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10 Artists to Inspire Your Travel Illustration Journal

• by @amy.mcgregor

Find out how to bring a destination to life through travel illustration and the top artists to inspire your work

Travel. There’s nothing quite like it. The chance to experience new sights, sounds, and smells, to wander off the beaten track and make new discoveries, or simply kick back and relax for a week on a sun-drenched beach.

When we imagine the far-flung places we’d like to visit, reminisce about past adventures, or indeed, advertise a location to others, we turn to photos as the most powerful medium to capture the essence of a place.

But there is another, equally effective and arguably more creative way to bring a destination to life: travel illustration.

Alex Green ( @algreen_1 ) has been an illustrator for over 25 years and specializes in the art of travel illustration . He has worked in many areas including design, fashion, editorial, murals, websites, and live events, with a varied and enviable list of clients including Airbnb, the BBC, Emirates Airlines, Pfizer, The Guardian , The Financial Times , and Oxfam.

In his Domestika course, he demonstrates how to create travel illustrations that have a sense of place and atmosphere from photographic references of a location, and explains how to apply personal experiences to your illustrations to create pieces with your own vision and interpretation.

What is travel illustration?

Travel illustration is simply the art of drawing a place instead of photographing it. You can use a photo as a reference point, draw inspirational settings in real time as you travel, or recall them from memory.

The aim is not necessarily to copy the location exactly as you see it, but to give it your own interpretation and tell a story by focusing on conveying a particular emotion, theme, or atmosphere.

What are the benefits of travel illustration?

Aside from being a great way to practice your creative skills, illustrating a place allows for more freedom of expression and interpretation, giving you the opportunity to explore the limits of your imagination for a truly unique and personalized result.

It may require more time and patience to complete, but illustration also allows you to really connect with a place, bringing it to life through your drawings and recapturing those precious moments you spent there.

10 Artists to Inspire Your Travel Illustration Pieces

Although using your own photos as a point of departure usually means you have a greater connection with your reference, there is no reason why you can’t choose other images of locations you would like to visit. They could be photographs taken by someone else, or something you have found on the internet, as long as they spark your imagination.

Of course, all artists look to other artists for inspiration and Alex is no different. In this Domestika blog, he shares with us the top 10 artists who inspire his work, providing an invaluable tool that can help you begin thinking about how to develop your style, techniques, and give you ideas for your illustrations.

Miroslav Sasek

@miroslavsasek

The Czech artist is both illustrator and author of the This is series of children’s travel books, which bring to life key destinations around the world including New York, Rome, London, and Paris.

Abstract and representational elements contrast in his illustrations, making for a beautifully original take on seemingly-familiar places.

Katsushika Hokusai

@katsushikahokusai

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist, printmaker, and painter who lived from 1760 to 1849. He is most recognized for his woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji , made in response to a domestic travel boom in Japan.

From this collection, one piece in particular stood out among the rest. The Great Wave Off Kanagawa is arguably the most iconic piece of work in Japanese art, and went on to inspire many 19th-century European painters.

Evan Hecox is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Colorado, whose work often takes inspiration from travel.

He has a particular talent for capturing the mood and feeling of a place or moment in time, as well as giving new life and beauty to objects that are often overlooked or dismissed as mundane.

Tom Haugomat

@tomhaugomat

The Paris-based illustrator and director has had his work featured in Air France Magazine, Revue XXI, and Le Monde. His illustrations have a distinctly cinematic quality, perhaps as a result of his background making short films.

Perhaps the most interesting element of his work is that his characters have no facial features, although he is still able to convey depth and emotion through his use of color and negative space.

Josh Cochran

@joshcochran

This Grammy-nominated, Brooklyn-based illustrator has clients including Adidas, Apple, and The New Yorker , and he currently teaches at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.

He is known for his bold colors, humorous drawings, and urban murals.

Bruno Mangyoku

@brunomangyoku

Bruno Mangyoku has worked as an illustrator and animation director who is greatly influenced by American graphic novelists such as Daniel Clowes and Charles Burns.

He uses a limited, yet highly contrasting color palette, focusing primarily on character design and silhouettes.

Hokyoung Kim

@hokyoungkim_

The South-Korean artist and illustrator lists clients including The New Yorker , The Washington Post , Apple, and Disney.

She finds inspiration in the Japanese comics and animations she grew up watching, and her work focuses on transmitting a strong sense of mood and atmosphere.

STRAUTNIEKAS

@strautniekas

The freelance illustrator studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Vilnius, before working in advertisement, animation and graphic design, with clients including the Royal Mail, The Independent , Penguin Random House.

His retro style, with soft colors and lines, lend him his unique style.

Christoph Niemann

@abstractsunday

Christoph Niemann is an illustrator, graphic designer, and children’s book author most known for his Sunday Sketches , quirky and humorous illustrations that take everyday objects and turn them into something unexpected.

Jon McNaught

This London-based cartoonist, illustrator, and printmaker has clients including Penguin Books, Faber, The New York Times , and The Wall Street Journal .

His skill lies in taking the mundane and everyday and turning them into works of art, using simple shapes and a limited color palette.

If you enjoyed this references and want to know more about travel illustration, don't miss Alex Green's course Travel Illustration: Recreate your favorite place and learn digital illustration techniques with a splash of acrylic paint to create artwork inspired by a photograph of a place you love.

You may also like:

- What Is an Illustrated Life Journal and How to Start One? - Create a Travel Sketchbook Without Leaving Your House, with Powerpaola - What Is an Inspiration Board and How to Create One for Your Bullet Journal - Exploratory Sketchbook: Find Your Drawing Style , a course Sarah van Dongen - Lifestyle and Travel Photography , a course by Julia Nimke

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35+ Travel Sketching Ideas to Overcome Your Creative Blocks

Photo caption: Your travel sketching adventures can take you from Athens, Georgia to the streets of New York City. Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels.

Student sketchbooks may count as one of the most underrated tools that art students have at their disposal for overcoming creative blocks .

Within their pages, students attending any of the art schools in Georgia can try out their must-have drawing supplies for travel sketching and for developing ideas for school art and design projects.

However, students who aren’t used to keeping a sketchbook are sometimes heard lamenting: “I don’t know what to draw!”

At Milan Art Institute, we actually offer students a solution for overcoming creative blocks. As school founder and co-owner, Elli Milan, says: Always have something to paint (or draw).

More specifically, Elli recommends that art students at the Milan Art Institute have at least 20 sources ready to paint or draw at all times. 

Artists who take this advice never wonder what to paint or draw. They always have 20 pieces on the ready.

The MAI one-year professional certificate program, the Mastery Program , teaches students how to create all the painting and drawing sources they’ll need to work as professional artists.

That doesn’t mean, however, that art students who aren’t yet in the Mastery Program are out of luck. 

These aspiring art students can parlay their love of travel sketching into a sketchbook filled with an abundance of drawing and painting prompts. These prompts can inspire visions of amazing works of art that have the power to change them and to change the world.

Drawing Prompts for Your Travel Sketching

The good news is, you don’t even have to travel out of town to fill up your student sketchbooks. Places like Oconee Forest Park delight the senses in the fall. And they’re close by. 

These Athens, Georgia beauty spots are also filled with drawing prompts from the natural world. It’s the perfect place to practice some plein air painting and drawing.

Just a note to the students in our online art classes or who don’t attend a Georgia art school: These drawing prompts should help you fill your student sketchbooks, too, even if you don’t live in Athens. It just requires a bit of ingenuity and tenacity. 

There’s more on that later...

You can also do this exercise in more than one place. For example, start in a national forest or park and then continue the exercise in town or even at the local pumpkin patch. 

We do recommend that you draw anything that catches your eye while you’re out on your travel sketching adventure. The idea behind filling your sketchbooks with images from the natural world is to get you into the habit of really seeing the world around you. 

It’s also important for you to notice the images that tug at your heart strings. These represent the things you care about and are one of the key components to developing your artistic voice. 

If you do this, you’ll overcome your creative blocks and even have an overflow of ideas that you can turn into future art projects. 

However, to help you out in case you’re really stuck, we provide you with a list of prompts for your travel sketching. 

Traveling Sketching: Let’s Go on an Art Scavenger Hunt 

Let’s call this activity an art scavenger hunt to make it even more fun. Basically, we’ve created a list of items you’re likely to find in the fall of the year. 

The more of these items you find, the closer you are to fulfilling the requirements of the art scavenger hunt. 

When you find them, spend a few minutes drawing these items in your student sketchbook. If you want to create a special travel sketchbook or journal to capture the memories of your autumn scavenger hunt in Athens, Georgia, that’s great, too!

Ideally, this exercise will give you so many fall drawing prompt ideas that you eventually fill more than one travel sketch journal. If you do, you’ll never run out of ideas for your class or professional art projects again. 

Autumn Art Scavenger Hunt: Sketchbook Drawing Ideas List

Here’s a list of some suggested fall travel journal prompts for this exercise.

A List of Must-Have Art Supplies for Your Travel Sketching Adventure 

Anyone who attends an art school in Georgia - well, anywhere, really - should have the opportunity to try out a variety of art supplies. Every medium handles differently and produces a different effect. 

Anothing element that makes an artist’s voice unique is the art materials that a particular artist uses. The more you know about your supplies, the better chance you have at developing your voice.

We bring all of this up, because we’d like to recommend a must-have art supplies list for you to take on your adventures in travel sketching. Travel sketching gives you an opportunity to try new supplies in a fun, adventurous kind of way. 

We tapped one of our amazing art coaches and mentors, Esther Franchuk , to get a list of art supplies. Esther’s list includes sketchbook recommendations, as well as drawing materials suggestions. 

• Hand-book journal co. - WATERCOLOR SQUARE 8.25x8.25
• Talens Art Creation Sketchbook - Pocket size
• Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor Paints - Glitter Solid Colors
• Watercolor White Nights paint set, St.Petersburg, Russia
• Royal Talens C902 - ArtCreation Gouache set
• Refillable watercolor brush pens

If you can’t find brands above, just keep in mind that you might generally like to bring along:

• Pencils, erasers and other dry drawing media
• Watercolor pencils
• Colored pencils
• Watercolor paint brushes
• Sketchbooks made with watercolor paper
• Anything that’s easy to use in all kinds of weather
• Portable chair

One final note about your must-have travel sketching supplies: You may want to experiment with these materials in your student sketchbooks before you go out. 

It’s likely that you’ll gravitate toward some supplies more than others. Knowing what those are allows you to eliminate some of your art materials from your art travel pack. 

This keeps things light. It also reduces the number of supplies you’ll have to carry around with you when you’re out sketching on location. 

If you’re still not certain about what should go into your travel sketchbook or journal, this video that Elli and Dimitra Milan did about drawing and painting on location may help you. 

Photo caption: A trip to the museum fills your travel sketchbook and gives you a foundation in art history. Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay.

Art Scavenger Hunt Ideas If You Get Rained Out…

Sometimes, our best efforts get rained or snowed out. That’s okay. The fall art scavenger hunt is adaptable. Some urban sketchers take their travel sketchbooks to coffee shops and sketch the streets outside the windows. 

Really, you can set up your portable art studio in any building that has big windows. You may have to move around a lot if you want to try to get everything on the list into your books. 

(Remember, we also encourage you to find your own sources from the drawing prompts that nature provides for you, so it’s okay to abandon the list above. As long as you’re putting ideas into your sketchbooks, you’re golden.)

Finally, there is a creative alternative that you’ll probably like. 

Art museums are known for their scavenger hunts in some cities. Museum scavenger hunts encourage people to look closely at art, because museum participants are given a list, like the one above. 

As art scavenger hunt players wander through the art museum, they are encouraged to find items on the list in the paintings. 

You as art students can take this one step further by drawing the work of art (or portions of it) you found your scavenger hunt item in. They don’t have to even be full-blown drawings. Small sketches are fine to get you started. 

This activity does a couple of things. First, it allows you to put powerful and inspiring images in your student sketchbooks that can inspire works of art down the road. 

Second, it allows you to get some art history lessons in. Exceptional artists understand their place in art history. The artists that were and are most notable in history are culture warriors and influencers. 

Looking at and sketching these works allows you to peer into their creative processes and adopt a new way of seeing. By immersing yourself in their virtuosity, you subconsciously develop your sense of taste and ultimately improve your art.  

Third, seeing great art elevates your taste levels, which in turn, motivates you to continue to create art that has the potential to change the world.

Many museums allow art students to come in and sketch. However, it’s always best to find out ahead of time if you can come in and sketch. Always be sure to ask permission to bring your art supplies into the museum with you before you set out on your travel sketching trip.

Urban Sketching: Another Variation of Travel Sketching

The general gist of this blog post has concentrated on filling your student sketchbooks with images from the natural world. That said, you are not limited to staying on the hiking trails as you go on your art scavenger hunt. 

Urban sketching, that is drawing on location, often in the city, has increased in popularity of late. 

Here’s what the urban sketchers’ website had to say about the characteristics of urban sketching:

• It’s done on location and its purpose is to draw from direct observation.
• Urban sketchers can draw inside or out.
• Through drawing, urban sketching strives to tell the story of the places people live, where they travel and even about their surroundings closer to home.
• Each urban sketch captures a moment in time and is a truthful visual account of the scenes that the sketcher witnesses.
• Artists interested in urban sketching can use any kind of media: Individual drawing styles are celebrated!
• They share their work online, with the purpose of showing the world, “one drawing at a time.”
• Urban sketchers draw together and support one another in these efforts. 
• While you can sketch alone, taking up urban sketching is a great way to sketch on location with other people. If you’re interested in finding a local chapter of urban sketchers, check out the urban sketchers’ chapter finder . Or check out their website to find out if there are any urban sketching workshops near you.

Final Words on Travel Sketching for Art Students

As an art school in Georgia that embraces traditional, as well as modern art techniques, we believe it’s important that art students learn to draw from life. 

One easy way to develop this habit is to fill their student sketchbooks with images from cities, forests and even their own backyard. This practice sharpens art students’ technical skills. 

But more than that, student or travel sketchbooks filled with visual prompts from the forest, the streets of Paris or even the local coffee shop can become stunning works of art down the road. 

These images are powerful ways to help you get motivated and to push your drawing skills to the next level. 

For More Drawing Tips, Check out the Articles and Courses Below:

If you want to learn to draw quickly, check out the Drawing Essentials class or the Beginner Art Program .

How To Draw a Self Portrait

Milan Art Institute

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Keeping a Travel Sketchbook: Ideas for Artists

Keeping a travel sketchbook is a great way to document your travels and discoveries. Track the places you went, the people you met, the experiences you had. Travelling is one of the most creatively inspiring things you can do, with constant new visual and sensory input.

It can also be a creative outlet for exploring new ideas and techniques. Here are some tips for getting started with your own travel sketchbook.

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Travel sketchbook tips

Here are some tips on how to approach keeping a travel sketchbook and some tips on how to draw and paint when you’re out and about!

Choose the right sketchbook

Look for a sketchbook that is small enough to carry with you everywhere, but large enough to hold all your sketches. Hardcover notebooks are ideal for travel sketching because they offer more protection from the elements. Stillman & Birn sketchbooks are lightweight, yet high quality.

Stock up on supplies

Before you hit the road, make sure you have all the drawing supplies you need to document your trip. Pencils, pens, watercolours, and travel-sized journals are all essential for travel sketching. If you prefer painting to drawing, bring all the necessary supplies to clean up afterwards.

Try using different mediums

Is graphite pencil your usual go-to medium? Try using charcoal! You can get some fantastic charcoal supplies , like powder charcoal that you can brush on the page.

Another great medium to travel with is gouache paint . Gouache is a type of watercolour, but is more opaque, so you can build layers of colours and highlights. It’s a versatile medium that is lightweight and easy to clean—perfect for travelling.

Read more about how to travel with different paint mediums in our travel art supplies guide .

Get inspired

When you’re on the road, be on the lookout for interesting places, and things to sketch. Take photos to reference later, or jot down notes about what caught your eye.

Don’t be afraid to experiment

Travel sketching is the perfect opportunity to experiment with new mediums and styles . Don’t be afraid to try something new, you might be surprised at the results.

Take a reference photo

You don’t have to complete a whole painting or drawing on location. Take a photo when the light is right and complete it later. That way, you can capture the essence of the scene with a sketch and spend time on it when you have time.

Vary your subject matter

If you’re used to painting landscapes, why not try painting or drawing a cityscape, or a building in the landscape. You could also diversify the subjects of your artworks by drawing a busy scene, including some of the people you see passing by, to give the artwork a sense of liveliness.

Note the date and location of your sketch

A travel sketchbook is like a book of memories. In it, you can document your interpretation of a scene, including the weather, people, atmosphere and main details you noticed. Even if you come back to paint or draw the same place again, no two drawings will look the same! Therefore it’s important to note the date and specific location of your sketch. Afterall the whole point of keeping a travel sketchbook is keeping a log of where you been and what you’ve seen in each location.

Let go of perfectionism

A sketchbook is a place to record your first response to a scene, to experiment and even to improve upon your plein air painting skills.

Let go of creating a perfectly polished sketchbook and instead focus on representing your sensory responses. The sketchbook page should trigger memories of the location, which you can even choose to make a larger canvas painting out of at a later date.

Store your sketchbook

If you use water based paints in your travel sketches, consider putting your sketchbook in a waterproof bag to protect it. So if you take it backpacking and it gets wet, your drawings and paintings will be preserved.

Travel sketchbook ideas

You might naturally feel inspired to sketch whatever you feel most drawn to on your travels. However, sometimes it’s difficult to know what to focus on! Here are some ideas for your sketchbook, so you can mix it up, make a theme and record as much as possible.

Draw the flora and fauna

If you spend a lot of time hiking or out in nature when you’re on your travels, you’ll know that one of the best things about it is spotting new animals and plants. Dedicate pages in your sketchbook to documenting your sightings, whether that’s birds, flowers or larger animals!

Draw the architecture of a new city

New city, new buildings! Whenever you travel to a new place, one of the first things you’ll probably want to do is explore the streets and take in the architecture. Whether you sit and draw La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, or some random buildings you found off of a main street, architecture is an art form in itself. It’s detailed, complex and tells a story of a city’s history.

Documenting this in your travel sketchbook will give you a fantastic visual record of your trip. You could even write some facts about the buildings you go to see. This can enrich your experience of a city, as you find out more about how it was built.

Paint a crowded scene

One of the hardest things to do when painting or drawing is to show movement. This can be even harder when you’re trying to do it on location! But by taking a few minutes to sketch a busy scene, you can practice depicting moving subjects.

This might sound daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Focus on one thing at a time, such as the way a person is walking, or the way their clothes are billowing in the wind. By breaking it down into smaller chunks, you can create a sense of movement without getting overwhelmed.

Capturing the people and energy of a bustling city is just as interesting as drawing in nature!

As well as painting or drawing people, try to include some of the background too. This could be buildings, trees or even just the sky. All of these things add to the story of your travel sketchbook and make it more interesting to look back on.

Create a cover for each location

For each new place you visit, you could create a cover page, almost like a new chapter in a book. Add some lettering to the page to show where you are. You could even leave a page blank before your other sketches of the city, then come back to it once you have more inspiration of how to sum up the area you stayed.

Create a sensory piece

What can art do that photos can’t? Drawings and paintings can capture the atmosphere of a scene better, and therefore better elicit memories of your sensory responses at the time.

