There's no shortage of amazing places around the world to travel. Regardless of why people travel, there's a trip to fit it. For some people, it's wildlife spotting or exploring archaeological wonders. For other people, it's all about the shopping. And there's always the option of just lying on the beach and soaking up some sun. But a trip to explore your own family history can be even more special. That's what the new roots travel trend is all about.
Many people who grow up in places distant from their long-term ancestry can feel a disconnect from that same place. There's something special about standing where your roots originally grew, possibly even meeting current biological family members you didn't know existed. Reconnecting with those roots is increasingly becoming a driving factor in deciding where to go on vacation.
Planning a roots travel trip, sometimes referred to as heritage travel, does require a different sort of planning from other vacations. Significant family history research needs to be done. In some cases, people are even conducting DNA tests to figure out where in the world they should be directing their efforts. Americans in particular are embracing this form of travel. Excluding Indigenous Americans, much of the population traces their pre-colonization lineage back to Europe, Africa, or China.
It's important to understand that roots travel is not a typical form of tourism. Planning and executing such trips are personal experiences that differ greatly from person to person, not to mention family history to family history. One such example is African Americans who might have family connections to explore in Africa. Such investigations of the past can lead to difficult realizations but also profound ones, making roots travel so much more than a vacation.