When you preserve special memories, it can be like taking a trip to the past every time you look at them. You can relive the moment and the emotions you felt at the time. It’s a way to keep the people and places you love close to you, even when they’re far away.

Preserving memories can also be a way to connect with future generations. When you keep memories, you’re creating a legacy that can be passed down to your children and grandchildren. They can learn about your life and the things you loved.

There are many fun ways to keep your recollections from your vacations and other special times alive. Here are 10 of our favorites:

1. Take Lots of Pictures

Clearly, photos are a great way to remember your travels. But don’t just leave them stored on your phone or camera. Print them out and craft a photo album or scrapbook, or better yet, make a photo wall in your home. This is an effective way to share your experiences with guests and bring joyful energy into your home.

2. Keep a Journal

A journal is a simple way to capture the events of your trip and your thoughts and feelings about them. Write every night before bed, or just whenever you have a chance. You can even store them on your bookshelf to bring down for the future grandkids; just make sure you’re well equipped with the proper modern library ladders!

3. Ship Out Some Postcards

Send yourself (or someone special) a postcard from each place you visit. It’s a fun way to keep in touch and have a physical reminder of your trip.

4. Collect Maps

Maps make unique wall decorations and conversation starters, whether it’s a map of the world showing where you’ve been, or a more detailed map of a specific country or city. This will also help you navigate as you experiment with the benefits of spending more time outdoors.

5. Bring Home Momentos

Collect things like ticket stubs, leaves, shells, or anything that reminds you of your trips. You can insert them in a scrapbook or shadow box or keep them in a jar or container.

6. Buy Local Styles on Your Trip

What better way to celebrate a trip than by wearing a piece of clothing from it? Nothing will take your visual senses back to Japan like a kimono, or have you feeling like you’re back on the beaches of Samoa like a traditional pareo.

7. Learn New Recipes

Cooking (or eating) the food of a different country is a sensual way to bring back memories. And it’s a delicious way to experience a new culture, too!

8. Discover Music From Other Cultures

Nothing compares to listening to the tune of a different culture to take you back to that place: the sounds of a sitar, the beat of a conga drum, the tang of a berimbau. Every culture has its own traditional set of instruments, all of which can help you feel the heart of civilization. If you’re vacationing abroad, take a break from Spotify and check out the local music, you might even find a new playlist for back home.

9. Check Out the Local Art

Taking the time to appreciate art is an intimate way to experience cultures you’re unfamiliar with. From the paintings of Diego Rivera to the pottery of Oaxaca, Mexican art is some of the most vivid and colorful in the world. Regardless of the destination, there is always human creativity and innovation to enjoy. With the cunning architecture of China or the generational skill and beauty of African embroidery, you’ll be able to find inspiration and talent in all parts of the world.

10. Make New Friends

Of course, the best way to experience a culture is by interacting with the people there. Whether you’re chatting with a shopkeeper or joining in a game of dominoes, getting to know people outside of your hometown will give you a richer understanding of what defines them.

It should be easy to hold on to your memories of your travels and adventures with these thoughts in mind. They will always be a reminder of your unique experiences.