You could even include some of the local produce to colour your drawings. For example, you could crush up a flower petal into a paste to make pigment and paint it on the paper. Or do the same with the local coffee. If you create art with items you find where you travelled, it can strengthen the connection you have to the place.

Draw or paint a self portrait in each location

This travel sketchbook idea is less about the scene around you, and more about your reaction to it. What did this place make you feel? How has travel changed you?

A self portrait can be a way of representing these emotions. They don’t have to be literal portraits, they could be more abstract or even just a series of colours and shapes that you associate with your travel experience.

Whatever you choose to do, have fun and let your creativity flow!

Visit the national parks

If you’re touring the US, you could stop off in some of the national parks. Each park has its own distinct topography, flora and fauna. Capture the essence of this in your sketchbook.

Every country has their own national parks and areas of natural beauty. If you visit them, make sure to pack your sketchbook.

Paint a night scene

Cities can look totally different at night, it’s when most cities come alive!

Whether you’re painting your own rendition of Starry Night, or Cafe Terrace at Night, or painting something entirely different. Capture the glow of the street lamps over a cobbled, wine bar lined street in Italy, or the moon over the ocean in Hawaii.

Find the perfect viewpoint

This might take some trekking! Find a viewpoint that overlooks the city or area you’re staying it. Take some time to make your sketch, capturing the horizon. Equally, you could go and find the best viewpoint of a famous monument in the city. Find more sketchbook ideas in our guide.

Travel sketchbook kit

Now that you’ve got some ideas and know how to approach your travel sketchbook adventure, you need to make sure you have the right supplies!

The sketchbook you choose will depend upon your size requirements as well as the medium you use. If you like to work with water based media, such as watercolour or gouache, make sure to choose a sketchbook with thick pages.

The Stillman & Birn Gamma Archival sketchbook is a high quality book, with 150gsm thick pages that have a smooth vellum finish. Use this book with mixed media, such as pencil, ink, gouache or watercolour. The pages are stitched together, so you can make double page spreads. Stillman & Birn books come in a variety of paper types and sizes, so you can choose the best one for your needs.

If you want more sketchbook recommendations, check out our guide on the best sketchbooks for artists .

Drawing media

A couple of graphite pencils in different softness levels, an eraser and a sharpener is all you really need to start drawing. However, if you want to add colour to your piece, consider taking a set of gouache paints . You don’t need too many supplies for gouache painting , just a brush, a water cup and the paints.

Another way to add a splash of colour to your travel sketches is with coloured pencils . Watercolour pencils are a great option, as they remain dry until activated with water. So they’re easier to transport and less messy to paint with. You could also take oil pencils or pastel pencils to create coloured drawings.

If you do decide to take some paints with you, you’ll need some brushes too. Get a watercolour travel brush like this da Vinci Casaneo, which is a synthetic yet soft and absorbent brush that can render excellent details and create wonderful washes.

If you want to see our full review of travel art supplies , check the guide!

Painting en plein air

Painting on location, or en plein air as it’s also called is a big part of keeping a travel sketchbook. It’s the best way to capture a sense of place and the feeling of being there.

When you’re painting outdoors, you need to be quick because the light changes constantly. So it’s good to have a plan before you start painting. First, decide what composition you want to paint. Look for interesting shapes, colours and textures. Then, decide what colours you want to use. Once you have your plan, start painting!

If you want to learn more about painting en plein air, check out our guide here.

Have fun with it!

Your travel sketchbook should be a reflection of your own personal style. So have fun with it! Use bright colors, experiment with different mediums, or even add in photographs.

We hope you enjoyed this travel sketchbook guide and that it’s inspired you to get out there and start sketching!

What are you going to include in your travel sketchbook? Let us know in the comments.

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Art That Takes You Places: The Beauty of Travel-Inspired Art

I've always been fascinated by the power of art to transport us to new places and experiences. Art can be a window into different cultures, a way to connect with people from around the world, and a means of exploring the beauty of far-off destinations.

In this blog post, I want to explore the beauty of travel-inspired art, and how it can inspire us to explore new places and experience new things. Whether you're an artist, a traveler, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of art, I hope this post will inspire you to take a journey of your own through the world of travel-inspired art.

What is Travel-Inspired Art?

Travel-inspired art is exactly what it sounds like. It's artwork that is inspired by travel. It can take many forms, from paintings and photographs to sculptures and installations. Some artists are inspired by the beauty of a particular place, while others are inspired by the people, the culture, or the history of a place.

For me, travel-inspired art is all about capturing the essence of a place and bringing it to life on canvas or plain paper. It's about telling a story through art and sharing the beauty and wonder of the world with others.

Examples of Travel-Inspired Art

A cool example of travel-inspired art is the work of French artist Henri Matisse, a good friend of my great-grandfather. Matisse was known for his love of travel, and his paintings often reflect the beautiful vibrant colors and patterns he encountered on his journeys. His painting "The Dance" is a perfect example of his use of bright colors and bold patterns capturing the joy and energy of a particular place.

Another artist who was inspired by travel was Georgia O'Keeffe, whose work I also love. O'Keeffe was known for her paintings of the American Southwest, which she visited and painted throughout her career. Her paintings capture the rugged beauty of the desert landscape, with its stark cliffs and vast expanses of sky.

Closer to home, the amazing Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi was inspired by the beauty of his own country, and his paintings often feature the calm and stillness of the beautiful Danish landscapes. His paintings of the Øresund Strait, with their muted colors and soft light, capture the quiet beauty of the Danish coastline. His work inspires me so much.

It's about the connection

So why does travel-inspired art matter? For me, it's all about the power of art to connect us with the world around us. Art can transport us to new places and experiences, and it can help us to understand and appreciate the beauty of different cultures.

Through travel-inspired art, we can explore new places and discover new perspectives. We can learn about different cultures and ways of life, and we can connect with people from around the world. Art can be a powerful tool for building bridges between people and cultures, and for promoting understanding and empathy.

Travel-inspired art also has the power to inspire us to explore the world for ourselves. When we see a painting or a photograph of a beautiful place, we are reminded of the wonder and excitement of travel. We are inspired to pack our bags and set out on our own adventures, to discover new places and experiences for ourselves.

Creating Your Own Travel-Inspired Art

If you're an artist yourself, you may be inspired to create your own travel-inspired art. Whether you're painting, drawing, or taking photographs, there are many ways to capture the beauty and wonder of the world around you.

One of my favorite ways to create travel-inspired art is to simply take my sketchbook with me when I travel. I love to sit in a café or a park and sketch the people and places around me, capturing the details and textures of the world on paper.

Another way to create travel-inspired art is to take photographs of the places and things that inspire you and use those photographs as inspiration for your art. You can also experiment with different mediums and techniques to capture the essence of a place. For example, you might use watercolors to capture the soft light and muted colors of a Danish landscape, or use bold colors and geometric shapes to capture the energy and vibrancy of a bustling city.

Whatever medium or technique you choose, the key is to let your love of travel and adventure inspire your art. Let the beauty of the world around you fuel your creativity, and don't be afraid to experiment and try new things.

Incorporating Travel-Inspired Art into Your Home

If you're not an artist yourself but still love the idea of travel-inspired art, there are many ways to incorporate it into your home. Travel-inspired art can add a sense of wanderlust and adventure to your living space and can be a great conversation starter when you have guests over.

One simple way to incorporate travel-inspired art into your home is to hang a painting or photograph of a place you've visited, or a place that inspires you to travel. You might also consider creating a gallery wall of travel-inspired art, with a mix of paintings, photographs, and prints that reflect your love of travel.

Another way to incorporate travel-inspired art into your home is to use it in your décor. You might choose pillows or blankets with patterns inspired by different cultures, or hang tapestries or rugs that feature bold colors and patterns. You can also use travel-inspired art to create a theme for a room, such as a Moroccan-inspired living room with colorful textiles and patterned tiles.

I feel that travel-inspired art has the power to transport us to new places and experiences and to connect us with people and cultures from around the world. Through art, we can explore the beauty and wonder of the world, and inspire others to do the same.

Whether you're an artist, a traveler, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of art, I hope this post has inspired you to explore the world of travel-inspired art. Whether you create your own art, or incorporate it into your home décor, let the beauty of the world around you inspire your creativity, and let your love of travel and adventure fuel your spirit.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found this helpful. If you would like to connect with me, you can find me on Instagram .

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Artists Inspired By Travel: Wanderlust & Creativity – How Travel Inspires The Creative Process

• 22 September, 2023

Travel, with its endless horizons, unfamiliar cultures, and captivating landscapes, has always held a profound allure for creative souls and artists inspired by travel. It acts as a muse, a catalyst, and a wellspring of inspiration, breathing life into the creative process. The act of leaving behind the familiar and embarking on a journey, whether it’s a cross-country road trip, local travel, or a flight to a foreign land, can open up new avenues of thought and artistic expression. In my case, moving from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast sparked a love affair with the rugged coastal scenery and tropical light. I had already been working with the retro-travel-poster style, so it was natural to combine the two and so the Sunshine Coast Series was born. In thinking about how travel has influenced my art, it occurred to me that travel can be quite a powerful spur to creativity. That led me to consider all the ways that travel can drive the creative process.

Expanding Horizons

One of the most significant ways that travel inspires creativity is by broadening one’s horizons, quite literally. Leaving your comfort zone and immersing yourself in a different environment allows you to see the world from a fresh perspective. The newness of your surroundings, from the architecture to the cuisine, stimulates your senses and ignites your imagination. As you explore, you’re exposed to newfound ideas, colour palettes, and design concepts that can find their way into your art.

Cultural Immersion

Every place has a unique culture, history, and story to tell. Engaging with these elements can be a rich source of inspiration for artists. When you dive into the local customs, traditions, and rituals, you gain insights into the human experience that you might never encounter in your own backyard. These experiences can find their way into your art, infusing it with depth and authenticity.

Nature’s Masterpiece

The natural world, with its breathtaking landscapes, is a constant source of artistic inspiration for travellers. From the grandeur of towering mountains to the serenity of tranquil beaches…nature offers a boundless canvas of colours, shapes, and textures. There are many famous artists inspired by travel, including Claude Monet and Georgia O’Keeffe, who were deeply inspired by the landscapes they encountered in their travels. The play of light, the dance of shadows, and the ever-changing weather can be a wellspring of creativity.

Encounters with Humanity

Travel often involves interactions with people from different walks of life. These encounters can be transformative for an artist. Conversations with locals or fellow travellers can provide unique perspectives, stories, and anecdotes that enrich your work. Photographers, for instance, can capture the raw emotions of people they meet, while writers can draw upon these experiences to create compelling characters and narratives.

Reflective Solitude

On the flip side, travel can also provide moments of solitude and reflection. Whether you’re sitting alone on a remote mountaintop or strolling through a quiet village, these moments offer a chance to disconnect from the noise of daily life and tap into your inner creativity. It’s during these quiet interludes that artists often find the mental space to process their experiences and translate them into their chosen medium.

Documenting Memories

Travel journals, sketchbooks, and photographs are tangible records of your journey. They serve not only as mementos but also as invaluable references for future creative endeavours. Flipping through a sketchbook filled with quick sketches of street scenes or reading through a travel diary can instantly transport you back to the places you’ve been and the emotions you’ve felt. These documented memories can reignite your creative spark even years after your journey has ended.

The Art of Storytelling

Lastly, travel is a story waiting to be told. Whether you’re a writer, a filmmaker, a painter, or a musician, the experiences and adventures you have on the road can become the narrative thread of your art. Travel provides a rich tapestry of tales, and it’s up to the artist to weave them into their creative work, whether through a series of paintings, a travel blog, a novel, or a song. In conclusion, travel and creativity share an intimate relationship. Traveling not only exposes artists to new sights, sounds, and cultures but also offers moments of introspection and solitude. It provides a wealth of material for creative expression, from the grandeur of nature to the nuances of human interaction. So, whether you’re a painter seeking new landscapes or a writer searching for fresh stories, packing your bags and setting off on a journey might just be the most inspiring thing you can do for your art. As the saying goes, “ Adventure is the best way to learn. ” And for artists inspired by travel, it’s also the best way to create. To see more of our blogs click here.

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How To Keep A Travel Art Journal (With Tips, Ideas, And Writing Prompts)

A travel art journal is a visual journal where you record your traveling experiences, events, feelings, new things you’ve learned, etc., while making art.

Here are a few benefits of having a travel art journal:

• Keeping a travel art journal gives you a more profound experience of your trips.
• Also, you become more mindful of everything you see, taste, or feel while you travel.
• Even if you make the journal after you’ve come home, it still enriches your experience and lets you relive it again.

I want to share a few ideas on how to make an easy travel journal, what to include in it, how to pack your art supplies, etc.

How to make a travel art journal?

What is the best travel journal? Well, I think it’s the one that’s practical and not too big.

Why? Because when you travel, you don’t want your travel journal to make the trip feel like you’re a camel carrying loads of things on your poor back. You want the journal to be small enough so it can fit any bag, and then you can take it everywhere with you.

Having this in mind, let’s talk about how to make a light one. And we know how satisfying a DIY process is.

So, here’s what you need for a DIY travel journal:

• Sheets of thicker paper the size you want. I cut mine around 8×8 inches (approximately 20×20 cm) so I could fit 10×15 photos in it.
• A bone folder or a butter knife
• Hole puncher (I use an ordinary office one with two holes)

Step 1 : measure approximately 0.7 in (2 cm) from the edge of the paper. Mark the 0.7 in (2 cm) with a pencil.

Step 2 : take the ruler, align it with the pencil marks and take the folder/knife to create a folding line.

Step 3 : put the ruler along the folding line and gently fold the paper on the inside.

Step 4 : Then, punch the holes on each sheet of paper. You’ll put the twine through these holes to tie the papers together.

BUT, you can also leave the binding part last until you put things on your pages and decorate them, so you can move the pages as you like. Do what seems more practical to you.

And voila: a brand new notebook for your travel art journal, ready to record your best trip.

How do you organize travel art journals?

First of all, you decide whether you want to take a journal with you on the trip, or you’ll create one after you come back. Below is one page in my travel journal I made after visiting Barcelona.

Prepare your travel journal in advance

On the other hand, if you want to experience the joy of creating art in an unknown inspirational place, then pack your travel art journal kit!

Also, prepare an envelope to collect ephemera on your trip, like tickets, flyers, etc.

You can plan what you’ll collect or write on your trip. Make a few sections in your art journal so you have them prepared and ready. Here are some ideas:

• Places you’ve seen
• People you’ve met
• What’s the most inspiring and beautiful place you’ve seen
• The best local dish
• Your personal stories from the trip (funny and awkward ones included)
• What you’ve learned about the people, places or culture

Later on, on your trip, you can take photos of each of these sections.

You can paint pages or write titles for your sections, and then fill all these up while you travel.

Make a travel art journal after your trip

If you feel that art journaling during your travels will get in your way, then leave the journal home. Bring only a small notebook and a pen.

This way, you can write down anything during the journey and use it later in your journal. On your trip, collect different ephemera and put them in an envelope or a small bag.

If you collect tickets and other paper ephemera, you can write on the back about the places, dates and your experience.

Just be careful about taking organic things like tea or flowers, because they might cause some issues with the security and customs.

I usually make my travel journal when I’m back home. This way, I somehow have extra experience after the journey is over. By creating afterward, I relive the trip and enjoy the reminiscence.

What to put in a travel journal?

As in any art journal, it goes the same here: Whatever your journal can hold and whatever you want to put in it.

I love putting photos in my travel journals. I mean, photos of everything! Take photos of yourself and your company, buildings you love, streets, even people.

Also, look for interesting details like doors, doorknobs, windows, flowers, street signs, parts of statues, street name signs, street art, graffiti, food, window shops, etc.   

Tickets and other paper ephemera

Having these little details in your travel journal makes it more vivid and shows the overall feel of the trip.

I often take every ticket I buy and they usually have dates on them, so that’s pretty neat. Putting them in a tiny envelope on a page is also a fun idea. If you have a big ticket, make it part of the background.

For example, we always get a tourist guide booklet or a map on our travels, right? These are large so use them as backgrounds or cut them out in smaller pieces. You can strategically cut out the location of your hotel, or the most amazing place you’ve visited.

Also, you can make pockets out of these maps to save your smaller ephemera.

You can take flyers from museums, shops, or menus and also use them as backgrounds or embellishments.

For example, I’ve used the word wanderlust because of its meaning and because the word sounds amazing.

Postcards or postal stamps

Everywhere you go, you can buy a postcard of the place. And there are some pretty lovely and creative postcards.

If you get a bunch of them, you can make a small art journal if you bind them together. Then, how about journaling at the back of the postcards?

Also, you can glue postcards in your travel journal, especially if you couldn’t take a photo of that particular place.

If you learn new words in the local language and they kind of stick in your mind, why not use them in your travel journal?

Paper scraps or stickers

Use those small paper pieces lying around and include them next to your photos or write on them. They can add up to the overall atmosphere and colors of your journal if you use similar colors as in your photos, ephemera, etc.

And stickers ! They’re easy to use so they fit perfectly for a travel art journal.

What should you write in a travel art journal?

I like writing in small sections because it’s easier to skim those later. And it’s easier to organize my thoughts. Aaaand, small sections of text look great on the paper. Then you can doodle around them to frame them.

Here are some travel journal prompts for writing:

• I’ve visited….
• I like this place because…
• The most artistic part was…
• The people are…
• The new dish I’ve never tried before…
• The wonderful thing about the culture…
• The thing that surprised me the most…
• It was helpful to know…
• The most inspirational architecture…
• This is the most magical place…because…
• The most interesting words in the local language…
• What has inspired me most to create art?
• The most memorable experience on the trip…
• What was the weather like?
• What is the sunset like in that place?
• Have you fulfilled any of your life-long wishes on this journey?
• The weirdest and quirkiest thing about this place…

How to pack art supplies for travel?

You’d like to take a lot of supplies, right? But, it doesn’t sound very practical, I know.

So, to make this more practical, I would pack these:

• a small pouch to take your supplies
• a waterproof black pen
• a watercolor brush (they are practical for any trip because they hold water, so one thing less to worry about)
• watercolor pencils
• binder clips (so they can hold your pages while you work, let’s say, on a bench in Paris!)

I think this is not much to carry with you. Also, you can choose the pouch that can carry your travel notebook or your DIY journal, and all other supplies. Any bag or a rucksack can handle these, right? So, your back is safe.

Can I take art supplies on a plane?

With these supplies, you don’t have to worry about having any issues. On the other hand, if you decide to carry any liquids, pack them in your checked bag in heavy-duty zip-lock bags.

Or put all your supplies in your checked luggage, and then you’re safe.

This way, you’ll avoid any trouble with airport security.  

If you only have a carry-on, I still think you’ll have no trouble with these. However, you aren’t allowed to take liquids on a plane, or anything suspiciously sharp.

I’ve carried pens and pencils in my bag everywhere. They only took my tweezers once, which I’d give a lot easier than my art supplies.

Just to be sure, you can check the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) regulations site, where they have a search area called What Can I Bring? I’ve heard that TSA has an app, too, but I’ve never used it.

So, plan these things in advance if you don’t like awkward airport situations.

