over at <a href="http://genealogysf.blogspot.com/">Genealogy Pure and Simple</a> has given me the "One Lovely Blog Award." I'm not sure what makes my blog lovely, but I am honored to accept this award. However, there are some requirements (one of which I'm going to break). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2IvO6hehCHYUzO3Abps2Scgxa4DPtdEnQmtsxFoiLw_wzyVEhE9WnUm-njaiivxQ4tRAQcMPhfUIXEuX5B9pqlIrGdKcwcTb6I_ukSJcFO8sdibYDDuhwt4R3pCFARHobACo25wnDGQ/s1600/onelovelyblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2IvO6hehCHYUzO3Abps2Scgxa4DPtdEnQmtsxFoiLw_wzyVEhE9WnUm-njaiivxQ4tRAQcMPhfUIXEuX5B9pqlIrGdKcwcTb6I_ukSJcFO8sdibYDDuhwt4R3pCFARHobACo25wnDGQ/s1600/onelovelyblog.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Now to accept the award the rules are as followed:<br />
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1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link. <br />
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2. Pass the award on to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.<br />
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3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.<br />
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I have to admit that when it comes to these things, I tend to be a bit of a party pooper, and this time is no different. The thought of highlighting 15 blogs is a bit overwhelming, so I'm only going to highlight 4 blogs at this time, but they are definitely worthy of the award.<br />
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1.<a href="http://londonrootsresearch.blogspot.com/"> London Roots Research</a><br />
2. <a href="http://welshgenealogy.blogspot.com/">Welsh Genealogy</a><br />
3. <a href="http://scottishemigration.blogspot.com/">The Scottish Emigration Blog</a><br />
4. <a href="http://heritagehappens.blogspot.com/">Heritage Happens</a><br />
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These are definitely blogs to read, if you have any English, Welsh or Scottish genealogy, as I do. They are well written and interesting, and they could all be called lovely.<br />
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</div>Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-9277790483272247202011-03-21T15:51:00.000-07:002011-03-21T15:51:39.983-07:00Some Ireland Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Below are some photos from a recent trip to Ireland, researching a few places for the Irish Ancestry Heritage Tour I am putting together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP848zn5weJyGf3j5GVy4Wi-SVOo28RcQaCVN21Lxs-Fp2TXD0ZWdOf6crWLlHUBKoxovtfwTD8ED8PHpjsM7ck1rrzQESVE41tcz5fdMimHH4FFwounuRqOtpMqp2B2ElRqvGFOw_v0w/s1600/IMG_2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP848zn5weJyGf3j5GVy4Wi-SVOo28RcQaCVN21Lxs-Fp2TXD0ZWdOf6crWLlHUBKoxovtfwTD8ED8PHpjsM7ck1rrzQESVE41tcz5fdMimHH4FFwounuRqOtpMqp2B2ElRqvGFOw_v0w/s320/IMG_2742.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blarney Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1RzsKvJV0fgIdrdTSQB7nLb1AQPat0CaginTt98AGByQeXy8vqiTsESUSoKsrwm9wzXehrXbWrHcJ-MT4fpZvvf8cLwRwIC-EC1c8iHaPBkDQrNGM6GOgsOg6PdyPZAu7BwRUAcZ6u4/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1RzsKvJV0fgIdrdTSQB7nLb1AQPat0CaginTt98AGByQeXy8vqiTsESUSoKsrwm9wzXehrXbWrHcJ-MT4fpZvvf8cLwRwIC-EC1c8iHaPBkDQrNGM6GOgsOg6PdyPZAu7BwRUAcZ6u4/s320/IMG_2785.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cobh Heritage Center</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish Emigration from Cobh</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring of Kerry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunratty Folk Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish Cemetery</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3H2o-br3O7lAw8T2x3pnVmI27O2-0T8keigtkv5OYat7NNf-SE1xmANKys1J64mbmmvcvt81hbIBTNruVmP8sn2XZCsbI3dEkQ5oR_R5VcW_2M9luQTDkwyvXcb474hmEWZrmWmwV1Y/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3H2o-br3O7lAw8T2x3pnVmI27O2-0T8keigtkv5OYat7NNf-SE1xmANKys1J64mbmmvcvt81hbIBTNruVmP8sn2XZCsbI3dEkQ5oR_R5VcW_2M9luQTDkwyvXcb474hmEWZrmWmwV1Y/s320/IMG_2872.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cliffs of Moher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-89865356001656223822011-03-02T18:40:00.000-08:002011-03-02T18:40:18.386-08:00Things to Ask Yourself When Planning Your Roots TravelRoots travel takes planning. You need to at least know where your relatives lived, of course. You might also want details of what church they were christened or married in, what street they lived on, or any number of other interesting tidbits.<br />
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So if you are planning an ancestral trip, you'll want to ask yourself a few things:<br />
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<b>1. Do you plan on researching on the trip?</b><br />
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Roots travel can be for research purposes or it can be just to get a feel for the area your ancestor lived.<br />
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<b>2. Will your roots travel be the main focus of your trip, or will it be a side trip during your vacation?</b><br />
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Be realistic when planning your vacation --do you have enough information to keep yourself busy for the whole trip? If not, can you plan it as a side trip (i.e. vacation to London, but with a side trip to Steeple Ashton).<br />
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<b>3. Will you be specific or general?</b><br />
