HANDMADE TRAVEL JOURNALS: THE HOLIDAY GIFT THAT SAYS "GO AWAY"

A handmade travel journal is a unique and thoughtful holiday gift for friends and family who like to travel.

With the holiday season approaching, people facing the challenge of gift shopping for family, friends and coworkers need fresh holiday gift ideas. But the prospect of shopping at the mall - where you find the same ho-hum selection everywhere you look after the hassles of hunting for a precious parking spot and waiting in long lines - is enough to make a person give up gift-shopping altogether.

"If your family and friends are anything like mine, they don't want more stuff that sits on a shelf, collects dust and then gets put out at a yard sale in a year or two. They are trying to simplify their lives, de-clutter and focus on what's important," says Pam Bauer, founder and designer of destination:unknown journals for travel. "A gift that can be used and, especially, that connects to their favorite activities is what is most appreciated. For people who like to travel, my handmade travel journals make a wonderful gift."

Designed from a traveler's perspective and created especially for travel, destination:unknown travel journals incorporate a smart look with numerous features to encourage travel-writing while on the road: two handy sizes; three types of paper for recording travel experiences; pockets for storing mementos; wire binding for easy writing anywhere; and an elastic band to keep it all together. These travel-friendly features offer travelers the flexibility to chronicle their journeys in their own individual way and save souvenirs too.

"This is the kind of holiday gift that makes the recipient feel special because it shows that the giver didn't settle for something ordinary," continues Bauer. "Upon returning home from a trip, my travel journals become treasured souvenirs, vividly bringing back precious memories every time they are opened.

For a closer look at destination:unknown journals, online ordering and travel journal tips, please visit www.destinationunknownjournals.com.