It’s the beginning of summer vacation season so why not combine a research trip with your plans to visit family members, friends, or places. Or you could just plan a vacation around genealogy at any time of the year.

The Virginia Genealogical Society offers The Virginia Institute of Genealogical Research (VIGR), in Richmond, July 6-10. For additional information, you can contact Virginia Genealogical Society: mail@vgs.org

Elderhostel, which bills itself as “the world’s largest educational and travel organization for older adults,” offers some opportunities for persons just getting started with genealogy and for the veterans.

In August, a program “Starting Out in Genealogy” is scheduled at the John C. Camp-bell Folk School in nearby Brasstown, N. C., www.folkschool.org/elderhostel.html. This study opportunity promises to instruct in the basics of genealogical research, including vital records and Census data, courthouse research, religious/cemetery records, military records, passenger and immigration/naturalization data, plus tools of the 21st century.

In October, Mountain Lake near Blacksburg will host an Elderhostel program in “Beginning Genealogy.” The program promises an introduction to the Family History Center, an impressive genealogical research center with hardcopy material and computer links to enormous databases containing official records.

Also in October, Elderhostel has scheduled “Gentry, Middling Sort and Slaves-Genealogy in Colonial Virginia” at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg.

You can learn more about the Elderhostel programs at Elderhostel’s site (put “genealogy” in the search box): www.elderhostel.org/welcome/home.asp or call toll-free 877-426-8056 or send an e-mail to Registration@elderhostel. org.

Other opportunities can be found through The National Genealogical Society, which has a London trip in October and November (phone 800-473-0060), and the University of North Carolina School of Library and Information Science, which has a trip to Prague this month (phone 919-962-8366).

Whether you are taking a trip with family or friends or on your own, it’s important to plan ahead.

If you are the only genealogist in your group, make arrangements with your travel companions to allow you time to visit a library or courthouse while they are at a zoo or play. And, if you are staying with friends or family, don’t forget to tell the people you are visiting that you want to take some time for genealogy research. Otherwise you may hurt the feelings of your host or hostess.

Once you know where you are going, decide which branch of the family or whom you can research at that location. Next, make a list of the people you want to check on. Go through your files at home and pull out the information you have on these individuals and make copies of the pages you want to take along. Originals should be left at home.

Make another list of the information you want to find for each person. Include places you will be most likely to find the information. These include local libraries, archives, genealogical societies, historical societies, courthouses, churches, cemeteries, funeral homes, and schools, to name but a few. Find out ahead of time which resources are available in the area you will be visiting. Use the Internet to find websites for libraries, historical societies, and courthouses. If a library’s catalog is on the web you can find out what is available on your family or if a particular book is available – a family history, for example. Check on hours of operation and directions. Libraries and historical societies sometimes have e-mail contact information on their websites.

It’s good to have a contact in a new place so I advise you to get in touch with someone and make appointments when you can. Always call ahead if you have additional questions.

Things to take along include blank pedigree charts, family record sheets and other genealogical forms and office supplies you regularly use. Also, take the digital camera and laptop computer if you have them. By calling ahead you will know if there are connections for your computer and how much it costs to make copies of documents.

Remember to do as much at home as possible. By searching resources in your local library or Family History Center before you leave you will not waste time on your research trip looking at things you have available to you at home. Lastly, make alternate or contingency plans. This way you will have something to do even if your first choice has to be eliminated for whatever reason.

Just last week a Virginia Room patron told me she came to Roanoke from Chattanooga a day early because of flooding and the storms. Planning is everything.