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Do you want to get an overview of the country, county, city and culture? Do you want to visit specific places connected with your relatives or ancestors, such as a specific house, street or church. You need to decide before you leave on your vacation what you want to see so you can plan ahead. For example, if you want to visit a specific church, you might want to find out when it is open.<br />
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<b>4. What are your expectations?</b><br />
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You may find that the street your family lived on is now a factory. Will you still feel fulfilled? Do you have more general places you can visit if the specific places are not available.<br />
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<b>5. Are you ready to immerse yourself in the culture?</b><br />
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Some people travel without ever immersing themselves in the culture. As a roots traveler, you don't want that to happen. You want to immerse yourself in the culture, warts and all. You want to take the opportunity to eat with the locals, etc. Whether it is the Southern U.S., England, Germany, or Japan, remember that your ancestors came from the place you are visiting. You have a heritage in that culture. Make it part of your own inner cultural self.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-43681244622762023862011-02-15T16:55:00.000-08:002011-02-16T13:48:05.405-08:00Family Reunions as Roots TravelIt's been a while since I last posted. Time just got away from me.<br />
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Recently, I put together a family reunion for a large family. They are going on a <a href="http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/">Disney Cruise</a>. It's perfect for both the adults and the kids because there is something for everyone to do.<br />
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Many of the readers of this blog might not consider a Disney Cruise roots travel, but I do. I tend to define roots travel as anything that strengthens the roots and branches of the family tree. A family reunion is a great way to strengthen those roots. No matter where the family reunion is held, it helps generations connect.That is what roots travel is all about. <br />
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According to<a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/18468876/ns/today-todaytravel/"> this article</a>, 34 percent of U.S. adults have traveled to a family reunion in the past three years. Check out the article; it even talks about ancestral travel as a family reunion idea. Ancestral travel is a great travel idea for family reunion travel because as a family you share a common heritage. Traveling to Italy to see your great-grandfather's vineyard, for example, would be an amazing family reunion travel experience.<br />
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If you are planning family reunion travel, check out <a href="http://www.travelsense.org/tips/familyreunion.cfm">this article</a> for some helpful tips. Whether you are planning to visit an ancestral home or do a cruise, it takes a lot of planning for a great family reunion. Consider a travel agent to help you plan the travel portions of the trip.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-42917999257558606802010-12-23T14:52:00.000-08:002010-12-23T14:52:53.406-08:00Merry ChristmasI am going to be taking a break from writing over Christmas. Wishing you and your family (and its roots) a very merry Christmas.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMQ8821n_NFuLdUzVcAwZ1-8J_INrwCirVSQAt8dVxYZQhyphenhyphenh7ghuwbgMh8pCEHF4kBWrReYIWy2ICUvSXLD5IZjDTsLYOqIcwSXk0fj1GwntZpS0-fgQtkJXWw3ErC12RTEOilBF3nNY/s1600/Merry+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMQ8821n_NFuLdUzVcAwZ1-8J_INrwCirVSQAt8dVxYZQhyphenhyphenh7ghuwbgMh8pCEHF4kBWrReYIWy2ICUvSXLD5IZjDTsLYOqIcwSXk0fj1GwntZpS0-fgQtkJXWw3ErC12RTEOilBF3nNY/s400/Merry+Christmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-81220047124850976292010-12-17T15:34:00.000-08:002010-12-17T15:48:51.174-08:00Thoughts About Tiny Villages and AncestorsLately I have been trying to put together a potential escorted tour to Ireland for people with Irish ancestry. One of the difficulties that I run into is that an escorted tour will not be able to hit all the different cities and towns that those ancestors actually came from. Instead, it has to be more of a general overview.<br />
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One way of resolving that problem is to have the escorted tour followed by personal time to explore Ireland. That way people can visit their ancestors' villages but also get a good overview of the country they lived in.<br />
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While I've been doing this, I have also been thinking about the way it seems that everyone's ancestors came from tiny villages instead of large cities. Why is that? You would think more people would have ancestors from London, for example, instead of some little village way out in the English countryside.<br />
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Maybe it is just a perception I have because people enjoy visiting those villages and trying to find their ancestral church or cemetary. It would be interesting, though, to run into someone who's ancestry comes primarily from large cities like Boston, New York, London, Berlin, Dublin, et cetera. I'm not saying I don't like working with small villages. Actually, I like it quite a bit. I'm just making a general observation.<br />