Travel journal idea: use quotes

Quotes are great. Love them. I use them all the time in my art journals. They can inspire us, trigger an emotion or leave us speechless.

I’ve collected some quotes about traveling that I think you might like and use in your travel journal.

A list of inspirational travel quotes

“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal.” – Paulo Coelho

“We travel because distance and difference are the secret tonic of creativity. When we get home, home is still the same. But something inside our minds has changed, and that changes everything.” – Johan Lehrer

“Jobs fill your pocket, but adventures fill your soul.” – Jamie Lyn Beatty

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

“People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck

“Travel brings power and love back to your life.” – Rumi

“I’m in love with cities I’ve been to and people I’ve never met.” – John Green

“It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same. You realize what’s changed is you.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

Make your new travel art journal today

Maybe you already have a ton of photos from your last trip. Or different tickets scattered around your home. This could be the perfect time to collect them and make your travel scrapbook.

Or are you planning a trip? Start planning your travel journal as well. Make the trip even more fun and be more mindful of it by journaling about it. Connect your travel experience with art-making. It’s a great way to grow and learn.

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Artists’ Beloved Travel Destinations as Seen Through Their Art

Rachel Witte 17 November 2023 min Read

Paul Klee, Garden in St. Germain , The European Quarter Near Tunis , 1914, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, USA.

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Do you miss the summer months and traveling ?  Some of us want to experience the beaches ; others, mountains or even the desert climate. While they may be lesser or well-known travel destinations, below are listed several locations to consider for future travel based on favorite artists’ travel destinations.

Georgia O’Keefe had Hawaii. Many Impressionist artists had the north of France. Edward Hopper loved Cape Cod . Additionally, as you will see below, there were and are many other artists’ travel destinations around the world where they have found inspiration throughout history. Whether they lived in the location they depicted, or were merely passing through, these places left a lasting mark for a reason.

Travel Destinations by the Sea

• Gustav Klimt

The Austrian artist, known for his Art Nouveau style, found respite at Lake Attersee in Austria. While it is very much unlike his portrait paintings, it is a beautiful glimpse of the Austrian landscape.

• Johan Christian Dahl

This particular painting is of an island off the coast of Italy. Today, it is much less crowded than its counterpart, Capri , and offers beautiful beaches and thermal spas to enjoy.

• Edvard Munch

Perhaps Munch’s most famous painting, The Scream , shows a glimpse of a fjord in Norway. Likewise, below is a closer glimpse of a similar landscape featuring a body of water late at night.

• Caspar David Friedrich

Friedrich painted this after a trip to the German island, where he spent his honeymoon. It is typical of Romanticism and the figures are dwarfed by the natural elements surrounding them. Above all, the focus is on the white cliffs overlooking the sea.

Philipp Hackert

This Italian gulf is located just outside of Naples but maintains a life of its own. It is an frequent artists travel destination. That is to say, it is an area rich with history. As is seen below, Hackert depicted a scene looking towards the gulf, including steaming volcanoes in the area.

Travel Destinations with Castles

• Ferdinand Runk

Ferdinand Runk was a German-Austrian landscape painter, etcher, and draftsman. The court artist spent a great deal of time in Český Krumlov. The city, which surrounds the Český Krumlov castle, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.

Künl painted a portion of what is known as “Fish Market” in the capital city of Slovenia. The area is now filled with more charm, because the new merges with the old of the historical market. The Ljubljana Castle sits at the top of a hill in the background of the painting. Unfortunately, now it is closed due to recent events; however, the castle is usually open to the public to visit.

Travel Destinations to the Deserts of the World

Jeroen krabbé.

The Dutch artist, actor, and director Jeroen Krabbé has traveled the world capturing landscapes and more with his paintbrush and camera. His painting below of the Salta region of Argentina showcases that the region offers more than meets the eye. While most people might look to Patagonia for their next trip, why not consider Salta? For example, the area is rich in history, dating back to the Inca Empire.

The Swiss-German artist visited Tunisia with two other artists in 1914 for a brief period. As a result of his trip, Klee found his way as an artist, because the country deeply inspired him. Tunisia sits on North Africa’s coast, with the Mediterranean to the north and the Sahara to the south, and is therefore perfect for anyone looking for adventurous travel destinations. Regardless, travelers often over-look the nation for the more well-known artists travel destinations such as Egypt and Morocco . The capital, Tunis, offers a little something for everyone, for instance, ruins, beaches, and beautiful architecture. Klee’s painting, however, is of the city of Kairouan, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• jacob-philipp-hackert

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Rachel Witte

Rachel is attempting to navigate this crazy world with her two kids, husband, a whole lot of coffee, and some good books in tow. She holds a Master's degree in Art History and a Bachelor's in History. When she's not writing, she can be found day dreaming about traveling to all of the art museums and coffee shops.  

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101 Travel Journal Ideas: Page Examples, Inspiration & Prompts

Use these 101 travel journal ideas as prompts and inspiration to fill your travel journal no matter where your next adventure might be.

These 101 Travel Journal ideas will help you fill up a notebook of all sorts of adventures – whether it’s an exotic voyage or the everyday journey in life. 

And of course, please, please, please DO NOT feel like you have to do every single thing I put on this list – especially all in one journal. {That would be one awfully big, heavy book to lug around!} 

Whether you’re off to a grand exotic adventure, dreaming of places you want to go or maybe just enjoying a stay-cation and local points of interest, I hope you will find this post of travel journal ideas inspiring to document your next creative adventure.

101 Travel Journal Ideas: What to Put in a Traveler’s Notebook

1. start with a map.

Maps are always great in a journal. You can paste or tape them in or even make pockets and envelopes with them. Drawing maps can be a lot of fun also.

There are also a lot of ways to get maps:

• Google Maps: You could even print out a satellite/street view version or the directions.
• Maps Category on Wikimedia Commons : Lots of great free maps you can download and print out.
• Old Books & Atlases: If you have an old set of encyclopedias that’s way outdated and not of collector value, there are likely a lot of great maps to use in your journals. I love finding an old atlas at the thrift store or book sales.
• Marketing Maps: Many welcome centers, tourist agencies and travel rest stops have all sorts of maps available in marketing brochures. 

Staying local? Why not make a map of where you live? It could be your neighborhood, the backyard or even your kitchen. Doodles and sketches are perfectly 100% awesome here.

Another idea is to cut out shapes from old outdated maps you have. I sometimes buy old atlases and books with maps just for this purpose! These hearts shown below were cut out using a heart shaped punch similar to this one on Amazon .

I love scrapbook punches for so many different things in my art journals – you don’t even need that many of them and you can get perfect cut-outs anytime. These are great to make in advance before you travel somewhere – and you can get all sorts of different shapes! Circles, tags, you name it.

2. Can’t Decide Where to Go? Make a Mind Map

As creative people, making plans and staying organized is sometimes a challenge. I know when I go anywhere it sometimes feels overwhelming to keep track of all the details or even just decide what I want to do. Sometimes I don’t even know where I want to go or what I want to do. 

Mind Maps are great for easily mapping out ideas, dreams, plans, thoughts – especially if you’re not sure how to really organize them. You can draw them out on paper or even use mindmap software to create one you like and then print out and decorate.

Sometimes just making a mind map of an ordinary place can be fun – this mindmap of things to do in Ohio actually makes me excited to go there this summer. {Living next door in PA sometimes causes me to take all the neat things to explore in Ohio for granted.}

Even if you’re only going as far as your imagination, a mind map is a great way to explore all sorts of different ideas and concepts.

3. Packing List & Trip Prep

If you are using your travel journal as part planner, part journal, making a packing list and a to-do list before leaving is a great idea.

This is not only practical, as it will hopefully help you remember everything, but it can also help document some of the excitement and anticipation for the trip before you even arrive at your destination.

4. What’s In Your Bag?

While similar to a packing list, it can sometimes be fun to either snap a quick photo or sketch and doodle a picture of your suitcase and bags.

This can also be a fun way to document different day trips – it’s always interesting to see what sorts of things you consider essential to carry with you – especially if you find yourself looking back 5 – 10 years later. I am still in awe that fanny packs are coming back in style . 

5. Make a Bucket List

A bucket list is a list of all the things you want to do. Maybe this is a list for while you are at a specific location for a period of time – or this could even be a list of all the different places you want to visit during your lifetime.

Some of the examples of things you could create for a bucket list:

• Places you want to go
• Region Specific Foods you want to try
• Things you want to do
• People you hope to see 

6. Found Things: Collecting Ephemera & Other Treasures

Lately I’ve been keeping my eyes on the ground whenever we go places. I’ve found all sorts of very interesting things by keeping my eyes and my head open to finding stuff at random.

I’ve found old coins and pennies, tokens, dropped business cards – all sorts of interesting stuff. A lot of times people may think this stuff is just trash, but if it’s flat enough it can fit into a journal and a great way to document things you’ve encountered while out exploring the world. You never know what you might find on a sidewalk.

7. Save Those Receipts

Receipts are a great way to keep track of different things you do and need during your trip. Maybe you need a special airline approved travel bag you buy before the trip, or it’s the receipt for lunch at that adorable sea-side cafe you stumbled across.

Usually these sorts of things also have geographic information printed on them, so it can make even the national/international chains a little more interesting.

I always joke that doesn’t matter where we go or how well I plan I usually end up at a Wal-mart buying supplies we forgot – but hey, at least it’s fun to see your Wal-mart receipt has a different city and state printed on it. 

8. Attach an Envelope or Pocket for Collecting & Storing Supplies 

Speaking of ephemera and found things, another great idea for things to include in your journal is an envelope you can use as storage. The pocket for collage supplies is one of my favorite things about Dylusions Art Journals – so handy for holding stuff!

Since most of my journals are either 7×10″ or 6×9″,  I like to use the 6×9″ mailing envelopes and glue them or tape them into my notebooks and journals to use as a pocket for holding stuff. They are great for fitting all sorts of paper scraps and other things you might find on the trip!

If you are like me and realize what a deal it is to buy 100 clasp envelopes on Amazon , you can use the envelopes to make many, many more junk journals and art journals in the future! 

Beyond just envelopes, there are also a lot of other ways to display and store things inside of a journal, and one of the great things to use for this are the pocket page protectors often used in pocket scrapbooks.

If you are trying to keep things small and simple while traveling, Simple Stories is one brand with a wide variety of differently configured 6×8″ Pocket Page Protectors that can be a great way to hold and display items you might find in your adventures. Bonus : No glue stick needed. 

9. Keep a Record/Log of Daily Events

I know sometimes when I actually DO go on a real vacation, I don’t always have time to keep track of everything we do. One good way to get around this, without necessarily having to write a whole lot or spend the day drawing and gluing things in the book is to keep a very simple log each day. 

This doesn’t have to be elaborate. Keep it simple – use the actual date or the day of the week and challenge yourself to j ust write one word for each day . This will help you remember details of the trip long after it happens. 

• Monday – Beach
• Tuesday – Friends
• Wednesday – Museum

Keeping a log helps you remember things so that you can continue to fill the book up with memories and ephemera from the trip long after you return.

10. Method of Travel: Document Your Transportation

There are plenty of ways to get from one place to another. You can ride a bus, take a train, or fly up high in a fancy jet plane! 

Once you arrive at your destination, there can also be a lot of additional things to note about getting around town, especially if you are traveling somewhere that drives on opposite sides of the street or relies primarily on bicycles or scooters for transportation. 

All of these things make for great ideas for stuff to doodle, sketch, and write about!

11. Accommodations – Where Are You Sleeping?

Whether you’re staying in a hotel, airBNB, fancy resort or maybe your RV, there are plenty of things to document about where you are staying during the trip. 

Some ideas for ephemera might be brochures, print-outs of your reservation confirmation, map directions to the location. You can also always do a sketch of your room or view out the window. 

12. How’s the Weather?

Weather is one of those things that might be considered “small talk” but it’s also something I know can really influence what types of activities we do when we are on a trip.

We do a lot of camping – so if it’s warm and sunny, you’ll find us hiking, kayaking, and fishing. If it’s rainy, you might find us playing card games, visiting shops, or checking out area museums.

Sometimes bad weather can even make a trip more fun than expected – you might check out something new you ordinarily would have skipped, or maybe you will come home with a funny story of events.

You can record different weather events bullet journal style in your notebook or just draw different weather related symbols whenever you jot down any notes.

13. First Impressions – Any surprises?

Once you arrive at your destination, take a note of some of the things you notice right away or any different thoughts you might have about the trip there so far. This is especially a good idea if you are going somewhere completely new that is not like anything you have done before.

You might also want to take note of what expectations you had prior to leaving the trip – Is there anything that surprised you once you got there? Did you over estimate or under estimate what it might be like? Sometimes the anticipation before a trip can be much different than the actual reality once you get there!

14. Paint Backgrounds in Advance to Pack Less Art Supplies

Something I like to do in art journals when I’m traveling is to paint the pages before I go with acrylic paints I like to use. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate – maybe some simple stripes for writing on, or you can even use by block-by-block art journal technique to prep different page sections in advance.

This gives your pages a nice background and start for any type of journaling or doodles – and you don’t have the hassle of having to pack or carry around a whole lot of supplies. All you need from there is a couple of favorite pens and maybe a glue stick.

15. Try Watercolors for Compact & Portable Art Supplies

If you do want to paint while you are on your trip, a set of travel watercolors is a great option because they are generally very compact and easy to clean up and carry around – some pocket field sets could literally fit in your pocket and are smaller than most cell phones!

Watercolors are a great fun way to give your pages a little hint of color – and of course you can always use the opportunity to try out some new and different watercolor painting techniques !

16. Portrait Sketches

Meeting new people, or sometimes just seeing new people can be very inspiring to practice sketching different portrait drawing techniques. 

Portraits of new faces and people can be a great way to practice and hone in on your skills in drawing and painting faces – it can also serve as a springboard for additional art to make even when you return from the trip.

If the idea of sketching or painting a portrait makes you nervous, do not worry – there are lots of great resources to help you out here, like Mixed Media Portraits With Pam Carriker – Jane Davenport also has lots of great books such as this one which can be a wonderful resource to start with.

17. Draw & Sketch Landmarks

No matter where you go, there are sure to be landmarks. These can be great sources of inspiration for stories and drawing practice. 

Some landmarks are famous {such as The Statue of Liberty in NYC or The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City} – other landmarks are more of directional markers or might have personal significance to you. One example is a water tower we always look for when we drive past it on the highway.

18. Architecture

Wherever you find yourself, take some time to notice different architectural details such as windows, doors, gates, fences and roofs. Make a page inspired by the different things you see! This can be a detailed sketch or simply a whimsical doodle like the photo shown above.

19. Make a Cityscape

After you pay some attention to the different architectural details, it can be fun to incorporate this into cityscape art.

It can be a very fun challenge to recreate a drawing or doodle of the places you visit in your journals, and of course you can always combine these with other drawings or collage and ephemera.

Many of the Watercolor Doodle Cities here and other city-inspired paintings I make start from inspiration from real-life cities and towns I’ve visited.

20. Capture the Landscape

Sketching or painting the landscape can be a wonderful way to document all the beautiful views in nature. You can also photograph these scenes to inspire you to make more art when you get back home.

Maybe it’s an early morning sunrise or a field you drive past on the highway, the waves at the beach or even the way the mountains look in the distance.

21. Use Whatever You Can Find for Art Supplies  

I like to pack light when I’m traveling, and so that usually means sadly most of my art supplies have to stay at home. The good news is the lack of supplies can push you to try using everyday materials in creative ways.

For example, say you go out for tea – you can use the tea in your cup or a used tea bag to create tea stains on your papers. {Just be careful not to smear any ink from pens unless that is your desired effect!}

Over the years I’ve used all sorts of things to create with in my journal beyond traditional materials. A dandelion can often be used to get yellow coloring on paper – you could even use makeup like lipstick or eye shadow and blush on your pages.

22. Pay Attention to Special Events & Holidays

While you don’t need a special event or holiday as an excuse to explore the world, often times we do go places depending on the season and traditions we like to celebrate. 

If your journaling happens to fall around a certain holiday or you attend a special event in your adventures, there can be all sorts of seasonal things you can add onto your pages – hearts for Valentine’s Day, Flowers in the Spring, Pumpkins for Halloween, Christmas Decorations, etc.

23. Everybody Eats: Food is Never Ending Inspiration

There are some places I would visit again just with the sole purpose of eating amazing food. Food also makes for an endless source of things to put in your journal. You might not need to record every single meal or snack, but if you enjoy something good – make a note of it or use it as inspiration for art.

Another thing you can do, especially if you visit different countries is save food wrappers. Different languages, different wrappers – all these things can easily be added into your journal and will even help you remember what foods and restaurants you like if you should visit that place again.

24. Street Signs & Names

As someone who loves all things words, letters and numbers, I can’t help but feel gravitated towards interesting signs we see in different places. These can be great starting points for drawings, sketches or even things to photograph and add to your pages at a later time.

25. Read any good books?

Sometimes the books we read can inspire our travels – or a book can help us pass the time on a long bus ride or flight. Vacation is also a good time to catch up on books you’ve been wanting to read.

I love books so some of my favorite places to visit while traveling are small bookstores and libraries – I always find some nice treasures that way!

26. Foreign Language

If you’re traveling to a country where English is not the native language, it can be very fun and interesting to find different things that have the country’s language in your journal.

Whenever I’m shopping at used book sales, I often find a lot of foreign language dictionaries. These make for excellent paper backgrounds to use in junk journals, or you can always have fun copying the words to practice your foreign language skills.

Staying local in your own hometown? Have some fun visiting regular mundane places by learning or practicing a different language. 

¡Vamos a cocinar papas en la estufa!

Even a place as mundane your kitchen can be more fun if you learn fun ways to explore it as a traveler. This can also be a great way to help your kids practice their foreign language skills. 

27. Everyday Life

What do the people who call the place you are visiting home everyday? Take some notes, sketches or photos of a day in the life of a local.

Another thing that can be fun to do is to imagine for a moment if this place was your home, and not just a place you were visiting. What might you like or dislike about staying in that one place long-term?

28. What are other tourists doing?

Every time we’ve visited tourist-destination types of places it is always fascinating to watch the other travelers and what they are doing. Maybe you see hundreds of people with cameras, or you see people waiting in line to get their picture taken next to a certain attraction.

29. Trees & Flowers

I spend most of my vacations immersed in nature and I love drawing and painting trees and flowers. You might also want to keep some wax paper in your notebook – this can be a great way to preserve flowers or leaves.

30. Birds of a Feather

When we visit cities I always notice pigeons, and I always see seagulls at the beach. I love photographing ducks! Sometimes places we go have aviaries to visit. When we go camping, we love looking for woodpeckers, cardinals, and other birds.

You can fill your journal with bird related images or just make a list or doodles of the different birds you might encounter.

31. Animals

If you love animals, this is another great source of inspiration while you are traveling. Maybe you go to a nearby zoo, or maybe friends you are staying with have a friendly cat. 

Some places you visit may even have animals you don’t typically see that often. I remember when I visited Toronto in Canada I saw so many moose statues everywhere we went!

32. Notes From History

Most places have historical centers – even small towns often have an interesting past. If you enjoy historical points of interest, there all sorts of ways to incorporate this on your pages.

Use cut outs from brochures or old books, record facts, or even attempt to recreate a scene from history in your journal. This is a great way to use up some of your favorite vintage ephemera also!

