Traveling isn’t just about sightseeing—it’s about making memories and experiencing new places in unique ways. Whether you’re with family or friends, there are plenty of creative activities you can do on your trip to immerse yourself in local culture and create meaningful souvenirs. Here are 15 fun, creative things you can do when you travel, with examples from my own adventures:
1. Press Local Flowers
Pick wildflowers from roadsides, parks, or even tourist kiosks and press them in a book or travel journal. Keep them flattened in your bag with rubber bands or binder clips, and when you return home, arrange them in a frame as a keepsake.Example: On a trip, I picked roadside wildflowers and pressed them into a magazine, then framed them as a memory of that trip.
2. Create a Photo Series
Capture a recurring theme in your travel photos. Whether it’s doors, rooftops, or street art, create a collection that captures your travels from a unique perspective.Example: My husband always tried to find secret routes to hotel rooftops. Now we have a black-and-white photo wall at home showcasing our favorite travel scenes from Sedona, Orcas Island, and the Mojave Desert.
3. Take a Local Craft Class
Immerse yourself in local culture by signing up for a creative class, whether it's pottery, leatherworking, or painting. It’s a great way to pass time and learn something new.Example: In Lyon, France, I took a leather bag-making class during a rainy day. Even though my French isn’t great, the experience was a perfect way to learn something new while staying connected to local culture.
4. Make Mosaics or Other Local Crafts
Find a craft studio that offers hands-on workshops like mosaics, candle-making, or jewelry crafting. It’s a fun way to learn a local skill and leave with something handmade.Example: In Barcelona, my family and I spent a morning making mosaics. It gave us a new appreciation for Gaudi’s work and left us with souvenirs from the trip.
5. Forage for Local Foods
Depending on where you travel, foraging can be a great way to experience nature and gather ingredients for a meal. From blackberries to mushrooms, foraging offers a hands-on way to engage with your surroundings.Example: In the Pacific Northwest, we foraged for blackberries with the kids and grandparents, which resulted in scratches, laughs, and enough berries to make a delicious cobbler.
6. Grill or Cook with Local Ingredients
If you’re staying in a vacation rental with a kitchen, take the opportunity to visit local markets and cook a meal using fresh, regional ingredients.Example: During a stay in Paciano, Umbria, we grilled a massive steak from the local butcher in a traditional stone oven. The whole experience—from visiting the butcher to grilling under the Umbrian sunset—was unforgettable.
7. Make DIY Wine Glass Markers
Bring a creative craft with you, such as shrinky dinks, to make personalized wine glass markers. It’s a fun group activity that leaves everyone with a keepsake from the trip.Example: During a girls’ trip to Napa, we used shrinky dinks to create our own wine glass markers, ensuring no one lost track of their glass.
8. Paint or Sketch Local Scenery
Bring along a small set of watercolors or sketchbooks and spend an afternoon capturing the local landscape. This can be a peaceful, relaxing way to connect with the beauty of the place you’re visiting.Example: In Chamonix, my kids and I sat with watercolors trying to paint the stunning mountain skyline. The quality of the art didn’t matter as much as the quality time we spent together.
9. Doodle or Journal
Use downtime on planes, trains, or in cafes to doodle or journal. Capture your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in real time, giving you a creative outlet to reflect on your travels. Journaling is a great way to preserve memories for years to come.
10. Dance to Local Music
Whether it’s joining in on a local dance tradition or simply enjoying live music at a nearby pub, dancing is a great way to feel part of the community.Example: You could try country line dancing in Ireland or tango in Spain for an immersive local experience.
11. Visit Free Museums and Try Copying a Painting
Many cities have free museum days where you can explore world-class art collections without spending a dime. Bring a notebook and try to copy one of the paintings—this helps you slow down and truly appreciate the artwork.
12. Join a Cooking Class
Gather ingredients from a local market and challenge your travel companions to create a dish with them. This is a fun way to explore local flavors while encouraging creativity.Example: You and your friends could each choose three ingredients for the other to incorporate into a dish, turning a simple meal into an adventure.
13. Create Shrinky Dink Luggage Tags
Before your trip, bring along sheets of shrinky dinks and acrylic paint pens to design your own custom luggage tags. They’re practical, fun to make, and add a personal touch to your travel gear.
14. Make Felt Eye Masks or DIY Bath Products
Bring along the supplies to make felt eye masks or bath products like scrubs or soaps. This is a great way to pamper yourself on the go while creating something unique.Example: You could create cucumber or avocado eye masks using simple ingredients you pick up locally.
15. Try a Food-Based Craft, Like Chocolate Bombs or Dessert Kits
Kitchens can be gathering spots, especially when you’re on a group trip. Bring along baking mixes or a chocolate kit to create treats with your friends or family.Example: On Airbnb, I’ve seen guests bring cookie mixes or chocolate bomb kits, turning dessert-making into a group activity.
Conclusion
From crafting to foraging, there are endless ways to add a creative spin to your travels. Not only do these activities help you connect with local culture, but they also create lasting memories and one-of-a-kind souvenirs to take home. Try incorporating one (or a few) of these ideas into your next trip, and see how creative travel can bring you closer to the places you visit and the people you travel with.
For more ideas check out Airbnb’s “Experiences” for the area you will be visiting. You don't have to be renting an Airbnb or use it and it saves lots of time. Also check out Viator and TripAdvisor.
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