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No matter where ancestors hail from, though, their homes are worth visiting. Whether it is a small village or a large metropolis, roots travel is the way to go.<br />
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P.S. Don't forget to vote for Roots Traveler in the Family Tree 40! <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting</a>Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-83908076854416928092010-12-13T13:58:00.000-08:002010-12-13T14:18:06.863-08:00Vote For Roots Traveler In The Family Tree 40Each year, Family Tree Magazine holds a vote for the 40 best genealogy blogs. The blogs are divided up into eight categories, and you vote for five blogs in each category. You can find the announcement <a href="http://blog.familytreemagazine.com/insider/2010/12/13/HelpChooseThe2011FamilyTree40.aspx">here</a>.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2o49ljUEacVX6MfB92r9JZStxTnSDhDP87h8z3Sa19khL7koHWutH8CAJnJO5oWrP-sA4Dt03p3H84DWq8X2Mv3PQAV0BlI4YoItQEUjk_eZAYuzSvy7JTfWsAg9y1ToSyaFmxXf-v6I/s1600/40bestblogs2011_vote.gif" /></a></div>I was surprised to find out that this blog was nominated in the NEW BLOGS category! I don't know who nominated me, but I'm delighted to be among this list of so many great genealogy bloggers.<br />
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So now I need your help. Voting has already started and continues until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 20. You can vote as often as you want to, so use the old phrase "Vote early and vote often" as your motto.<br />
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There are a lot of great blogs in every category. DearMYRTLE has a <a href="http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/2010/12/sample-ballot-for-2011-family-tree-40.html">sample ballot</a> and links to each blog so you can check them out yourself and vote for your top 40! Now is a great time to discover some really great genealogy blogs. Just make sure you vote for Roots Traveler in the NEW BLOGS category! Tell your genealogy-loving friends and family to vote too. <br />
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Here's the link to vote: <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ft40-2011voting</a>Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-17307456579959726532010-12-11T12:11:00.000-08:002010-12-11T19:29:31.156-08:00Collaborative Roots Travel MapHave you done roots travel? Share it with all of the readers of this blog. I just put up a page with a <a href="http://www.rootstraveler.com/p/roots-travel-map.html">map of the world</a> on which I will document the roots travels of readers of this blog.<br />
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Genealogy is very much a collaborative effort. This map is as well. Just advise Roots Traveler of where you have been and your travels will be put on the map. Then, if you are planning roots travel to a particular area and want some advice, you'll know who to contact! <br />
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By giving your username and travel locations, you are consenting to have your information placed on the map for everyone to see. But isn't that what genealogy is all about?! Let's see if we can blanket the map with roots travel!<br />
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There are two ways to share your information: leave it in the comments below, or email me at info [at] familyrootstravel [dot] com.<br />
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EDIT: The map can be found on <a href="http://www.rootstraveler.com/p/roots-travel-map.html">here</a> permanently so it is easy to find, but I am adding it to this post as well.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=117108893328800500741.0004972789a9f668ea9ee&ll=51.618017,5.625&spn=138.254227,298.828125&z=1&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
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<small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=117108893328800500741.0004972789a9f668ea9ee&ll=51.618017,5.625&spn=138.254227,298.828125&z=1&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Roots Travel</a> in a larger map</small>Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-2831196467896319162010-12-10T15:58:00.000-08:002010-12-10T23:36:47.719-08:00The Ulster-Scots and Roots Travel in Northern IrelandAs a travel agent, I am always interested in learning more about different places and cultures. This coincides well with my interest in roots travel.<br />
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This week I found out more about a group of people called the Ulster Scots. These people were from the lowlands of Scotland but moved to Ulster (the settlements were called the Plantation of Ulster) in Northern Ireland. Eventually most of them moved to America. It's a fascinating story, one that highlights the history between Ireland and Great Britain.<br />
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I recommend learning more, especially if you think you might have Ulster-Scot heritage. You can find out more about the Ulster-Scots from the great <a href="http://www.genealogyandfamilyhistory.com/?p=427">article</a> I read. Or you can go to the website for the <a href="http://www.ulsterscotssociety.com/about.html">Ulster-Scots Society of America</a> or the very informative <a href="http://www.ulsterscotsagency.com/">Ulster-Scots Agency</a> website. The BBC even has a website devoted to the Ulster Scots at <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/ulsterscots/%20">http://www.bbc.co.uk/ulsterscots/</a>. Finally, there's a great and informative website put together by the Ulster-Scots Agency on the <a href="http://www.plantationofulster.org/">Plantation of Ulster</a>.<br />