33. Famous People / Persons of Interest Who Lived there

Almost every place has people who are famous or played an important role in the history of the area. It can be very interesting to research before you go some different people who have lived in that place – and maybe even tour some of the different things that would have been part of their daily life.

One example of this is when a friend of mine in high school was slightly obsessed with all things Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails. She had learned he grew up in boring old Mercer, PA {not so far from the same boring town we lived in} – so we decided to go up one day to check it out.

It was very neat to think hey, here’s this little town in Pennsylvania just like our little town in Pennsylvania, he was a band dork, we were band dorks. It is always neat to see these sorts of places, especially if it someone who is inspiring to you, because in a way you can see the kind of environment that inspired them to become the creative person they are.

34. Music Playlist

Speaking of Trent Reznor – let’s talk about another favorite aspect of traveling for me – plenty of opportunity to listen to music!

I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a long ride than to come prepared with a good music playlist.  If you’re riding passenger on long trips, a good music playlist and a sketchbook is a great way to help pass the time.

I also like to listen to different music that is popular in different areas. It’s way more fun to listen to Blue Grass music if you are in the Mountains of Virgina or a little country music on the city streets of Nashville.

There are so many different types of music around the world, and all of it can be very inspiring to listen to while writing or creating.

Need more ideas for how to incorporate music into your journals? Our list of creative music inspired art prompts can help inspire you!

35. Textures

Make a page about different textures you might encounter on your trip. Maybe it’s the sand between your toes, the concrete on the sidewalks or the familiar softness of your favorite shirt in a place where everything is different. 

You can even optionally include some of these textures into your journal, especially if you encounter things like fabric swatches or handwoven items.

Another idea is to use different textures from objects around you as unique stencils and stamps. You can do all sorts of mark making with different textures in your book!

While I suppose this could fall under “food” – coffee for me is more than just a tasty caffeinated beverage. Draw a Picture of Coffee with the different backdrop of the place you visit. Save ephemera like napkins, coffee stirrer or receipts from shops you visit.

Pay attention to ways coffee is prepared and served. If you are visiting a place that grows and produces coffee, this too can be very fascinating to learn about and try different flavors native to the area. 

37. Souvenirs

Do you collect anything? Some people collect pennies, spoons, key chains, salt shakers – you name it! Collecting is a fun low-stress hobby and traveling can be a great way to find new things.

If you are a collector of something, it can be fun to make a page about different sorts of things you like to collect. If you don’t have a collection yet – what is one you might you be inclined to start or find interesting? 

Many different places you might visit often also have souvenir shops with all sorts of interesting things for the area. Even if you’re not a collector, you may enjoy sketching or making a list of the sort of things you notice. 

 38. Pick Up a Newspaper – Local, National & Global News

It’s always interesting to read the news somewhere you aren’t. It gives you a greater understanding of what types of things the residents who live in a place might experience on a regular day to day basis and what is important to them.

Another bonus is often times when you visit a new area the newspaper may syndicate different feature columns than your papers back home. This could mean new recipes, different horoscopes, puzzles, comments, and opinion pieces.

Newspapers are also great to use in collage and art you might be inspired to create, especially if you have very limited access to art supplies.

What does the place you’re visiting smell like? Maybe you can smell freshly baked bread drifting across the plaza, or it’s the smell of the ocean next to you, or even just the smell of pine trees in the woods. 

Paying attention to how all of your different senses experience the place can help you remember the adventure all that much more.

40. Include Conversations With the People You Talk To

One thing I enjoy doing when traveling is meeting and talking to new people and listening in on what people might be saying at the different places we visit. 

It’s funny, but some of the conversations I remember are not exactly quotable, but totally memorable enough to document in a journal. One time when we were at a beach an old man was talking to us and told us we needed to visit a place that was about 6 hours away.

“They have the most unbelievable peaches! Miles and miles of orchards…” he said. Well, after talking to him we decided to go that way the next day and yes, they did have peaches, but we were mostly awed by the unbelievable beautiful beaches!

Had we not talked to that stranger on the beach that day we never would have discovered one of our favorite beaches in the U.S.

41. The Local Dialect

I live in the Pittsburgh area and we are sorta famous for our unique dialect. Many local shops sell Yinzer stickers and other Pittsburghese types of things that are always popular with tourists and would make great journal fodder.

If you happen to be somewhere, pay attention to different words and phrases people use for things. You might be surprised how many sayings and words you pick up that aren’t in any foreign language dictionary!

42. Quotes About the Area and/or General Traveling

There are all sorts of great quotes that can be a great way to add to the journal. You can include general travel quotes in your journal while you are getting ready for the trip – or of course you can always add these once you are back. 

43. Interview The People Traveling With You

It’s always interesting how two different people can have two different options and memories about a trip! Traveling with kids? Ask them their thoughts – and of course don’t forget to encourage them to create their own travel journals!

44. Hidden in Plain View – Important or Sensitive Information 

It’s always a good idea to have a paper copy of important info while you are in a different place – especially if WiFi access or phone reception might be hard to come by. 

While I don’t recommend keeping sensitive info in plain sight in a journal, sometimes you can give yourself cryptic ways only you would know to have a reference for things like addresses or bank account info.

Some ways you can do this is by drawing the numbers in a certain specific pattern, or you could even make up your own secret code. 

45. Reference Lists & Safety Info

I’m sorta neurotic about safety, so I like to include helpful safety info in my notebooks, especially because we spend so much time outdoors. This might be something as simple as a mini first aid guide or a list of emergency numbers for the area. If you are traveling in a foreign place, you may even want to list some emergency contacts in the notebook.

I also like to print out this type of information to keep in planner binders. For the planner I keep in our camper, I included printed information for dog medications and first aid, since our dog has a habit of finding bees nests, eating fishing rods and getting into all sorts of trouble.

46. Currency From Different Countries

Many foreign countries have different types of currency that can be very interesting to keep in a journal. If you have a few smaller value notes leftover from a trip they can be a great thing to put in a journal or slip into a clear pocket you attach to the pages.

47. Track Your Budget

Budgeting might not seem exciting, especially while supposedly on a vacation! Still, it is definitely an inevitable part of life that doesn’t go away just because you are somewhere different! 

Fortunately, it can be way more fun to do when you find a way to express your creativity in your journal or planner. Keep records of expenses while you are traveling and think about different ways you can save money.

If you haven’t left for your destination yet, there are lots of great ways to plan a trip without spending a lot. Make a page about how you will save for an upcoming trip or make a list of ways to you can see the world without going into debt.

48. Random Fun Facts

Do you enjoy games like trivial pursuit? Something that can be fun to do before you leave is read up on different fun facts about an area, or you can even just jot down these things as you experience them in the place you visit.

Random Fun Fact Example: We can thank computer scientist Scott Fahlman at CMU in Pittsburgh for the widespread use of the smiley face symbol . 🙂 Pittsburgh is also home to another famous smiley face – the Eat ‘N Park Smiley ! 

49. Local Business & Industry

Do you ever need to travel for work? Business travel can sometimes create all sorts of new interesting opportunities to see sights and document parts of a place that don’t exactly make it to the city guides!

Many cities are also famous for different things related to businesses and industries. Factory Tours can be super fascinating and educational – they also make for a great activity during rainy day travels.

50. Movies, Plays & Film

Many places you wouldn’t expect have been featured in movies – other times there may be films or movies that take place in the very same places you visit.

One example is the time we visited Savannah, Georgia. My husband loves the movie Forest Gump so naturally this meant we had to visit Chippewa Square and the famous park bench at the Savannah History Museum when we explored the city.

51. The Clothes We Wear

Just like food and money, most of the time we typically need to also wear clothes. You don’t have to be a fashionista to appreciate unique clothing styles in different places you visit.

Depending where you travel to, the culture and weather can be very different from where you live and so the style of clothes and things people wear and do can be fascinating. 

Don’t forget to also pay attention to the clothes you are wearing. Maybe it’s a raincoat because it’s raining or you bought something special to wear for the trip.

52. Travel Shoes

Going places usually means lots of walking and standing – which means the pair of shoes you wear can make all the difference! Sketch a pair of your shoes and take note of whether they have reliably served you well in your travels, or if they’ve caused you pain, agony and misery. 

53. Hobbies & Interests

When I visited NYC my top must-see destination was the Sketchbook museum at the Brooklyn Art Library of course!

One of the ways I documented that visit was to put a safety pin in one of my pages once I got home because I noticed one of the journals there was completely bound with safety pins and I thought that was pretty unique and I didn’t want to forget it! 

Your different hobbies and interests can always overlap in travel – and sometimes in the most of unexpected ways. If you have a specific hobby or interest you enjoy, take some time to research different clubs and organizations in the area. You can find groups and points of interest for almost anything!

54. What’s Trending Now

Do you notice any interesting trends about the place you visit? Maybe there is an activity that is popular or something you notice everyone is doing.

This could be something like a TV show everyone is watching, something seasonally related or it could even be many of the homes decorated with certain pieces or in a certain style.

55. Funny Stuff

One thing you should always bring along any adventure is a good sense of humor. I love this one picture we snapped while we traveled through VA – antique tables made daily!

There are also lots of great travel-themed jokes you could use in your journal.

What travels around the world but stays in one corner? A stamp.

{Sorry, I couldn’t resist, I love punny bad jokes!} Speaking of stamps…

56. Postage Stamps: Send Yourself Some Mail Back Home

Postcards and foreign stamps can make for an excellent addition to any type of travel journal. You can mail yourself a letter or post card, or even pick up some post cards where you are visiting to add to your pages.

Shown above: A photo of some of the vintage postcards I have in my ephemera collection. If you have friends and family members who travel a lot, be sure to offer to pay for postage and ask them to mail you things!

57. Color Combos

Do you love color? Different places can be great inspiration for unique color combinations or even noticing things you may ordinarily ignore. Take a look at your surroundings and try to create a color palette based on what you see around you.

58. Rainbow Page

Another fun travel journal idea is to try to make a page that includes something of every color of the rainbow you see while you are on a trip. This could be done with ephemera or even just making notes and drawing in your sketchbook to add in photos later.

59. Inspiration is Everywhere

What do you see that inspires you to create while you are traveling? Maybe you notice an interesting pattern on textiles being sold at a shop or you like the way the vase on your table looks at a restaurant.

Take note of these little details that inspire you and sketch or jot them down. These can be great sources of inspiration for those days you need a little kickstart to create.

60. Bottle Caps, Drink Labels and Coasters

Many bottled beverages have labels and unique bottle caps that can make for great things to include in a journal. You may also notice several restaurants have coasters that are nice to save after your meal.

Bottle labels and coasters are two types of things that are normally thrown away but can make for great ephemera to include in your journal and help document the trip.

61. All the Different Shapes

Another idea for different places you visit is to create pages based on different shapes. For example, you could have a page for things that are round, such as wheels, windows, or stones.

You could also easily do this for things that are square, rectangles, triangles, etc.

62. Define Some Travel Words

What does adventure mean to you? What do you consider to be a journey?

There are lots of different travel-themed words and they often mean different things to different people. Write your own definition for words, or you could even find these words in a dictionary and cut them and paste them to the page in your book.

Here’s a couple more words you could use on the page or define:

63. Why do you love travel?

People travel for different reasons, and of course the reasons we enjoy it are also usually unique to us. What do you like the most? Is it meeting new people? Seeing something different? Learning new things?

Write or illustrate your favorite things and the reasons you enjoy discovering new places.

64. Stickers

Stickers can be found anywhere, whether it’s a price sticker on something you buy or even a marketing sticker they give away at a promotional event. Some places you visit may even have shops that sell unique stickers for the area.

65. Technology & Apps

There are many apps and websites that can make traveling a lot easier, and it can be something fun to document in your journal. These apps can help you find new places or even possibly read reviews and get special coupons and deals. 

Another thing to think about is how the place you are visiting uses technology. Do they seem advanced or are they behind compared to where you currently live?

66. Trip Stats

Another fun thing to record in your journal are trip stats. Your might record your odometer reading, number of miles you traveled, or if you have a fitbit you could make a note of how many steps you walked that day.

67. Try Zentangle

Zentangle is a super portable form of art and very relaxing so perfect if you’re going on vacation to unwind. All you need is some paper and your favorite Micron 01 pen.

You can start with basic shapes or just tangle freely on the pages of your journal. Who knows – some places you visit may even be home of certified Zentangle instructors and classes may be available during your trip!

68. Practice Creative Lettering

There are so many great ideas and ways to have fun with creative lettering in your journal. You can try different styles of letters, mix up big and small writing. 

Hate your handwriting? Our post on creative lettering ideas can give you lots of inspiration for ways to add unique text without necessarily mastering calligraphy.

69. Stencil It

Stencils are flat and portable – so very easy to bring with you along your travels and keep right inside your notebook. There are TONS of inexpensive stencil sets on Amazon or you could even try making your own journal stencil templates.

A couple of stencils can definitely can help you with making shapes, layouts, and different designs in  your journal – no fine art skills required!

70. Bodies of Water

Water is always a source for inspiration, relaxing, and feeling refreshed – and where there is life, you are sure to find water! As the author of How to Read Water points out, you can learn just as much about water from a puddle as you can from the sea. 

Create a page in your journal based on what you like to do in the water – whether you go fishing, swim laps in the pool on a cruise ship or just admire the sailboats out on the bay.

71. Make a List of Things to Research

While you are on your trip, you might find yourself curious to learn more about stuff you encounter. Make a list or note of this in your journal so you can read up on it when you come back home.

Before you go somewhere new it’s also a very good idea to research different laws, customs and practices. This to-research-list can be a great thing to add in your journal before you leave to remind you to actually learn about these things before you get there!

72. Visiting a Sports Town?

Sports teams around the world have some very loyal fans and this can be another thing worth documenting if you are in a place that takes their sports seriously. In some areas it’d be impossible not to take note of arenas and stadiums!

Even if you’re not a sports fan, you may notice where you are visiting what important sports games are happening and what teams people proudly wear on their t-shirts, jerseys and hats. If you do visit an event, don’t forget to save your ticket stubs and program with the team roster!

73. Stick to the Grid

Grid lined pages can be nice to have when you are writing or drawing, because they also make it super easy to try to draw things when you want to be mindful of things like ratio and perspective relationships.

You can also have fun just arranging different elements in a grid-like fashion – draw your own freehand grid and fill each box with different memories or images you cut and tear out of a local magazine or newspaper.

74. What Are You Really Good At When Traveling?

Do your planning skills shine as you come up with the perfect trip itinerary? Have you mastered the fine art of packing a suitcase with all the right things? Have a knack for strumming up conversation with the locals? Or, maybe you’re just really good at getting lost! 

Whatever your strengths and skills are when it comes to travel, these should be celebrated and certainly worthy of being documented in your travel journal! Draw yourself an award, make a list of your best strengths, and celebrate all the hard work that goes into exploring.

75. Gratitude

You can never go wrong keeping track of things you are thankful for. See our list of gratitude journal prompts for even more ideas of ways to incorporate thankfulness in your journal pages.

76. No Place Like Home

Sometimes distance makes us all the more appreciative of home. What things do you miss the most while you are away from home? Draw pictures, doodle, paint, or make a list! 

77. Wish You Were Here

Sometimes when we go someplace new we can’t help but think of family or friends back home. Is there anything specific where you are that reminds you of someone? Write about it or tuck those little pieces of ephemera you find on a page.

78. What Went Wrong

It’s tempting to only document the good parts of a trip but sometimes the mishaps of travel become great funny stories after a few years…like my husbands famous melt down over a lack of parking or that time we went camping and got flooded out. 

These sorts of things aren’t exactly fun in the midst of the trouble, but years later we can look back and at least say the trips were memorable!

79. What Did You Learn?

Every trip is an opportunity and discovery is synonymous for learning. What did you learn during your trip?

Maybe you learned something new about the cultures, customs and history of the place. Or, if staying local… maybe you learned to always bring sunscreen or bug spray or how to avoid rush hour traffic.

80. Document Digitally

While I will forever be a pen and paper kind of girl, I know I also enjoy the convenience of digital art journaling – especially when it’s not always easy to pack lots of supplies! This is especially true for trips that aren’t necessarily for fun or I know I’ll be spending a lot of time indoors.

You can edit and arrange photos in a photo editing app or software program, or you can even enjoy the creative fun of painting digitally. I love using my laptop and Wacom Intous tablet to paint with Photoshop. You can also have a lot of fun creating designs with an iPad and Apple pencil. 

81. Draw a Clock

Clocks are fun and easy enough to draw – all you need is a circle! It can be fun to compare clock times all around the world, especially if you have ventured to a different time zone.

Another idea is to doodle clocks for when you want to make note of times on your itinerary and schedule.

82. Make a Chart

Charts are a creative visual way to display information and a great idea for adding some art to your travel journal. You could create a table of train and bus times, a pie chart for how you spent your time on the trip, or a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting your first trip somewhere to the second trip there.

For those who are particularly dorky like me, you might even consider making a histogram or scatter plot in your journal!

83. Healthy Matters

If you are into all things health, wellness and fitness in everyday life, it would only make sense for this to overflow into your journals while traveling.

Whether you note healthy foods you eat, exercise, changes in your mood, how much you sleep, number of glasses of water you drink each day, or have a list of medications to take daily, noting these things in your journal can help you stay on track with all the excitement and routine disruptions from traveling.

84. Design Your Own Travel Symbols & Icons

There are many common symbols and icons used for travel – an airplane, a map, a suitcase, a backpack, a compass, cars, directional arrows, trains, etc. 

All of these things are a great starting point to give you some ideas for things to doodle in a travel journal. You can make them flat, line-art style, or even make them 3-D complete with shading. 

85. Travel Role Models

Do you know someone who is a great inspiration for your travel aspirations? This could be a person who inspired you to be more courageous and explore new foreign places, or could just be someone you know who has real-world experience in traveling the globe and taught you a lot of things. 

86. Favorite Travel Blogs

Speaking of people who inspire us to travel – I know many of the places I find inspiration are various travel blogs I like to follow! Seeing their pictures is always great motivation and inspiration to go to new places I may not have considered on my own.

Whenever I am not sure of where I might like to go or what to do when visiting an area, I also love to read different blogger’s guides on attractions to visit and travel tips to make it a smooth trip.

87. The Road Not Taken – Add Some Poetry to Your Pages

There are lots of great travel inspired poems you can include in your journal, or you can even try your hand at writing your own poems.

Not a natural wordsmith? Prefer to stick to something more visual? Check out our post on found poetry in your journal pages.

88. Challenge Yourself 

Sometimes a little bit of a challenge can make even the most mundane of places a bit more exciting. You could challenge yourself to take a photo every day, or challenge yourself to visit a different neighborhood or part of town each day you are in the city.

You could also challenge yourself to commit to a certain type of art each day – a doodle a day, or a watercolor a day, or a pencil sketch a day.

Challenges should be fun – so if the idea of this sounds like a chore or one more thing to add to already a jam packed schedule, skip it or save it for the next adventure.

89. Paper Clips & Binder Clips Are Your Friends

Paper clips, binder clips and other page fasteners are wonderful and practical things to include in your journal. They are super handy when you are on the go to attach all sorts of papers and notes – no glue stick required!