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Naturally, this got me wondering whether there was a museum in Northern Ireland dedicated to these Ulster-Scots. Such a museum would be a great place to start one's roots travel. Turns out there is one: the <a href="http://monreaghulsterscotscentre.town.ie/">Monreagh Ulster-Scots Irish Heritage and Education Centre</a> in County Donegal. This museum would be a must-stop visit on anyone with Ulster-Scot heritage visiting Northern Ireland.<br />
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For a more general look at emigration from Ulster, one could also visit the <a href="http://www.nmni.com/uafp">Ulster American Folk Park</a>. While this <a href="http://www.rootstraveler.com/2010/11/living-history-museums-great-way-to.html">living history museum</a> does not focus on the Ulster-Scots, it does talk about the experience of emigration from Ulster to America, so it is definitely a helpful place to get closer to your ancestor's experiences.<br />
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It never ceases to amaze me how much history there is around the world. The Ulster-Scots are a part of history I had never heard of, but I am now thinking of including it on an Irish heritage tour I am planning. Not only because I think that Northern Ireland would be a great place to travel, but also because I think it would be a great place to do roots travel for anyone with Irish or Ulster-Scot ancestry. Only by learning about all the different aspects of a country's history can one truly understand their ancestors.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-6516283308284447962010-12-06T15:05:00.000-08:002010-12-06T15:05:44.092-08:00Living History Museums: Museum of Welsh LifeIn an earlier post, I wrote about <a href="http://www.rootstraveler.com/2010/11/living-history-museums-great-way-to.html">Living History Museums</a> and the benefit they can be to your roots travel. One of the museums I mentioned was the <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2240/">Museum of Welsh Life</a> at St Fagans, Wales. This post will review that excellent museum.<br />
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The Museum of Welsh Life is, in my opinion, an absolute necessary stop on any Welsh roots travel itinerary. The museum reviews Welsh life at home and work over the last five hundred years. Located just west of Cardiff, the museum is on the grounds of St Fagans Castle on about 105 acres.<br />
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The museum has two parts: the galleries and the museum grounds. Both should be visited by anyone with Welsh ancestry.<br />
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The galleries include farm vehicles and implements, Welsh costumes and textiles, Welsh instruments, folk customs, and much more. It is a great overview of Welsh custom and culture that will really connect the roots traveler with their ancestors.<br />
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The highlight of a visit to the museum, though, is the museum grounds. The grounds include numerous buildings from around Wales. These buildings come from different time periods and regions and have been painstakingly reconstructed on the grounds of the museum. The visitor can see a typical pigsty, bee shelter, farmhouses, cottage, church, and even a row of iron worker's houses. These are just a few of the buildings represented.<br />
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Walking through the museum and its grounds is like gaining access to the time of your ancestors. For anyone who wants to connect with their Welsh ancestry, I definitely recommend the Museum of Welsh Life as a stop on their vacation.<br />
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Museum of Welsh Life website: <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2240/">http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2240/</a>Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-20640400361570706012010-11-24T13:58:00.000-08:002010-11-24T13:58:06.021-08:00Roots Travel at Thanksgiving and ChristmasAre you heading to Grandma and Grandpa's with your kids for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Then you are participating in roots travel. <br />
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Visiting family is roots travel at its simplest. It is a great time to tell stories, take time to catch up with family, and think about how your family has helped make you who you are. Make sure you make the most of it. Take the kids out for a trip down memory lane. Drive past your old high school and tell them about when you were in school. Show them the field where you played football, and maybe play a little with them yourself.<br />
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Take some time for Grandma and Grandpa to tell some stories about when you or they were little. Make sure you have something to record the stories. Ask them about the places they grew up, or even where their parents grew up. You can then start planning your next roots travel vacation.<br />