Also, they make TONS of travel themed paper clips. I mean, I don’t know if you would really need 40 of them, but how adorable are these airplane shaped paper clips ? They also make ones that come in assorted animal shapes ! 

So many different styles of paper clips, I actually made an Amazon Idea List with some of my handpicked favorites – I couldn’t believe I found over 40! See all my favorites on my list: All the Pretty Paper Clips . 

90. Pins, Patches & Badges

I love collecting small novelty pins, patches and badges – but I don’t always have a great way to display or wear them. One way around this is to add them to your journal pages!

You can decide to either pin or sew the item directly onto the page, or you can attach it to a small piece of fabric that you attach into the page. You can often find these at gift shops or even while you are at different places that give them away for free as promotional materials.

91. Have a Stamping Good Time

There are LOTS of ways to use rubber stamps and ink pads in a journal. But… I also like to keep my supplies very minimal, especially when on the road. Something I like to do to prep my journal pages is stamp things in advance. 

You can use simple ink dabbers to create patterns or add a distressed effect to your empty pages – and of course if you already have travel themed stamps this is a great opportunity to put them to good use, whether before or after the trip!

In the page above I tried to use some of my rubber stamps and realized one of my very well-loved ink pads was finally starting to dry out after years of use.

I used the ink pad itself to stamp the page with the remaining ink on the edges to create journaling block areas. I also used the edge of the ink pad to make the lines – perfect for impromptu lists or quick daily notes.

92. Travel Tags

There are all sorts of tags that can be useful while traveling. Luggage and suitcase tags are also a great way to add some interesting stuff to your favorite journal pages. 

You can also opt to use paper tags – I love to start with small round tags like these ones and use them for doodles or quotes. Standard shipping tags like these are also like mini blank canvases waiting for your creative touch! 

93. Travel Bingo: Inspired by My Favorite Road Trip Game as a Kid

A long time ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth without technology, we played a game called Auto Bingo in the car. If you drove past something like a railroad crossing or a cow, you would slide the little marker over the picture when you spotted it and try to get them all before the end of the trip. 

This gave me a great idea to make a list of different things to look for while I’m at a certain place and then check it off if I saw that thing. It’s a like a scavenger hunt game – can you find these things in your surroundings?

94. A Boost of Encouragement

We tend to glamorize travel a lot – but sometimes it can be hectic, chaotic, stressful and even a little bit scary.

As much as I love traveling, I don’t always like the packing & preparing, and I also admittedly have no sense of direction – I still get lost on roads less than 10 minutes away from my house!

If this sounds like you, adding some encouraging words and positive affirmations can be a wonderfully uplifting thing to see if you are in unfamiliar territory or stressed out.

95. Spiritual Sense

If you are a spiritual person, or maybe just someone curious to learning about the different spiritual practices of different cultures, there are many ways this can be reflected in your journal.

You could include prayers and blessings for travelers, visit spiritual places of interest, or even just spend a few moments in quiet meditation. It can also be interesting to explore and document the various practices and traditions in the culture you are visiting. 

96. Which Way Up? Arrows & Directional Signs

I love the treasure-map style dashed and dotted lines with arrows. They really grab a person’s attention when they look through your completed journal. It makes one ask: now where does this lead?

Arrows can be used in so many different ways for a lot of different travel journal page ideas. Call attention to a specific phrase or photo, or add them to continue a story on another page. In some ways, you could make your journal a sort of “Choose Your Own Adventure Book” where the reader {or even yourself} – can explore a place in a different kind of way.

97. Attention Please! Highlights

If you are the sort of person who might fill an entire page with a LOT of words while journaling your thoughts and experiences, highlights are a fun way to call attention to things that are important or most notable.

You can choose to highlight things like dates, or just pick words and phrases you like. If you don’t have or want to use highlighter markers, you could also accent different things by using colored pencils and pens or simply by circling and underlining different things. 

This can also be a very fun thing to do with newspapers or other printed ephemera style things you might find in your travels.

98. If You Had to Do It Again…

Would you go on this trip again? Do you want to go back? What would you want to do differently? What would you want to do the same? These are all great questions to think about while you reflect on the trip on the return back home.

99. Return to Reality

What did you have it do when you got back from your vacation? Sometimes remembering responsibilities and “real life” can make us all the more appreciative and nostalgic for the time spent away!

100. Actually Print Out Your Vacation Photos

I’m totally guilty of taking a bazillion pictures…and then never printing them. They go on my external hard drive/cloud storage to never be seen by another human being again…that’s not good!

One of the things I’m making a more concentrated effort to do is actually print out photos we take. You can choose to print them from home on your own home printer, or upload them to your favorite photo print website.

101. Where to Next?

Did this trip make you want to visit any other new places you hadn’t considered before? Where do you want to go next? Or, perhaps, after all these adventures, maybe you are content to stay-cation for awhile?

I know this is a super long list, and if you made it this far, I hope you found these ideas inspiring and encouraging! Travel journals are a ton of fun to make and I’d love to see what you create!!

And of course, if you have ideas for things to include that aren’t on this list – I’d love to hear your creative ideas in the comments below!

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Sipping coffee & chasing dreams, 6 travel books to inspire artists & travelers alike.

I love books, and as you already know, I also love travel!  So it won’t be surprising to hear that I  love to read travel books. I also love art. Whether it’s photography, painting, or beautiful sculptures, it is something that brings me joy.  I believe that everyone has a creative side, and when we allow ourselves time to do creative things, it inspires and energizes us.   

These six travel books combine my love of travel and my love of art. Each book inspired me with new places to explore, restaurants to try, and museums to visit. They also gave me great ideas for using sketches and photographs to create artistic travel journals. The use of drawings, paintings, and pictures combined with written notes creates a travel journal that makes each experience easier to recall and relive.

Each of these travel books are beautiful to look at and will delight both lovers of travel and art. If you are an artist, you might even find that you begin thinking about designing your next trip around your art. There are so many wonderful ideas in these books of places to see and ways to use travel as a conduit for your art.  

Perhaps you don’t identify as an “artist” that’s okay too, if you enjoy looking at art and discovering new things, you will find something in each of these books to inspire you too.

Who should read these books?

Do you love to travel? Do you enjoy looking at art? Are you an artist? Do you want to create art or find inspiration? Do you enjoy reading about beautiful and exciting destinations?

1) Paris in Winter: An Illustrated Memoir

In Paris in Winter: An Illustrated Memoir , David Coggins  takes you on his annual winter trip to Paris. Each chapter is a different year, and another winter spent exploring Paris with his family. Paris In Winter is an example of luxury travel, fine dining, art museums, and shopping. 

Paris in Winter  is a journal and sketchbook in one. It’s filled with simple paintings that accompany the written memory Coggins is attempting to capture. The mood, the smells, the sounds he heard, and funny snippets of conversations with his family.

It reads like a stream of consciousness journal in which the author shares his notes and watercolor sketches of individual moments. You don’t get a continuous story, but instead, you peer into his journal and see how he captures the essence of that particular memory—a moment he did not wish to forget.

I also use this style of notetaking when I travel. I create short, bullet-point style references to help me recall what I did that day and the moments I don’t want to forget. Often I’m too tired at the end of the day to write pages of detailed notes. So this shorthand style of journaling helps me to capture the moments.

The addition of drawings, paintings, and even photographs to your travel journal can enhance future recall when rereading your journal and make it a more interesting read.

Paris In Winter leaves me with a long list of museums to visit the next time I’m in Paris. It also leaves me feeling just a little bit hungry as I read his descriptions of their sumptuous meals. There is something about Paris that calls people back to it year after year. Wander the streets with the Coggins family and get lost in the finer things of this magical city.

2) Travels Through the French Riviera: An Artist’s Guide to the Storied Coastline, from Menton to Saint-Tropez

Reading  Travels Through the French Riviera: An Artist’s Guide to the Storied Coastline, From Menton to Saint-Tropez by Virginia Johnson is like reading a storybook for adults. The brightly colored pages with pictures and text bring the feeling of the Riviera to the reader as you journey along the coastline with the author.  I could almost feel the warmth of the sun as I imagined myself enjoying gelato along the waterfront.

Travels Through the French Riviera is not “just” an art book and a travel book in one. As you read it, you feel like you’re taking a stroll through a French town with a friend. Johnson guides you through these beautiful French towns that were once artistic retreats for artists such as Picasso and Chagall. You learn of the art history in each town and her go-to spots for inspiration. 

In addition to giving you detailed itineraries for each village, Johnson also provides a list of the best places to buy art supplies and what she uses as a traveling artist. If you want a personal artist retreat mapped out for you, then you need to read Travels Through the French Riviera.

I’ve yet to visit the French Riviera, but after finishing this book, I’m excited to plan a trip to explore this beautiful region and delve into its artistic history. A month here would be perfect for seeing all of the towns. However, one could easily create an enjoyable 2-week itinerary by using this book as a guideline.

If you’re interested in art, art history, and travel, this is the book for you! Painter or photographer, poet, or writer, Travels Through the French Riviera  will inspire you to take a journey that feeds your creative soul.

3) Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection

A Little Background

I first read Janice MacLeod’s book Paris Letters: A Travel Memoir about Art, Writing, and Finding Love in Paris on a flight to Europe when I’d visit Paris for the first time .  I enjoyed the humor she infused in her story of how she came to live in Paris. It describes her desire to live abroad, how she came up with a budget and a plan to do it, and how the experience changed her life. She used her painting skills to help pay for her stay in Paris, making both a dream to travel and get paid for her art a reality. 

One of the ways she did this was through a letter subscription she sold to her Etsy subscribers.  She’d paint a letter and handwrite a note about her experiences as a newcomer to Paris and then copy and mail these to her subscribers. I loved this idea and have contemplated doing something similar with my photographs. 

7 Years Later

As I read her book Paris Letters , I imagined how the painted letters looked. So when I saw she published a book filled with them, I jumped at the chance to purchase it!   Dear Paris: The Paris Letters Collection is a beautiful book filled with a compilation of some of her best-painted letters. The ones presented in the book are only a fraction of what she sent over an almost eight-year period.  

As you flip through the pages, you will find yourself living vicariously through Janice as she shares what it’s like for her to move to Paris. She shares her experiences about the language barrier, her favorite cafe, and the beauty she uncovers in this remarkable city.  Dear Paris is also a book about dreams and the beautiful life we can have if only we take the first step (or perhaps flight).

If you’ve ever visited Paris, Dear Paris will be a walk down memory lane, you will envision the same places she sees, and it will be a beautiful way to relive your memories there. If you’ve never been, this may be one of the best ways to “visit” until you can. Dear Paris is a travel book worthy of being left on your coffee table for repeated glances and visits to Paris.

4) A Paris Year: My Day-to-Day Adventures in the Most Romantic City in the World

I know I already mentioned her other two travel books on Paris, but I felt this one also deserved a place on the list.  In  A Paris Year , Janice fills the book with artwork, photographs, and various clippings and written notes describing her life in Paris throughout every season of the year.

It’s less a daily journal and more a book filled with musings, historical references, and all things Paris. Each page represents a day of the year, and it reads like an insider’s guide to living in Paris. She discusses the various markets, bookstores, her favorite art stores, local restaurants, and life in Paris from the view of a foreigner. 

A Paris Year looks at what it’s like to move from the States to Paris for one year. Where you’d shop, what the seasons would be like, holidays celebrated, and more. If you’ve ever wanted to live in Paris, this book is only going to increase that desire further. 

You’ll feel like you’re living a year in Paris along with Janice as she purchases bread at the local bakery, sips coffee at the cafe around the corner, and bonjours her way around Paris. It’s another beautiful book to inspire both artists and travelers, but especially anyone who loves Paris.

5) An Illustrated Journey: Inspiration From the Private Art Journals of Traveling Artists, Illustrators and Designers

Danny Gregory worked with 40 artists, illustrators, and designers worldwide to create An Illustrated Journey. What makes An Illustrated Journey unique as a travel book is its art-focused approach to travel. Each artist, illustrator, or designer describes how drawing changed their view of travel.  Gregory mentioned how he now plans his travel based on his artwork. Rather than it being a secondary factor, it is now his primary reason to travel.

An   Illustrated Journey is not only a travel book it’s also an art community.  This travel book is a little different than the other ones on this list as it focuses on art first and its influence on travel. Gregory writes how each artist began drawing while traveling, and it “has made them more deeply in love with both.” Now, he continues, “they travel because they draw, rather than vice versa.”

Each artist interviewed in the book gives examples of their drawings and shares their favorite places and pens and paper. They share the  ways they immerse themselves in their art, whether at home or abroad. They offer tips for getting started drawing, creating the habit, and encouragement to persist for its life-changing benefits.

An Illustrated Journey is chock full of inspiring ideas for artists. It makes a great coffee table book for flipping thru and looking at the variety of sketches and paintings from around the world. 

This travel book is for the current artist, aspiring artist, and traveler who has never even thought of drawing in their travel journal. It’s a call to begin seeing your world thru a new lens. Its artistic spirit is contagious, and you might find yourself ordering a travel journal and pens before your next big adventure. I know I did.

6) The Rainbow Atlas: A Guide to the World's 500 Most Colorful Places

The Rainbow Atlas: A Guide to the World’s 500 Most Colorful Places by Taylor Fuller (along with other Instagram collaborators) is full of beautiful photographs of some of the most colorful places in the World. If you want a book to inspire you as a traveler or an artist, this book will do both, and you can use it as a bucket list guide to inspire your next travel destination. 

As a photographer, I love finding ways to create photographs that resemble paintings. This book provides plenty of inspiring material.

As a traveler, I love seeing unique places so different from my home, and this book is full of colorful destinations I would love to see in person and explore the culture and customs of each colorful area. 

For painters and sketch artists, this book offers inspiration for your creations as well as muse-worthy destinations. And for anyone stuck at home right now and unable to travel, it gives gorgeous, brightly-colored photos to uplift and entertains your visual senses. The Rainbow Atlas  is another beautiful book worthy of your coffee table. 

I want to make one small comment regarding the images in the book. As a photographer and traveler, I’ve visited a number of these destinations. In person, they may not be as vivid as represented in this book. This can occur due to post-editing, as well as the settings when photographed. 

For example, colors tend to pop more on a bright sunny day with a blue sky for the backdrop vs. an overcast day when grey skies tend to mute colors. So if by chance you visit and you think, “Hey, this doesn’t look like the image in the book,” you’ll know why. However, they are still gorgeous destinations, so will you really be disappointed? I doubt it.

Closing Thoughts on Travel Books and Artistic Inspiration

One of the reasons I love reading books about travel is because I can’t always travel. Reading travel books and watching movies about travel adventures is my way of traveling when I can’t leave home. I wrote the article 15 Inspiring Things to Do When You Can’t Travel to help you find ways to infuse your life with travel even when you’re at home.

Lastly, take time to explore your creative side. It is an essential part of being a human, and I think you’ll find it both relaxing and energizing. You may spark a passion you’d long forgotten or find a new one to pursue. Life is about discovery.

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you read any of the above books and what you thought. If you have any particular ways you mix your art with travel, I’d love to hear about that as well!

Bon Voyage!

Note: Travelffeine is reader-supported. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you. And as always, all opinions are our own. Thank you!

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19 Gorgeous Travel-Inspired DIY Projects

Last Updated: March 31, 2021

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When I’m not travelling, one of the things that keeps me sane is surrounding myself with travel inspiration in all forms, whether it’s obsessively reading blogs or adding worldly touches to my home decor ( like this stupidly adorable savings bank shaped like a suitcase ).

And so, in the spirit of treating roamsickness with more travel dreams (probably a terrible idea but idk I’m not a doctor), here’s a roundup of some of the most beautiful and wickedly awesome  travel-related DIY projects that I could scour on the interwebs. 

Pin these ideas for later:

1. Dazzling light-up world map

Through an absolutely genius use of Christmas lights, this beautiful map by Hazel and Ruby showcases where you’ve been in the world and is brilliantly customizable and simple to create. Bonus points for their lovely travel-themed display, and sweet globe collection.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/367958232030782233[/pin]

2. DIY Vintage Pushpin Map

This simple and tasteful way to showcase your wanderlust is absolutely perfect. I am in  love  with DIY Vintage Pushpin Map from Mountain Modern Life  because it’s minimalist enough to avoid tackiness, while still showing off your love of travel and all the places you’ve been. I can’t wait to put one of these up on my wall!

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/676454806509937500/[/pin]

3. Personalized photo map

This adorable photo map from Adventurista AZ is so cute, it almost makes me want to vomit!  Seriously, can you handle the nauseating sweetness? Admittedly, this is a genius idea that I wish I had come up with first, but this one’s no doubt going on my (ahem *secret*) travel-themed wedding Pinterest board

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/223983781455969170/[/pin]

4. Miniature map magnets

These mini map magnets from Surviving a Teacher’s Salary are not just adorable, but also rather classy (like a posh chihuahua having high tea). They can be made in just a few minutes, so they’re ideal for a quick and easy gift for that travel lover in your life.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/751678994045869073/[/pin]

5. … and more map magnets

For a simple and clean alternative, these other glass map magnets from The Happy Housie  are a brilliant way to subtly incorporate your wanderlust all around the house.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/267119821636926223/[/pin]

5. Travel Keepsake Boxes

Minimalist and simple, these keepsake boxes from Martha Stewart are a smart way to keep all those random knick knacks and ticket stubs organized from each trip! Plus they look absolutely smashing on a shelf.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/155866837091346391/[/pin]

6. Map keychain

A cute everyday reminder of a place you love! An easy tutorial can be found here on Sustain My Craft Habit.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/515873332317037559/[/pin]

7. Pocket travel journal

This crafty DIY travel journal from Simple as That is the perfect way to keep track of travel memories on the go. Plus you can easily make it your own through different photos, paper patterns and fonts. Need some inspiration? I’m obsessed with this beautiful travel-themed scrapbook paper from K&Company.  Imagine all these prints in a journal! *swoon*

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/287386019955091488/[/pin]

8. Travel-themed gallery wall

Surround yourself with precious travel memories by turning them into clean and gorgeous wall art. I love this example and tutorial from Live Laugh Rowe. 

If you want an instantly fancy look without all the work,  this gold foil Wanderlust print  is to die for… and  it even comes in silver.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/78320481009306053/[/pin]

9. Travel shadow boxes

An arsty way to put your best photos, memories, stubs and more on display! This tutorial from Kelly Purkey shows you how to do it. Although I think the 20 euros in the corner here would be better spent on waffles.

PRO TIP: I’ve found that shadow boxes are always pricier at craft stores than online. Amazon has loads of affordable options. Click here to check them out!

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/80361174576241225/[/pin]

10. Upcycled hand-painted globe

Such a great way to breathe new life into an outdated globe! Click here to see a tutorial from Houseologie on how it’s done. BTW if you’re like “but I don’t have a globe”, let me shun your excuses with this wide selection of globes for under $20 on Amazon . You’re welcome.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/519813981975508903/[/pin]

11. Map and travel shelf

A great way to jazz up any shelf, especially one that’s holding travel souvenirs. Here’s an easy how-to from Home Road.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/335940453455740232/[/pin]

12. Souvenir showcase jars

I love this creative method of putting photos and souvenirs on display, especially for beach vacations. Here’s how you make them.