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I wish all my readers a happy season with lots of family and friends, with a little roots travel mixed in.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-9064154794565735222010-11-19T11:59:00.000-08:002010-11-19T11:59:37.410-08:00The Most Important Thing to Remember in Roots Travel<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinisWOBV0sfOhcixhJQGJ8jtxkfCOZtUUiTn7vYW_4fvGIJP62dJm6i5mH4690dzkG6p1iyAXYMFNJb-quGPjdLTvIiFfANmJDlGdw-ZaTtcNpCQqddwKB6nFRVyPRK8eWWpNmVid42dE/s1600/Adam+Trip+938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinisWOBV0sfOhcixhJQGJ8jtxkfCOZtUUiTn7vYW_4fvGIJP62dJm6i5mH4690dzkG6p1iyAXYMFNJb-quGPjdLTvIiFfANmJDlGdw-ZaTtcNpCQqddwKB6nFRVyPRK8eWWpNmVid42dE/s320/Adam+Trip+938.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Put yourself in your ancestor's shoes to have a great roots travel vacation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So you want to go on a non-research roots vacation, where you would like to connect with places associated with your ancestor? That's great. Of course you want to have a great time. Luckily, there is only one thing you have to remember to make sure you have a wonderful trip. What is it?<br />
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<b>Put yourself in your ancestor's shoes and try to see the world through their eyes.</b><br />
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Remembering this one thing will be the difference between developing a deep connection with your ancestral travel and merely taking another trip. Roots travel is about more than just checking off a list of tourist sites. It is even more than checking off a list of places your ancestors may have been. That's why it is so important to keep the above advice in mind.<br />
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Take a moment when you arrive at each destination to think to yourself, "This is where my ancestor came from." When you go into a church associated with your ancestor, don't just think of it as a place they went to. Sit down in a pew and think to yourself, "My ancestor may have sat in this very pew. Maybe their kids were baptized in that font over there." If your ancestors were married in the church, imagine the wedding party moving down the aisle. Become a part of that history for just a minute.<br />
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When you see a building that may have been around when your ancestor was there, don't dismiss it because you don't have a specific connection. Instead, think to yourself, "My ancestor may have seen that building every day. I wonder if she ever entered the building, or stopped and spoke to someone outside of that building." You have created a connection by placing yourself in your ancestor's shoes and seeing the world through their eyes.<br />
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Even if you know your ancestors were farmers, if there is a local castle or stately home, take some time to tour it. Imagine to yourself your ancestor, gazing up at the building wondering what went on inside. Now you, hundreds of years later, are fulfilling that dream for them.<br />
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If you try put yourself in your ancestor's shoes and see the world through their eyes, you will create connections that you hadn't even anticipated. Those connections will be powerful. It takes a bit of imagination to put yourself in their shoes. It takes a willingness to accept not just what is known, but what is possible as well. You may not know whether your ancestor sat in that specific pew or stood in front of that particular building, but it is possible. By accepting the possible, you open up the wonderful possibilities in the world of roots travel.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-44724231263513956272010-11-12T17:11:00.000-08:002010-11-12T17:11:50.223-08:00Atlanta Family History Expo: Talking Roots TravelRight now I am at the <a href="http://www.fhexpos.com/">Family History Expo</a> in Atlanta, Georgia. It's been a great day of talking to people about roots travel, and hearing about some of the places they would like to travel.<br />
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It's amazing how each person has a story about their ancestors and the places they came from. I have spoken with people whose ancestors were from Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, Russia, Barbados, Georgia, Jamestown, Ireland, Scotland, Vermont, Italy, Germany, and many, many other places. Those ancestors were farmers, villagers, and even nobility. One was close to a Russian czar, ad one even owned land on which a Mayan city was later found.<br />
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The one common thread that goes through all these encounters is how people want to learn more about their heritage through traveling to see these places first-hand. They feel a pull back to these destinations that can't be sourced back to an ad campaign by some tourist bureau. It's all about family, heritage, and <b>discovering who we are by finding out who our ancestors were</b>.<br />
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Tomorrow I get to do it again and speak to as many people as I can about roots travel. The more I do, the stronger I feel that roots travel is an absolutely essential part of genealogy. It is full of stories of people, places, and dreams. Done right, it can change the way you view yourself, your ancestors, and the world.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-70143918042558493242010-11-08T14:28:00.000-08:002010-11-08T14:33:15.367-08:00Living History Museums - A Great Way to Connect With AncestorsRoots travel is about connections. Connections with place and connections with people. At living history museums, you can find both those connections in abundant supply.<br />
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A living history museum is a museum that recreates life in a certain place at a certain time period, often with museum employees in costume dress, ready to answer your questions. If you have ancestors from that place and time period, it is one of the best ways of better understanding how those ancestors lived. You can see the way they dressed, ate, and lived, all in one museum. If there is a living history museum near your planned itinerary, you should definitely consider taking the time to visit.<br />
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Below are just a few living history museums to consider if you are in the area -<br />
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<ul><li> Mayflower/Pilgrim Ancestors - Plimoth Plantation -<a href="http://www.plimoth.org/">http://www.plimoth.org</a>/</li>
<li>Wales - St. Fagans National History Museum - <a href="http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2240/">http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2240/</a></li>
<li>England - Beamish - <a href="http://www.beamish.org.uk/Home.aspx">http://www.beamish.org.uk/Home.aspx</a></li>
<li>Norway - Norsk Folkemuseum - <a href="http://www.norskfolkemuseum.no/en/">http://www.norskfolkemuseum.no/en/</a></li>
<li>Northern Ireland - Ulster Folk Museum and/or the Ulster American Folk Park - <a href="http://www.nmni.com/uafp">http://www.nmni.com/uafp</a></li>
</ul>The list could go on and on - the above are just a few examples. Next time you plan on traveling, check to see if there is a living history museum in the area. You won't regret it.<br />
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If you have a living history museum you've visited and particularly enjoyed, please let us know in the comments.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-9548705297618994062010-11-05T15:08:00.000-07:002010-11-05T15:08:51.301-07:00Have Online Records Made Roots Travel Obsolete?Everyone knows the internet has changed genealogy dramatically. Millions of documents are now at the fingertips of professional and amateur genealogists the world over. Research has become much easier, and the possibility of finding that lost birth or death record has gone up exponentially. Considering all of these developments, one might argue that roots travel is no longer necessary, because the internet can take you anywhere. However, that would be wrong. Online records and the internet have not made roots travel obsolete, although they have definitely changed it.<br />
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On the internet, a person can visit a far-away place with the click of the mouse. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/">YouTube</a> can show you video of almost any place in the world. Information about a country is just a <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a> search away. Genealogical research is only as far as it takes your fingers to type <a href="http://ancestry.com/">Ancestry.com</a> or <a href="http://www.familysearch.org/">FamilySearch</a>. Those developments are all incredibly positive in every sense of the word. But do these developments also take away some of the impetus to get out and travel to a person's roots? Is it easier to do roots travel from a chair than in person? Unfortunately, some people may think so. If you can find a picture of a gravesite on <a href="http://www.findagrave.com/">Find A Grave</a>, why go there in person?<br />
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Because of the internet, there is less reason to travel for research reasons, but it has opened up the possibilities for a different kind of roots travel. Instead of focusing on finding a record in a county records office, today's roots traveler can focus instead on the experience of visiting relevant places. The research can (mostly) be done at home. Roots travel can be about discovering the destination instead of discovering the record.<br />
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In a way, that makes roots travel more powerful. And in spite of the ability to do so much research online, roots travel remains an important part of genealogy. Though one might not research, genealogy is ultimately about discovering the past. Copies of birth records and censuses will only get you so far. To really understand your ancestors, you must put yourself literally in their place. You must surround yourself with people that have the same accent as your ancestors had; you must walk the same streets; you must walk through the same doors and see the same buildings. Whether or not those buildings are still existing, visiting one's roots will connect you with your ancestors just as much as finding a record with their handwriting. And you get the added bonus of a vacation!<br />
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Online records have not made roots travel obsolete. They have changed roots travel, to be sure. But taking a roots vacation or making a side trip on your vacation to visit your roots will continue to be as important to family history as it ever was--perhaps even more.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-2682286133662152182010-11-02T09:52:00.000-07:002014-10-21T12:32:05.334-07:00Ireland, England and Scotland: The Perfect Places to Start Roots TravelingWhen I was running my roots travel business, I took a survey at the California Family History Expo. The survey was an unscientific sampling of those who stopped by my booth, but one thing was certain. For international roots travel, the countries most people were interested in traveling to were <b>Ireland, Scotland and England.</b><br />