The snazzy sealable mason jars are easy to find too! You can easily get them in any size on Amazon. Click here to see the options.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/314970567693876414/[/pin]

13. Wooden travel map

Another great way to keep track of your travels. I love the cozy, wooden look and the hand-painted lettering. Here’s how you can make your own. 

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/255579347582861131/[/pin]

14. Mason Jar Map Ornament

This gorgeous Christmas ornament idea is the perfect way to upcycle some maps and mason jars! Check out this easy to follow tutorial via Happy Mothering for a step by step on how to make them:

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/12173861479584616/[/pin]

15. Easy DIY Passport Holder

Looking to make your own passport holder to keep your most beloved possession nice and safe? It’s actually not that complicated. This tutorial comes with a free sewing pattern that you can easily customize to suit your needs!

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/206813807874893666/[/pin]

16. Suitcase table

To be honest, if I had this adorable coffee table in my house I would probably never leave. Here’s how you make your own.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/142918988154383089/[/pin]

17. Postcard Recipe Box Dividers

A wonderful way to make use of the postcards you collect! These beautiful postcard recipe box dividers are seriously adorable , and a perfect way to preserve your best travel memories.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/231583605822616465/[/pin]

18. Map heart art

Simple yet so cute. Would be a cool idea to showcase your favourite parts of the world. Here’s House of Mahalo’s tutorial showing how you can have your own in a few minutes.

All you need is a map, some glue, and a cheap white frame ( here’s a nice one off of Amazon ).

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/671880838148333573/[/pin]

19. Travel cord organizer

As someone who has spent probably hours over her lifetime untangling cords, this brilliant DIY is a must for those constantly on the go. Here’s a tutorial on how to make one of these organizers for yourself, courtesy of Create and Craft.

[pin]https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/216032113361961175/[/pin]

If you’re still with me (and not already reaching for that Mod Podge and glue gun), thanks for reading!

Let me know in the comments if I’ve missed any of your awesome DIY travel-related projects. I’m always on the hunt for more to add on my list!

Fishing for more travel decor inspiration?

Click here for  16 ridiculously beautiful travel prints from Etsy .

My Go-To Travel Favourites:

🧳 Eagle Creek: My favourite packing cubes

💳 Wise: For FREE travel friendly credit cards

🍯 Airalo: My go-to eSIM

🏨 Booking.com: For searching hotels

📷 Sony A7IV: My (amazing) camera

✈️ Google Flights : For finding flight deals

🌎 WorldNomads: For travel insurance

🎉 GetYourGuide: For booking activities

49 thoughts on “19 Gorgeous Travel-Inspired DIY Projects”

Ahhh I loved this post! These are such great ideas! My favourites are the personalised photo map and the travel keepsake boxes… How cute! Amazing ways to keep our travel memories alive 🙂 x

This is absolutely amazing ! I loved the one where you attach photos to the countries that you visited! I will definitely try it out!

Great stuff! My daughter’s party theme this year is travel (she’s 4 and has been traveling all over the world!), and I might use some of these ideas. Thanks for sharing!

What an awesome theme for a birthday party!! I hope you take plenty of photos and blog about it 🙂 Can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

This is awesome! I love the photo wall, I’ve been collecting postcards as o go so that when I finally settle for more than 6 months I can do that! Great post 🙂

Thanks, Lauren! Yes isn’t the photo wall gorgeous? I used to collect postcards too but these days I prefer to just take photos of my own that I really love. My plan is to one day print my favourites out, frame them and make a massive gallery wall. So many ideas!! 🙂

Omg stop as soon as I have a home again after this trip I’m doing ALL OF THESE. I’m so stoked! Loved this post!!

What a great post! These are some great craft ideas… Totally pinning for later 😉 Thank you!

I love the travel jars – I actually started doing something very similar myself but with smaller craft jars. When I was about to leave the UAE where I had been living and working for eight months, I took some of the sand from our beach and our volleyball pitch and kept a few teeny tiny shells. I also looked after our fish tanks and had a pet hermit crab: when he met his final end, I kept his claw (possibly slightly weird?!) and the operculum from one of our snails that the before mentioned hermit crab ate, and stuck them all in the jar. I also had some absolutely tiny glass bottles for using in jewellery craft, and I put sand and two miniscule shells in them, and gifted them to my team before I left 🙂

Wow what a thoughtful and beautiful goodbye gift!! Those sound really beautiful, and such a good way to make use of souvenirs that would otherwise sit and collect dust. I’m guilty of hoarding random bits wherever I go, so to make them into something decorative would at least make my hoarding habit productive haha.

oh wow! love these ideas:)

Happy to hear that, Tanja!! Hope you get to try a few out.

Love this post! Definitely pinning it on my board “After Travel”. 🙂 How cute is the map and travel shelf?! Will be doing that myself! Once. If I have time. Love the wooden travel map as well, and the gallery wall of course! So many great ideas, so little time. Thanks for this awesome collection of great travel related DIY ideas!

An ‘After Travel’ board is such a good idea!! I find that surrounding myself with travel memories/travel-inspired decor helps a lot with post-holiday blues… that and obsessive Pinteresting of course haha.

oh my god!!! those are so amazing! love all of them so much! now i’ll need a bigger home to fit all of them into my place 😀 I actually do have a travel diy project as well where i live. it is a string art map pinned on my wall!

Oooh I’ve seen some of those online. They’re cool as well!! My friend has a corkboard map with custom location pins. It’s really neat.

I love these! 4 5 and 6 are my favourites! #6 is such a great way to store all though travel bits and bobs! ❤

So hard to pick favourites! But yes those ones are great… and honestly so simple and genius. I have tons of random things I’ve collected over my travels so it’s always good to find ideas on how to put them to use (rather than have them collect dust).

I love the ideas and I’m gonna save some of those for our future apartment decoration! I wish we had tons of old suitcases so I could make a coffee table for every single room!

Hahah that was my thought too… “Dang where do I buy vintage suitcases in bulk?” Happy crafting!! 🙂

Nice and inspiring post! I really love the globe :-).

Thanks Kimberley! Happy you liked it 🙂

Loving the ideas! I started doing a travel scrapbook about all my past travels 🙂

Ahh I used to love scrapbooking! I have a massive collection of papers and stickers but haven’t really sat down to make anything in the past few years. I should definitely get back into it.

So I’ve read this just as I’m settling in for a full day of work… Now all I can think about is travel and how much I want all of these things in my life… I applaud you for your distraction worth and wanderlust inducing post! Now, which should I make first? ;-P

Choosing is too tough so I would go with… all of them 😉

I love all of these ideas!

Thanks for reading, Rachel! 🙂

Whoa!!! I can’t wait to have a home base so I can do some of these wonderful maps haha

Haha cool map decor is one of the very few things that makes a travel blogger actually want a home base 😛

You made such an awesome list! I am definitely going to try atleast some of these out. You actually gave me a healthy amount of ideas for home- decor!

So many great ideas. Need to do that suitcase table

Wow some fantastic ideas here. Thanks. I already put pins in my map of the world but I love the idea of the luggage labels with the photos. I was wondering how to attach photos to the places in a nice way. I have now found my way. Another which jumped out at me is the suitcase table. So beautiful. Thanks you so much for sharing these wonderful ideas.

Some fantastic ideas here Christina! I love the idea of the keepsake boxes. They would be wonderful to look through years later.

These ideas are all so perfect I just want to do them all! I think I’ll start with the Postcard Travel Journal 🙂

I only need to decide now what project to start first! Love your collection of ideas and have shared on my fb page for my travel loving readers also 🙂 Annette

Thanks for sharing, Annette! 🙂

So many great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

You’re welcome! Thanks for reading 🙂

These are so cute!! I have a map and postcard obsession.

Haha same here! hope you got a few good ideas for future projects 🙂

This blog is really cool. I have bookmarked it. Do you allow guest post on your site ? I can provide high quality posts for you. Let me know.

Just found you through Meg Cale who mentioned you on Facebook!

Love this post and all about reading your Start Here and other posts!

Love these ideas!!

I love these ideas! My husband has been collecting globes for decades (think about that – he’s pretty old) and I am going to use these ideas to give his office some pizzazz. Here’s my question: Where do you even get maps these days? Everything is on the internet, even though I love maps. If you have suggestions, I would love to know. Thanks. Jean Ann

Hey Jean, that is awesome! He must have such a huge collection by now. RE: The maps – depending on what kind of maps you’re looking for, you can easily buy them online. Amazon would be a good bet I think!

Hey Christina your blogs are awesome! I can see you have 74k shares of this post on pinterest! Congrats!! Can you guide me on how you do such amazing work on pinterest?

Hey Sankalp, I actually run a social media blog with another amazing blogger (who is a Pinterest specialist). Check it out for loads of tips: https://slayingsocial.com/

Wow, these DIY projects are really beautiful. DIY projects are attracting me. So, I’m waiting for your upcoming DIY posts. Thank you for sharing this post.

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10 Great Travel Destinations for Art Lovers

From a japanese art island to a creative colony among ancient olive groves in israel, these are the global art towns, big and small, we’d happily visit..

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Art meets nature at Brazil’s Instituto Inhotim, home to one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the country.

Photo by Brendon Campos

New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Los Angeles, Florence, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, São Paulo—these cities are all home to blockbuster art markets, creative superstars, and museums as famous as the works they house. We love these places, but we also love art destinations outside of the art-world orbit: places with an air of mystery, a whiff of a pilgrimage, a winking nonconformity, a love of experimentation, and a tight-knit sense of community.

Read on for 10 great destinations, big and small, art lovers should bookmark for their next vacation.

‘Your Rainbow Panorama’ tops the AroS Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark.

Photo by Shutterstock

Aarhus, Denmark

In the heart of Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city and one of its oldest (dating to the 8th century), a colossal rainbow ring rises above the city. This is artist Olafur Eliasson’s installation, Your Rainbow Panorama, a walkway circling and capping the ARoS Art Museum, itself a jewel among Aarhus’s many cultural institutions. The museum is home to another art colossus, the crouching Boy sculpture by Australian artist Ron Mueck, and it hosts collections of Danish art from the 18 th century to today, as well as the work of international artists. Art lovers can wander among pieces by London-based, British-Palestinian Mona Hatoum, known for her probing and glowing installations; Japanese photographer Miwa Yanagi; and New York–based Tony Oursler, who has been innovating video and installation art since the 1970s.

In Aarhus, self-dubbed “Smilets By” (Danish for “City of Smiles”) and the “World’s Smallest Big City,” ARoS is just a jumping-off point for a smørrebrød (smorgasbord) of art destinations and happenings. Spiral out from the museum and see the city’s famous modern architecture, such as The Iceberg , a seaside apartment building that lives up to its name, and the grass-covered Moesgaard Museum . We love Charlotte Fogh Gallery , a Danish and international contemporary art gallery; the Højkant art collective and design shop full of cheeky creations; and the intimate PS Art Gallery and studio in a green, half-timbered, 17th-century home in the city’s Latin Quarter.

Juxtapose all this contemporary art and design with Den Gamle By (The Old Town), an open-air folk museum comprised of 75 historic buildings relocated from across Denmark, cobbled streets, and Danes dressed in period clothing baking bread and chopping wood. You can eat an actual smørrebrød here, as well as fried fish and frikadeller (Danish meatballs).

Chris Burden’s ‘Beam Drop’ (2008) was re-created at Inhotim; the original work was on display in New York in 1984.

Brumadinho, Brazil

Brumadinho is home to the Xanadu of the art world: the Instituto Inhotim , a contemporary art museum and sculpture park in a 346-acre private botanical garden founded by mining magnate and art patron Bernardo de Mello Paz.

Celebrating 15 years in 2021, the institute is one of the largest outdoor art spaces in the world, placing hundreds of giants of the art world alongside thousands of giants of the plant world, from octopus agave to ponytail palm and swamp cypress. The garden hosts more than 700 works by 60 artists, including Brazil’s own beloved boundary-defying Hélio Oiticica. As Oiticica intended, visitors can walk through his Magic Square #5 (1977), a colorful abstracted “public plaza” built of cement, glass, and stone. You could spend weeks wandering the grounds, a crash course in modern and contemporary large-scale art, studying the likes of Elisa Bracher’s eucalyptus and cedar wood Embrionário , going tête-à-tête with Paul McCarthy’s Pinocchio Block Head , gazing through Olafur Eliasson’s mirrored Viewing Machine, and falling in love with your own reflection at Yayoi Kusama’s Narcissus Garden Inhotim, 750 stainless steel orbs bobbing in a reflecting pool.

While the garden is the main draw, Instituto Inhotim has many noteworthy pieces in its indoor gallery as well, such as the blue-and-white tile room Celacanto provoca maremoto by Adriana Varejão , the sci-fi-inspired plant and mirror maze structure Vegetation Room Inhotim by Cristina Iglesias , and the enforested glass geodesic dome by Matthew Barney .

There are several places to eat across the sculpture park and the institute has many recommendations for nearby lodging, including Villa Rica , decorated with local art, or Villa Domaso , surrounded by lush nature.

Zeitz MOCAA has become a destination unto itself in Cape Town, South Africa.

Photo by Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock

Cape Town, South Africa

Rising from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with Table Mountain as a backdrop, is the world’s largest museum devoted to contemporary African art: the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa , commonly known as Zeitz MOCAA. First things first, the museum itself is a marvel , a towering structure revamped from the historic Grain Silo Complex with an interior that looks like an abstracted concrete-and-glass honeycomb.

Zeitz MOCAA is home to works by some of the continent’s leading artists such as Athi-Patra Ruga and Mary Sibande of South Africa, Njideka Akunyili Crosby of Nigeria, Ghada Amer of Egypt, and Nandipha Mntambo of Swaziland. The permanent collection also includes works by artists of the African Diaspora, like Kehinde Wiley and Frohawk Two Feathers, both of the U.S.

But Cape Town was an artist’s haven long before the arrival of MOCAA in 2017. The Woodstock neighborhood alone, with its pink town hall, is home to several renowned galleries dedicated to contemporary African artists including SMAC , Goodman Gallery , Stevenson Gallery (all of which have sister galleries in another top South African art destination, Johannesburg).

Cape Town is also delightfully crowded with public art, such as Es Devlin’s installation Zoetrope at the Waterfront and Arch for Arch, a woven wooden structure next to St. George’s Cathedral that honors Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The organization Baz Art hosts the annual International Public Art Festival , which in 2021 focused on painting murals in the Salt River neighborhood . There are also several art road trips worth taking from the Cape. Drive inland through mountainous wine country (many of the vineyards you’ll pass have their own fantastic art collections) to Stellenbosch, an oak-lined university town packed with art studios and the awe-inspiring Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden .

Mismatched pastel buildings that look like scoops of gelato along the water in Collioure, France.

Photo by Pani Garmyder/Shutterstock

Collioure, France

Legend has it that Henri Matisse said the quality of light is just different— magical —in Collioure, a laidback and ancient fishing town on the French Mediterranean 15 miles from Spain. Matisse and André Derain would summer here and become the first fauves (French for “wild beasts”), leaders of fauvism, the early 19th-century art movement known for its bold colors and brushstrokes, an unruly descendent of Impressionism. Matisse’s famous Open Window (1905) and Derain’s Fishing Boats (1905) were painted here, among many more fauvist works.

Collioure’s very petit harbor still captures the brilliant sunlight, bouncing off a 13 th -century castle and fortress and layers of mismatched pastel buildings that look like scoops of gelato along the water. Visitors can see the town through the artists’ perspectives along the Chemin du Fauvism, which features both empty bronze frames that outline the views of their most famous canvases, as well as reproductions. The Maison du Fauvism offers guided tours.

Keep cool with an actual scoop of gelato—countless gelaterias line the streets and try a bite of Catalan fare at Le Neptune overlooking the bay or the Templiers restaurant and hotel, a cozy spot with a bar made from a ship hull and walls lined salon-style with paintings.

Bronze sculptures by the residents of Ein Hod, Israel, dot the surrounding landscape.

Photo by Leonid Radashkovsky/Shutterstock

Ein Hod, Israel

Within hilly olive groves, tucked between the Mediterranean sea and Mount Carmel, is Ein Hod , a small artist colony established in 1953 by artist Marcel Janco , one of the founders of the avant-garde dada movement, which formed in reaction to World War I. Legend has it that Janco toured Israel, sketchbook in hand, and stumbled across the then-abandoned village and found it could be the perfect refuge for artists.

Today Ein Hod , 12 miles south of Haifa, has about 650 residents—mostly painters, sculptors, jewelers, architects, and artisans—and the landscape is dotted with their handiwork: outdoor bronze sculptures (look for Couple in a Sardine Can by Ben Levy), murals, studios, galleries, and workshops that offer classes for visitors. See the abstract colorations of Miriam-Ruth Sernoff Frohlich at the Sernoff-Frohlich Gallery Of Fine Art , the soulful book art of Nechama Levendel at the Karoyan Gallery , and the work of many locals under one roof at the Artists Gallery Ein Hod .

This tiny bohemian enclave is also home to two museums, the Nisco Museum of Mechanical Music and the Janco-Dada Museum , created in 1983 to honor the work and vision of the colony’s founder. This museum features the restored stone-arch studio of Janco and the DadaLab , where museumgoers can try their own hand at creating the absurdist, convention-defying art that defined this movement. Since 1990, Ein Hod has hosted an international Sculpture Biennale , inviting artists to install large-scale works outside amid ancient olive trees.

You can eat with the locals in one of the village’s classic stone buildings at Café Ein Hold. While larger hotels are available in nearby Haifa, Ein Hod itself offers a handful of quaint and eclectic apartments for rent, many with views of the Mediterranean.

Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art is

Photo by C. de la Cruz/Shutterstock

Hobart, Tasmania

Looking out from the Berriedale peninsula onto the River Derwent is the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), or as founder—businessman, art collector, and high-stakes gambler David Walsh—calls it: a subversive adult Disneyland.

MONA is as irreverent as its benefactor, its website describing the museum’s everchanging identity as a “really elaborate marketing stunt” and “somewhere people can come to say ‘not sure about the art but the architecture is amazing.’”

And many are not sure about the art : MONA has the work of some of the biggest shock jocks of the art world: Hermann Nitsch’s bloody 6-Day-Play videos and Wim Delvoye’s stinking waste machine that is Cloaca Professional, to name a few.

Regardless of your take, the museum has helped put Hobart’s art scene on the map, bringing deserved attention to other art spaces like the Art Mob , which specializes in Tasmanian and Australian aboriginal art by the likes of Queenie McKenzie and Dennis Nona. Across the harbor are the contemporary fine art Despard and Handmark galleries, the latter of which is part of the bustling Salamanca Arts Centre , a transformed warehouse space home to several galleries and exhibition spaces, a theater, and the jewelry and metal collective Hammer & Hand , as well as public art such as We Are Made of Stardust by Michaela Gleave and Escape Pod by Colin Langridge. Stay in the neighborhood at the Henry Jones Art Hotel , which features contemporary art by Tasmanian artists in its rooms.

Kilns have been firing in this hilly city of Jingdezhen, China, known as the “Porcelain Capital of the World.”

Photo by CYSUN/Shutterstock

Jingdezhen, China

Leading ceramics artists and students worldwide travel to Jingdezhen, China, the “Porcelain Capital of the World,” where the ruins of ancient kilns meet contemporary factories and galleries. For more than 1,700 years and many imperial reigns, kilns have been firing in this hilly city of Jiangxi province along the Chang River, where ceramic masters have innovated technologies to produce the most coveted china, such as the emblematic blue and white pottery developed during the Ming Dynasty.