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The reason is clear. These countries provide an excellent place to start visiting your family's past. They are foreign, but not too foreign. English is spoken, making it easy to communicate. It is fairly easy to get around by train or by car. Plus, each place has a robust system of bed and breakfasts to put the roots traveler close to those small villages from which ancestors always seem to come.<br />
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Not only that, but for those wishing to put their family's roots in place in history, each of these countries offers centuries of history one can see and explore, making the roots travel experience that much deeper. There are enough museums, houses, and historical buildings to develop a well-rounded vacation including roots travel and general historical travel.<br />
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So if you have English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry, consider a trip to one of those countries as your first foray into international roots travel. You won't regret it.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-21170326027003099592010-10-28T13:42:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:42:50.932-07:00Choose Your Own AdventureWhen you are planning your roots travel vacation, there are so many places you could go. After all, most people have ancestors from all over the world. So how do you narrow it down?<br />
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First, look at your ancestors. Use <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl">Google Maps</a> or <a href="http://rootsmagic.com/Family-Atlas/">Family Atlas from Roots Magic</a> to map out where they came from, lived and died. Then look at where you have large concentrations of ancestors. Those places are good possibilities for your first roots travel vacation.<br />
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Take into consideration the possibility of actually seeing places related to your ancestors. Some destinations might be more modernized than others. It is important to research the area to make sure you are not disappointed when you get there.<br />
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Think about what else you might like to see in the area and whether you can incorporate your roots travel into a larger vacation. If you have ancestors from Ireland, for example, you might want to take an escorted tour to get a feel for the country before heading off on your own. Or you might want to do a fly and drive, driving from place to place, staying in bed and breakfasts, hitting sights interesting to you as well as ancestral sites.<br />
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If you have any other genealogists in the family, ask them where you should go. They might have some good ideas to help you narrow down your choices.<br />
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Regardless of where you go, roots travel is a rewarding experience with the right planning. Make sure you plan and use these tips to get the most out of your trip.Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5773733606484325314.post-31488538258083528562010-10-26T10:57:00.000-07:002010-10-26T10:57:50.712-07:00Roots Travel - Time Travel Not NecessaryA comment on an earlier post mentioned that time travel was the best way to undertake roots travel. While time travel would certainly be useful, it is definitely not needed to have a successful roots travel vacation. Yet because with time, all things change, you will want to put some thought into your trip before you leave.<br />
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Imagine that you are out on your roots vacation, ready to discover the place your great-great-grandfather called home. But you get there and there is one tiny problem. His house--indeed his entire neighborhood--has been replaced by apartment buildings. The only way you are going to see that house of his is hopping in a time machine.<br />
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Such an experience could be such a disappointing introduction to roots travel. Don't let it happen to you. Just take a few simple steps to find out whether the place you are planning to visit will inspire rather than disappoint.<br />
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1. Look at Google Maps. If you are lucky, there might be a street level view of the property, enabling you to quickly look and see whether the house matches any photographs you might have.<br />
2. Contact a local genealogical society or find an online forum for the place you are visiting. You never know whether there might be someone willing to head over to where you want to go, take some photographs, and email them to you.<br />
3. Contact the local tourist bureau to find out if there are any areas of the city that have buildings dating to the time your ancestors lived there. Seeing those buildings gives a sense of place and history and might be a good alternative.<br />
4. Before you plan a visit to a church to see where your ancestors were married or christened, contact the church beforehand to make sure you are there on a day when it is open, or that someone can be there to let you in.<br />
5. If you plan on visiting a gravesite, make sure the cemetery is still there. Or, if it is a U.S. cemetery, head on over to the <a href="http://www.findagrave.com/">Find A Grave</a> website to see if it is listed, or even if there is a photo of the grave you want to visit.<br />
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There are many more things you can do to make sure that you have a great roots travel vacation without needing a time machine. What ideas do you have?Roots Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03527137184877156613noreply@blogger.com1