The stunning Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum —shaped like ancient kilns in red brick, and the Jingdezhen Ceramic Industry Heritage Museum , help put the expansive history of this art industry in context. The industry, however, is alive and well today, cultivating the next generation of ceramicists at the renowned Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute and employing 30,000 people at outfits like the Porcelain Sculpture Factory in the Eastern suburbs or in the nearby Sanbao International Porcelain Art Village filled with artist studios and workshops. The Pottery Workshop , run by artist and curator Caroline Cheng , is an education center and hub for young artists in Jingdezhen, known as jingpiao . Every Saturday morning, the jingpiao sell their wares—traditional pottery, jewelry, contemporary art—at the Pottery Workshop Creative Market .

Countless ceramic artists and designers have their practices in the city such as Cheng herself, plus Wan Liya , Juz Kitson , Lin Wang , Robin Best , and Ryan LaBar . Walk down the Taoxichuan, known as the Ceramic Art Avenue, to peak into studios, galleries, and markets, and try some classic Jiangxi fare such as Lushan San Shi and fish banquets. The Fairfield by Marriot Jingdezhen hotel is near many of these attractions, and there are a handful of gorgeous Airbnb options .

An art lover’s trip to Japan has to include Naoshima in the Seto Inland Sea.

Photo by N_FUJITA/Shutterstock

Naoshima, Japan

There is a string of tiny flecks of land in the Seto Inland Sea that are teaming with museums, architectural marvels, and art installations. Naoshima, commonly referred to as Japan’s art island, home of the Benesse Art Site , leads the pack. Here, massive sculptures such as Lee Ufan’s Porte vers l’infini (2019) and Beatriz Millhaze’s Yellow Flower Dream (2018) dot the landscape creating a fine art playground. (Until recently, one of Yayoi Kusama’s massive pumpkin sculptures sat on a pier before a typhoon swept it out to sea . Benesse Art Site is in the process of restoring it.)

Then there are the museums and galleries: the mind-bending subterranean Chichu Art Museum designed by architect Tadao Ando housing works by Claude Monet and James Turrell; the Benesse House Museum , which melds a hotel and exhibition space with nature (with a restaurant serving kaiseki meals that rival the art for presentation); the kooky art facility Naoshima Bath where—you guessed it—visitors can take a bath surrounded by the artwork of Shinro Ohtake; and the Miyanoura Gallery 6 in the site of a former pachinko parlor once popular with islanders.

If you’re willing to island hop, head to Teshima to see large-format paintings in the Teshima Yokoo House (named for artist Tadanori Yokoo) and Inujima for an art museum housed in a old copper refinery .

You could spend a full day just exploring Georgia O’Keeffe’s artwork in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Photo by Fred Mays/Shutterstock

Santa Fe, New Mexico

One of the oldest cities in the U.S. (older than the country itself, with a founding date of 1607) Santa Fe and its iconic pueblo architecture encompass many art scenes and histories, from the vast indigenous collections of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) to the electro-pop experiences of Meow Wolf to the storied career of Georgia O’Keeffe who was so deeply influenced by the New Mexico landscape.

Housed in a historic Peublo Revival-style post office downtown, the IAIA’s Museum of Contemporary Native Arts stewards the National Collection of Contemporary Native Art, featuring 9,000 artworks created since 1962 including pieces by legends such as George Morrison, Helen Hardin, and Fritz Scholder. From here, walk past the Santa Fe Plaza to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to see up-close and personal Black Hollyhock Blue Larkspur (1930), Pelvis IV (1944), and Spring (1948), among others. O’Keeffe fans can stay at the Abiquiú Inn , next to the The O’Keeffe Welcome Center housed in the artist’s former home and residence.

Around Canyon Road, you’ll find 80-plus galleries including Turner Caroll Gallery —whose international roster of artists includes Judy Chicago, Wanxin Zhang, and Swoon; Nedra Matteucci Galleries with its renowned sculpture garden; and the art collective and gallery Cielo Handcrafted , with goods including stoneware ceramics, leather totes, and silver jewelry.

Down Cerrillos Road, follow the neon glow of Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return , an “explorable art experience,” a sort of dayglo haunted house with more than 70 immersive rooms.

The streets of tiny Todos Santos are full of galleries and shops stacked with handmade ceramics, metal work, and beautiful textiles.

Photo by Arturo Verea/Shutterstock

Todos Santos, Mexico

About 50 miles northwest of Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California peninsula lies the bohemian Todos Santos, oft-compared to a young Taos and one of Mexico’s “ Pueblos Mágicos ” (magical villages), a designation given to places that have preserved their original architecture, traditions, history, and culture. Surrounded by Mexican cardon, the tallest cacti in the world, and azure water where whale sharks pass, Todos Sontos is also home to a thriving artist enclave. February is a prime month to engage the local art scene with the annual weeklong Festival del Art and Todos Santos Open Studio Tour . However, visitors can stroll the old-town cobblestone blocks fluttering with papel picado year-round to see what artists are up to.

A great place to start is La Sonrisa de la Meurta , an international gallery and workshop (with a sister location in Belgium) featuring graphic arts—from limited-edition prints to card decks to handkerchiefs—printed by young and emerging Mexican artists. Nearby (everything is nearby in Todos Santos) are the Galería Arturo with Mexican artist Arturo Mendoza Elfeo ’s whimsical impasto and textured canvases, and Galería Logan , featuring American expat Jill Logan’s dreamy swirling canvases in sunbaked colors. For a historical perspective, stop by the Centro Cultural , housed in a red-brick former school with revolutionary murals dating back nearly a century.

The Hotel San Cristóbal makes for a chic home base in town, while Paradero Todos Santos could be your cultural retreat at the intersection of desert, mountains, and Pacific coast. At the hotel, and beyond, order any fish dish: Todos Santos began as a fishing town and fisherman still take their little panga boats out daily.

>>Next: 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites That Mix Nature and Culture

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© The estate of Julian Trevelyan

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© Tracey Emin

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Exploring the World through Art: Great Travel Finds on Etsy

By incorporating travel-themed art ideas into your kids room and your home, you can create a space that ignites imagination, nurtures curiosity, and celebrates the beauty of the world. Whether it’s iconic landmarks, maps, wildlife, cultural diversity, or personalized adventures, art can inspire a love for travel. Here is a quick round-up of some great travel themed art finds on Etsy.

Baby Loves to Travel is a participant in affiliate programs, such as Etsy Affiliates, meaning if you click the link, find something you love and get it, we’re going to make a small commission at no extra cost to you . For full details about our affiliate links please see our Disclosure Policy .

Travel Themed Nursery Art Prints

This beautiful set of travel themed art prints is designed to captivate both children and adults alike, creating a space that celebrates the love for travel and exploration. Each print showcases iconic landmarks, whimsical maps, and adorable travel-themed illustrations that will transport your kids to exciting destinations. Hang them in your nursery, playroom, or even family living space!

Vintage Travel Postcards

These gorgeous printable vintage style travel posters are great for teens. The digital collage kit contains 290 pieces and is great value for money. Each poster showcases unique destinations from the golden age of travel, allowing teens to curate their own travel-inspired gallery wall.

World Bucket List Scratch Off Poster

This World Bucket List Scratch-off Poster is perfect for adventurous families! Suitable for kids of all ages, this interactive poster allows them to scratch off each visited destination, unveiling a burst of vibrant colors and uncovering travel experiences. With over 100 iconic landmarks from around the world, this fun poster will inspire your family to embark on incredible journeys.

Organic Cotton World Map

Immerse your child in a vibrant world of discovery with this captivating World Map Wall Hanging ! Made from 100% organic cotton and bursting with colour, this interactive map showcases adorable animals across the globe and would be a great addition to any child’s bedroom or playroom. It is both educational and visually captivating!

Explore Nursery Wall Art

This delightful Explore Nursery Wall Artwork is the perfect addition to any nursery or playroom. With its whimsical designs and vibrant colors, it will inspire your little one to explore the world around them.

Adventure Awaits Light Pink & Gold Globe

Whether you’re planning your next family vacation or simply nurturing a love for travel, this beautiful hand-made Light Pink and Gold Globe is the perfect addition to inspire wanderlust. The globe has a light pink color ocean, countries outlined in gold foil and a gold base/stand- an elegant addition to any room! In addition, the seller offers a wide range of colours and styles to choose from.

Kids World Map Canvas

This beautiful and educational World Map Canvas Artwork is the perfect addition to any kid’s room or playroom. Featuring a large, colorful and detailed map design, it sparks curiosity about different countries, continents, and oceans. It will certainly inspire your child’s love for exploration and discovery!

Kids Scratch-off Bucket List Poster

How cool is this Kid’s Scratch-off Bucket List poster ?  It’s a perfect way to keep track and also plan for kid-frendly activities. It includes a variety of seasonal activities and low-budget options for the whole family to enjoy! I also love the ethos of the seller – “Kids grow up way too fast, and sometimes we forget to let them just be kids. Make sure to make time for each bucket list item, take lots of pictures, and enjoy every second.”

Personalized Travel Theme Growth Chart

Not only is this personalised travel theme growth chart a stylish addition to any kids’ space, but it also serves as a practical and fun way to track their growth. This artwork features iconic city landmarks from around the world, such as the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty.

Airplane Money Box

This custom Airplane Travel Money Box doubles as a stunning decorative piece for any young travel enthusiast. Crafted from a single piece of ash wood and with great attention to detail, the airplane design captures the excitement of globetrotting adventures. Kids can use it to store their spare change and savings, turning their travel dreams into reality!

Travel Theme Wall Art

Transform your little one’s nursery or playroom into a world of adventure with this set of 4 Travel Themed Nursery Wall Art . These city landscapes capture the essence of travel and exploration, igniting imagination and curiosity. The seller also has a whole range of beautiful travel themed artwork in different colors and styles.

Thank you for reading! You may also be interested in Exploring the World with Family: A Good Guide to Mobile Data Usage .

Baby Loves to Travel is a participant in affiliate programs, such as Etsy Affiliates, meaning if you click the link, find something you love and get it, we’re going to make a small commission at no extra cost to you . Please see our Disclosure Policy for further information.

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Hi, I'm Lisa. Welcome to Baby Loves to Travel, a resource about our adventures travelling the world. Baby Loves to Travel offers helpful travel tips and reviews, as well as advice on activities for kids in destinations around the world!

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Art that brings the world to your doorstep.

One man's adventures turned into beautiful steel art.

Discover steel works of art created by Andrzej Tylinski, a world traveler, each piece is made to bring the beauty of a far-away place into your home.

There is something special about experiencing the world through travel, and it's a unique opportunity that some people are lucky enough to experience.

But how do you capture that feeling? How can you share your adventures with others? Travelispired.art is the answer.

Created by a man who has traveled the world and experienced many cultures, his works of art out of steel express his travels in an entirely new way. This artwork captures the beauty of travel in a completely unique way, allowing viewers to experience it for themselves.  Architectural sculpture is his job now.

It disrupts traditional art categories by combining two passions - travel and art - into one beautiful expression.

The longer I live, the more beautiful life is. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will stay with you all the days of your life."

~Frank Lloyd Wright

In an age of artificial intelligence and repetitive products, the work of human hands carrying the soul of its creator and the spirit of the real world has tremendous vibration and power.

Discover art that's been inspired by every corner of the globe.

Life is a journey, and for some of us, that journey takes us around the world. What you see on this page is the way to capture those experiences and turn them into works of art. It's an expression of the grandeur of nature, the beauty of culture and the thrill of discovery.

Art should be a reflection of our lives, and it should tell our stories. TravelInspiredart does just that; it takes a man's experiences from his travels and turns them into beautiful, meaningful works of art.

It's an invitation to explore and discover; to take a journey, come back home, and tell the story with steel.

Interior decorations with his artwork will add to the depth of flavour we feel when we are free to travel.

Life is a journey, and for some of us, that journey takes us around the world.

Travelinspired.art is the brainchild of a man who has spent his life exploring the world and expressing his travels with works of art made out of steel. His works provide a unique glance at the world, highlighting locations and experiences we may not have been exposed to otherwise.

That's why he creates — to give greater exposure to ideas, sights and sounds found through our global experiences.

He uses steel as his medium because it conveys strength and durability, much like his travels, which have been tested and proven through time. It's an artwork that anyone can appreciate, regardless of age or gender or location.

Absolute Value

Art has a proven track record of holding its value and even appreciating over time, making it a smart investment for those looking to diversify their portfolios.

Past and Upcoming Exhibitions

Art without an audience becomes merely a hobby. It is the spectator who gives it value and legitimises it. Without the recipient, there is no art.

"There is beauty everywhere in the world, but it often requires us to explore and go beyond our everyday lives to truly appreciate it. To create a connection with this beauty, we need someone who has experienced it first-hand and can document and share it in a powerful way. That's what I keep trying to do - create steel works of art that capture breathtaking moments from around the world. Through these pieces, I encourages to go deeper than what we know and uncover beauty through exploration of the unknown — no matter where that may take us."

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For MCNY’s Centennial, an Exhibition Celebrating Stories Inspired by New York City

“this is new york: 100 years of art and pop culture" highlights the many ways in which the city has served as a potent muse to artists and creatives..

People associate New York City with the fine arts but often gloss over just how many iconic pop culture moments took place in this city. There’s the MTA bus that splashes gutter water on Carrie Bradshaw’s white tutu in the opening credits of Sex and the City. There are Jim Henson’s  Big Bird , Snuffleupagus and friends who call Sesame Street home (sidenote: the intersection between Broadway and West 63rd was officially renamed Sesame Street in 2019). There’s King Kong gripping the spire of the Empire State Building in one meaty paw and Ann Darrow in the other.

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Over the past century, these and countless other moments have unfolded in film, music videos, TV shows and plays, to the delight of New Yorkers and those outside its boroughs with a soft spot for the city.

The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY), located on the Museum Mile of Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side, opened in 1923 to provide visitors with a glimpse into the city’s pivotal history, its art and its essence. To celebrate the institution’s centennial, MCNY curators assembled “This is New York: 100 Years of Art and Pop Culture,” an exhibition complementing the permanent collection, “New York at its Core,” which has more than 250,000 objects representing the city’s past and present to show what makes New York the city that it is. 

“This is New York: 100 Years of Art and Pop Culture” is a four-part show of stories told through art, music, film, fashion and more. Overall, it demonstrates how the city has served as a muse for creatives who’ve captured the image and at times, swagger, of New York, and how in turn, the city influenced popular aesthetics not only locally, but on a global scale.

SEE ALSO: The Inspired and Revolutionary Pairing of Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore

The introductory gallery, “Tempo of the City,” is named after a black-and-white 1938 photograph by American photographer Berenice Abbott . The moment-in-time picture shows New Yorkers going about their daily lives in the urban landscape, illustrating how the city recovered both its workforce and its vitality after the Great Depression. The large clocktower in the image emphasizes the collective ‘rush’ we who dwell here are still in. The hustle and bustle the world associates with New Yorkers on crowded streets and subways is on full view here, with the underlying themes of the blessings and curses of being alone in a city of millions of people, as well as the juxtaposition of struggle and displays of wealth or joy found in often mundane moments: the people who stop to listen to subway performances and the children who flock to open fire hydrants in summer.

Subway No. 12 (1976), a screen print of a subway station filled with holes that represent blood cells, stands out. The artist, Japanese American Masaaki Sato , gifted his work to the collection and commented that he views the subway system as similar to the systems of the human body. Meanwhile, Richard Estes ’ photorealistic painting, M Train on Route to Manhattan Approaches the Williamsburg Bridge (1995), renders a solo train ride not only in imagery but also in feeling.

This section also showcases objects and works of the Puerto Rican diaspora in New York City, including the manuscript and filmed reading of Puerto Rican Obituary (1973) and a poem by Pedro Pietri (one of the figures in the Nuyorican cultural movement and the co-founder of Nuyorican Poets Café), as well as Easter Sunday Parade (Norman Rockwell Moment) (2001), a photograph by Máximo Colón, a New York-based Puerto Rican photographer whose work shows his passion for social justice and his culture. 

Songs of New York is an interactive installation with a map of the city divided into its five boroughs, each of which projects snippets of different music videos on the wall. Some of the featured artists inspired by the city include Frank Sinatra , Lana Del Rey , Madonna , the hip-hop duo of Queens Mobb Deep , Brooklyn rappers Nas and Jay-Z , and  Dominican Republic merengue group Los Hermanos Rosario , highlighting how New York is portrayed in music and in depictions of the New York experience.

Expanding on that experience are the “At Home in New York” and “Destination: NYC” sections, which explore the inner world of the city–showing visitors inside the domains of the many city residents, including their apartments, rooftops and family-owned businesses. It also provides insight into life outside the home in the places where the masses gather. We see the vibrant nightlife, the landmarks such as Times Square and city parks.

The exhibition ends with Scenes of the City , an installation in “You Are Here” that shows behind-the-scenes images of New York City films and gives insight into how they were made. There’s West Side Story (1961) and Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935), as well as a snapshot of Billy Wilder , director of The Seven Year Itch (1955) standing next to Marilyn Monroe above the windy subway grate during the filming of the unforgettable white dress scene . The grand finale of this section is the 16-screen film experience that highlights the many New York moments in Hollywood and independent films.

The Seven Year Itch (1955) by Sam Shaw; [L-R] Director Billy Wilder, Marilyn Monroe. 20th Century-Fox Film Corp./ Photofest “ This is New York: 100 Years of Art and Pop Culture ” is on view at the Museum of the City of New York through July 21.

• SEE ALSO : Why Defining Exactly Who Is and Isn’t an Artist Matters

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7 inspired museum exhibitions to see this summer

W hen it comes to planning your summer activities, "visiting museums" should be on the list right alongside "hitting the water park" and "going to the fair." Think that sounds like a bore? Think again! You can see the bling worn by your favorite hip-hop artists at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, view French modernist masterpieces by Renoir and Monet at the Portland Art Museum and get up-close and personal with Simone Leigh's bronze creations at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. From coast to coast, here are seven new exhibitions worthy of stopping at on your summer travels.

'Dalí: Disruption and Devotion,' Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Surrealist icon Salvador Dalí made a name for himself with his unorthodox imagery, but much of his technical skill and finesse came from studying traditional European painters. For "Dalí: Disruption and Devotion," 30 paintings and prints on loan from the Salvador Dalí Museum in Florida, including "Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory" and "Ecumenical Council," will be on display alongside portraits and still lifes by El Greco, Diego Velázquez and Orazio Gentileschi, exploring the links between Dalí and his predecessors. July 6-Dec. 1, 2024.

'Georgia O'Keeffe: My New Yorks,' Art Institute of Chicago

Before she found inspiration in the desert landscapes of the Southwest, Georgia O'Keeffe lived in the tallest hotel in New York City, where the metropolis sparked a "five-year period of energetic experimentation across media and at a variety of scales, with subject matter, form and perspective," the Art Institute of Chicago said. The artist christened these works "my New Yorks," and close to 100 paintings, drawings, photographs and pastels will be on display in the Institute's exhibition of the same name . June 2-Sept. 22, 2024.

'Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry,' American Museum of Natural History, New York City

You might want to wear your shades inside the American Museum of Natural History — the pendants, chains and arm bands on display for "Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip-Hop Jewelry" are that bright. This dazzling presentation includes accessories worn by some of hip-hop's biggest performers , with many having made cameos in music videos and on the red carpet, including Notorious B.I.G.'s gold "Jesus piece," Slick Rick's gem-covered crown, eye patch and five-foot long chain, Eve's Ruff Ryders necklace and one of Flavor Flav's many plastic clocks. Through Jan. 5, 2025.

'KAWS + Warhol,' The Warhol, Pittsburgh

The similarities between Andy Warhol and KAWS extend beyond both artists embracing color and referencing pop culture in their pieces. "KAWS + Warhol" examines the "dark themes present" in both of their work, bringing these undertones to light in the first-ever showing of the artists together. The exhibition also marks The Warhol's 30th anniversary, and the museum is going all out to celebrate, with KAWS unveiling a new series of paintings, sculptures and installations tied to his work with General Mills cereals. Through Jan. 20, 2025.

'Monet to Matisse: French Moderns,' Portland Art Museum, OR

The Portland Art Museum is going back to the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, when France was the "artistic center of international modernism" and masters Claude Monet and Henri Matisse stood in the middle of it all. Dozens of works by the artists and their contemporaries will be on view for "Monet to Matisse: French Moderns," including Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Age of Bronze" and Gustave Caillebotte's "Apple Tree in Bloom." The pieces are on loan from the Brooklyn Museum and include the handiwork of below-the-radar artists as well, like Jehan Georges Vibert and József Rippl-Rónai. June 8-Sept. 15, 2024.

'Simone Leigh,' Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the California African American Museum

Through ceramic, bronze and video, Simone Leigh creates works "exploring questions of Black femme subjectivity and knowledge production," LACMA said. Her art spans "historical periods, geographies and traditions" and references "vernacular and hand-made processes from across the African diaspora." This exhibition is the first broad survey of Leigh's pieces, displaying works she created two decades ago and also stunning pieces made for the 2022 Venice Biennale. May 26, 2024-Jan. 20, 2025.

'WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America,' Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA

Armed with her brushes, watercolorist Mary Whyte traveled across the U.S. to paint a large-scale portrait of one veteran in every state. All 50 faces she captured will be on view at "WE THE PEOPLE: Portraits of Veterans in America." It took seven years to complete the project, which saw Whyte meeting with vets of all ages and backgrounds , including a dairy farmer in Missouri, a science teacher in Pennsylvania and a single mom in South Carolina. July 6-Nov. 17, 2024. 

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How to Navigate London’s Wondrous (and Very Big) V&A Museum

Paintings, ceramics, photography, fashion, furniture and more: The Victoria and Albert Museum is a treasure trove of art and design. Here’s one besotted visitor’s plan for taking it all in.

By Andrew Ferren

Andrew Ferren, a frequent contributor to the Travel section, has visited the V&A dozens of times and looks forward to exploring the new satellite buildings when they open in East London in 2025.

Even for someone who loves getting lost in museums — especially “everything museums” like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York — London’s Victoria and Albert Museum might have been my Waterloo. The statistics are daunting: 5,000 years of artistic production with more than 60,000 works on view (from a collection of some 2.8 million) in about 150 galleries beneath 21 acres of roof.

The V&A typically draws around 3 million annual visitors, but even on the busiest days, the museum has the space and setup to largely avoid the sense of competing with the crowds. Since visiting the permanent collection is free (some exhibitions cost up to 20 pounds, or about $25), once you’re in the door you can just start wandering. Step right for medieval mosaics and Renaissance tapestries or go deep for 1940s Paris fashion, Baroque sculpture and, beyond that, Buddhist art.

It’s easy to spend an entire day in the V&A. Here’s a plan for making the most of your visit. But first a bit of background.

An eclectic treasure trove

If the British Museum is known as Britain’s attic — an abundance of artistic and cultural relics from the realm and around the globe — then the V&A is the country’s classroom. It, too, is a trove of exemplary works, from exquisite Raphael drawings to groovy 1970s plastic radios; Coptic tunics to Alexander McQueen couture gowns; vividly hued Islamic tiles to a bunch of grand English beds. These objects were displayed not just to delight connoisseurs, but to provide great art and ideas to educate British designers, manufacturers and workers in good taste and technical prowess.

The museum was the pet project of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, who had seen firsthand that British manufactured goods were not always top of the class. By displaying applied arts (textiles, ceramics, glass and other manufactured objects) alongside fine arts (architecture, painting and sculpture), the new museum would democratize aesthetic appreciation and inspire better designs for better products.

Originally known as the South Kensington Museum, the V&A opened in 1857 in temporary structures while new buildings were constructed. Incorporated into the new museum were libraries and schools for science and art, including one for women. The leading artists of the time, such as Frederic Leighton and William Morris, contributed to its décor. Such was its embrace of modernity, that the world’s first museum exhibition of photography (the medium was “invented’ only in the 1820s) was held here in 1858.

Though Prince Albert died in 1861, the museum continued to expand. In 1899, Queen Victoria laid the cornerstone of a grand new entrance wing along Cromwell Road and renamed the complex the Victoria and Albert Museum.

If that sounds fusty, it’s not. More than 165 years after its opening, the V&A’s pioneering spirit hasn’t faded. Its fashion blockbusters, like “Naomi: In Fashion,” celebrating the model Naomi Campbell (opening June 22), are must-see shows. And its outreach programs, studio classes and parties engage the public as few museums do. Recently, the V&A’s reach has been growing, with offshoots such as the Scottish V&A Dundee , a kid-centric Young V&A and two new museum buildings — one featuring nearly 250,000 works — opening in East London in 2025.

Many contemporary artists and designers claim the V&A as among their favorite museums, and one to which they return again and again. Though neither artist nor designer, I, too, claim the V&A as a favorite museum and have visited dozens of times, often for less than an hour just to wow my young kids with the monumental plaster casts of European monuments or even just to get out of the rain.

But I knew there were still sections I’d never visited. So, after an absence of three years, I spent a day there and came up with a game plan for others to navigate those vast halls.

Get there at 10 a.m., when the doors open, so you can breeze through the ground-floor galleries while they are still virtually empty and then head to more remote parts.

Since fabrics are fragile and fade, the fashion exhibits are changed regularly and there’s always something fresh and engaging to see. From there, wind past the entrance through the arts of Asia, from the elegantly simple furniture of Ming China to the intricately carved lacquerware of Japan, to the eye-poppingly vivid blue tile reliefs and stunning silk carpets such as the 16th-century Ardibil carpet from Persia.

Then into the Cast Courts, three huge galleries packed with full-size reproductions — plaster and metal casts — of sculptures and building fragments from around Europe. Exact copies of medieval tombs line the floor while masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David, Trajan’s Column and Renaissance church facades rise toward the ceiling. One can easily get stuck here, awed by the scale and charmed by the concept of corralling massive replicas from across the centuries into a playground for architecture buffs.

From there it’s an easy slide into the adjacent medieval and Renaissance galleries, which cover Europe from 300 to 1600, and where the colorful fourth- and fifth-century tapestry fragments on view or the radiant gold-backed mosaics from Ravenna, Italy, reveal that the Dark Ages were not entirely devoid of light and color.

The later galleries reveal just how connected and sophisticated many parts of Europe were in the Renaissance. Exquisite regional products — metalwork and armor from Germany, shimmering lusterware ceramics from Spain, tapestries from Brussels — became sought after on an international marketplace.

Carving your own path

In such a sprawling museum, there is no single logical or even chronological path to follow. For many, that’s part of the V&A’s appeal: the quirky juxtapositions one encounters roaming its six floors (the ground floor is numbered zero, so the “fourth floor” is actually the fifth level; the V&A also has a -1 basement level).

So on my visit, once the galleries started filling up at midday, I took the elevator to the remote fourth-floor ceramics galleries and then made my way to the lower floors.

On the fourth floor, it feels as if virtually everything ever made of clay or porcelain — Ming, majolica, Meissen, you name it — is displayed in floor-to-ceiling cases, including stacks of Chinese bowls salvaged from a ship that sank in 1400 off the Malay Peninsula.

Just when you think one can’t stretch the clay any further, you get to a display about Josiah Wedgwood and his innovative Jasperware that became the rage around the world in the 18th century. (The V&A also has an outpost in Stoke-on-Trent dedicated entirely to Wedgwood). The remaining fourth-floor galleries showcase furniture from the last 600 years.

The third floor offers a similar range of media and epochs — from international glass in all its facets to architectural models. One might expect Venetian Murano glass to reign supreme, but the quirky and colorful 18th-century German enameled glass, as well as green-hued glasses and goblets adorned with blobs of glass steal the show.

On the second floor, a network of long galleries offers deep dives into religious stained glass, small-scale bronze sculptures, English paintings and drawings, as well as tapestries. Nearby, gorgeous murals by Frederic Leighton push the V&A propaganda in themes like “The Arts Applied to War” and “The Arts Applied to Peace.”

Also on the second floor, the Photography Center recently expanded its galleries to become Britain’s largest photography exhibition center. Part of a display called “Design: 1900-Now,” features a recent acquisition: a store-bought snorkeling mask that had been adapted by an Italian designer into a functioning oxygen mask during the darkest days of the Covid crisis in 2020.

In a country famous for its crown jewels, the V&A’s spot-lit jewelry gallery packs in everything from fifth-century Byzantine bracelets to jaunty 1970s body jewelry. Standouts include the Townshend jewels — a virtual encyclopedia of gemstones, from colored diamonds to opals, each set in individual rings and displayed in swirls of brilliant color.

And finally, stretching almost across the entire second floor is a display of every imaginable type of ironwork. Seeing these works, such as the monumental 19th-century Gothic Revival choir screen from Salisbury Cathedral, calls to mind the Goethe quote that “architecture is frozen music.”

Take a break then keep going

Even if you’re not hungry, head to the ground level to the Refreshment Rooms, the world’s first museum cafe, which opened in 1868. Designed by the leading talents of the day — James Gamble, William Morris, Philip Webb, Edward Burne-Jones and Edward J. Poynter — the original decoration remains largely intact, a snapshot of Victorian modernity. Back in the day, each room had a different menu and proposed clientele, but today, for about £10, visitors can choose from a buffet of hot English fare, quiches, sandwiches, beer, wine or soft drinks, and take their meal into whichever room they find most pleasing.

Back in the galleries, I had saved what I considered the best for last: some two dozen British galleries (spread between levels 1 and 3) that tell the country’s history from the Tudors to the Victorians through paintings, furniture, clothing, musical instruments, textiles and truly fabulous beds, including the Great Bed of Ware, a massive four-poster built in 1590 for an inn. It measures nearly 11 feet on each side, supposedly able to accommodate four couples. Centuries-old graffiti covers practically every plank, and its fame merited a mention in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”: “… as many lies as will lie in thy sheet of paper, although the sheet were big enough for the bed of Ware.”

And then finally, the most extraordinary works in the museum, shown in a cathedral-like space: the famous Rafael cartoons for the tapestries that were created to adorn the Sistine Chapel in 1515-16. Commissioned by Pope Leo X, Raphael painted the designs on paper, which would have been used as the guide for the weavers to follow. Now owned by King Charles III and considered among the greatest works of Renaissance art, they were created as part of a manufacturing process, so it seems wholly appropriate they are on loan to the V&A, where fine art and manufacturing go hand in hand.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

The Alaska Highway:  On an epic road trip, a family plots a course from Alaska to the Lower 48, passing through some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery .

Minorca:  Spend 36 hours on this slow-paced Spanish island , which offers a quieter and wilder retreat than its more touristy neighbors.

Japan:  A new high-speed train stop unlocks Kaga, a destination for hot springs, nourishing food and traditional crafts , as an easy-to-reach getaway from Tokyo.

London:  The Victoria and Albert Museum is a treasure trove of art and design. Here’s one besotted visitor’s plan for taking it all in .

Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum

In 2023, the Van Gogh Museum celebrated its 50th anniversary. To mark this milestone, Pokémon and the Van Gogh Museum launched an official collaboration aimed at introducing new audiences to the work of Vincent van Gogh.

On 27 September 2023 the official launch event took place in the museum with members of the press, influencers, and museum staff. From 28 September 2023 until 7 January 2024 children could enjoy various Pokémon themed activities at the museum.

The partnership was based on the shared link with Japanese art and culture: Pokémon is a Japanese pop culture icon, and Japanese prints were a significant source of inspiration for Vincent van Gogh.

The Pokémon themed activities included:

Pokémon paintings on view

Artists Naoyo Kimura (1960), sowsow (1988) and Tomokazu Komiya (1973) made Pokémon paintings inspired by famous works by Vincent van Gogh, such as Pikachu inspired by Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat , Munchlax & Snorlax inspired by The Bedroom , and Sunflora inspired by Sunflowers .

Pokémon Adventure & Drawing Pikachu

Children aged six and above could participate in the Pokémon Adventure at the museum, which introduced them to the Pokémon paintings and the stories behind Vincent van Gogh’s masterpieces.

Furthermore, a guided video activity was available in the museum that taught young visitors how to draw fan favourite Pokémon Pikachu, and encouraged them to try this for themselves.

Pokémon Adventure treasure hunt along the Pokémon paintings

Left: Pikachu inspired by ‘Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat’, Naoyo Kimura (1960), The Pokémon Company International, ©2023 Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK. Right: Vincent van Gogh, ‘Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat’, 1887, Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation).

Teaching material

An (online) lesson exploring the relationship between Van Gogh and Japanese artists was developed for primary and secondary schoolchildren. Vincent van Gogh was a great admirer of Japanese prints. He liked the large areas of strong colours, the everyday subjects, and the focus on details from nature.

The teaching material is available in Dutch and English in the lessons overview at the educational platform Van Gogh at School until the end of 2026.

Exclusive merchandise

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Photographers suggest seven natural wonders to visit if you've been inspired by aurora australis

If your social media feeds are anything like mine, you've seen a lot of breathtaking pictures of the aurora australis this week.

If you're not ready to quit your day job and become a full-time aurora hunter, what are some natural phenomena that are a little more predictable to chase down?  

Three landscape photographers share their favourite natural wonders to inspire your next trip.

The turning of the fagus — Cradle Mountain, lutruwita/Tasmania

Photographer Nathan Mattinson says Australia is "spoiled" when it comes to natural landscapes and phenomena worth visiting.

Based in Naarm/Melbourne last year, he visited the Cradle Mountain area for the annual "turning of the fagus".

It takes place in late April and May when the state's only winter-deciduous native tree — the Tasmanian fagus — transitions from green to orange, marking the autumn season.

It's a popular attraction in the area, and he says around Anzac Day is the best time to see it.

Nathan says you can be rewarded by travelling further afield in Tasmania but the accessibility of Cradle Mountain is "unreal".

"You can take a bus to the doorstep," he says.

A sunset in the snow — Mount Feathertop, Country of the Taungurung and Gunaikurnai people/Victoria

Nathan also recommends the Victorian high country, with a special shout-out for Mount Feathertop.

"When you're around Mount Feathertop … in the snow and you're seeing that red sun go down on the snow — that's pretty special."

He notes that the snow season can make it less accessible.

Alternatively, you could drive through Mount Hotham, along the Great Dividing Range, to see Mount Feathertop and Mount Bogong covered in snow.

He says if Victorians can pay attention to when it's forecast to snow at a lower level they can also "get treated to a show" at places closer to Melbourne, such as Mount Donna Buang.

Kakadu National Park, Country of the Bininj and Mungguy people/Northern Territory 

For Louise Denton, a photographer and author of 'Discovering Natural Northern Territory' based in Darwin on Larrakia land, Kakadu National Park is a "special place".

There's so much diversity in such a small area, but when pushed, Louise says the eastern side of Kakadu is her favourite.

"[It's] where all that sort of really unique rock country is, you've got heaps of like endemic species that are found only in that area.

"[There are] significant Aboriginal sites around there as well, unique rock formations and imposing rock formations and loads of little pockets of rainforest within the really sheltered tall areas… it's just magic."

There are ways to explore areas with cultural sensitivity , including joining an Indigenous-run tour or enlisting an Indigenous guide.

It's about a three hours from Darwin, and while the park is expansive it's fairly easy to navigate with enough time.

She also warns, "don't just go to a place and expect to instantly see a photo, spend a bit of time there".

Litchfield National Park, Kungarakan country/Northern Territory 

Louise says most visitors come to the Top End during the dry season for obvious reasons — swimming, walking, open four-wheel-drive tracks.

While it's not for everyone, Louise says there's something to be said for the wet season, with its "really unpredictable light" and "rain and lightning".

In the wet season, she went to Litchfield National Park with the intention of "photographing a storm".

"At the end of the day I hung around for sunset and I got like rainbow and sunset colours over one of the waterfalls."

One of the strengths of Litchfield, Louise says, is that it's an easy and straightforward drive from Darwin — and only about 90 minutes.

Sapphire Coast, Country of the Yuin-Monaro Nations/New South Wales

Nathan says "sunrises and sunsets are always pretty spectacular" along the Sapphire Coast.

He says you can really enjoy the area at any time of year, but if you're looking to make a road trip of it, summertime is probably best so you can enjoy swimming along the way.

The coastline is "rich with geomorphology and geomorphic features", Nathan says naming Horsehead Rock and Camel Rock specifically.

"The New South Wales coastlines are really special because you can drive up to a lot of those natural features."

The coastline stretches for about 90 kilometres along southern New South Wales and is half way between Melbourne and Sydney.

Tamar River/ Kanamaluka, lutruwita/Tasmania

Mike Turner, photographs under the alias of Michael David as a bit of a "side hobby". His job as a pilot allows for some pretty enviable travel – and equally enviable photography opportunities when he's not in Naarm/Melbourne.

Mike says he's visited Launceston's Tamar River multiple times, but the first time on a cold foggy morning was the best.

"It was spectacular," he says.

"Super tranquil, super peaceful. There was a swan that was in the water right in front of me."

He says the fog made it "isolating in a beautiful sort of way".

A little bit of planning can go a long way according to Mike even if you want to photograph something that's definitely going to be there — unlike the aurora australis.

"I had read the forecast the night before and I knew that it was going to be a really spectacular foggy morning."

Wilson's Prom, Country of the Boonwurrung, Bunurong and Gunaikurnai groups/Victoria

Nathan also recommends Wilson's Promontory National Park, the southernmost tip of mainland Australia.

"White, white sandy beaches with, turquoise water."

"It's got mountains, it's got hiking, it's got big really lovely beaches," Nathan says.

He concedes "[Western Australia] has a few of those beaches as well" but for the Victorian it's a "magical place".

It's not hard to see why it makes for a spectacular photo, and restorative place about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Melbourne.

A case for sticking close to home

Mike says anyone looking to snap an incredible picture, "keep your eyes open and your ear to the ground".

It's a skill you can learn, he says.

"The unexpected beauty of an everyday location, captured in the right light, subject moment and perspective, is the holy grail for me.

"You also need to be willing to stop the car, or plan ahead, so that you can jump at the opportunities that do and don't happen every day."

So for a great picture, Mike says to consider having a look around in your own backyard if travel isn't on the cards.

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• Cradle Mountain
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• Travel and Tourism (Lifestyle and Leisure)