In 2001, October was officially named “Family History Month.” So grab a friend, neighbor, or your whole family and take a few minutes or hours to honor your relatives. Family history doesn’t have to be about searching dusty records and looking for long-forgotten facts; it can be a fun way to discover more about the people who shaped your life and also a way to pay tribute to the family you have now.

1. Take a field trip.
The house you grew up in. The cemetery where great-grandma is buried. The farm where grandpa used to raise horses. Visiting places that are important to your family can be a great way to remember the past. And each memory might launch another story that has been forgotten. So grab a camera, grab a map, and go! And if you aren’t lucky enough to have a family site near you, you might consider visiting a historic building, a museum, or even a cultural center.

2. Create a heritage cookbook.
What could be better than Grandma’s fried chicken or mom’s homemade Sunday rolls? Contact family members and ask them to send you their favorite family recipes. If possible, have them include personal stories about the dish, how it was passed down, when it was traditionally eaten—maybe there’s even a photograph of Aunt Marianne serving her pecan pie. If possible make copies for families and friends; it’s sure to be a gift that’s enjoyed for years.

3. Take a genealogy class.
Have you been wanting to pursue your great-great-grandfather who emigrated from Spain but you just don’t know where to begin? One way to get started it to take a genealogy class. Many local genealogical societies offer classes either for free or at a low cost. You can even find many classes and tutorials online. Genealogy.com offers a multitude of free classes on everything from Internet genealogy to tracing your immigrant ancestors. You can also learn research tips and tricks in the Ancestry.com Learning Centers.

4. Interview a family member.
Preserve those funny and remarkable family stories for future generations by interviewing the family elders. Nothing shows the personality and uniqueness of an individual quite like a personal interview. Use a video camera or audio recorder to capture the moment. Then transcribe the whole interview as a backup—and don’t forget to take loads of photos too.

5. Participate in a DNA project.
We’d all like to be able to prove definitively who we’re related to. Most of the time that’s not possible. But why not help out a DNA/Surname project by donating a sample of your DNA; you may even find a distant relative.

6. Start a family website.
With so many families living far away from each other, a family website is a great way to stay connected. In just a few minutes, you can create a private family website on MyFamily.com. You can share photos, videos, and voice clips; access calendars of important family events; and even build your family tree—and it’s all password protected.

7. Have an “ancestral” birthday party.
Does someone in your family tree have a birthday in October? Why not throw them a birthday bash? If your ancestor lived during the “Roaring Twenties,” the Civil War, or another easily recognizable time in history, you can decorate, dress, and celebrate as they would have back then. Gather heirlooms, photographs, journals and letters, and other mementos of the guest of honor and let the memories flow.

8. Create a time capsule.
Many of us have wished that our ancestors would have left us more information about themselves, especially the details that show who they really were. Why not help out future generations by creating a unique time capsule about you or your family. Add photographs, letters, toys, stories about family traditions, anything that says “you.” Your grandchildren will thank you . . . someday.

9. Read a book.
Whether it’s the old journal handed down through the generations, your parents’ love letters, or just a travel guide about your ancestor’s homeland, take a few hours to indulge your imagination and connect with your family.

10. Take a family photo.
How many times do we plan on taking that perfect family photo during the holidays? And often, we watch the busy season pass us by and still, no photo. Why not gather everyone together before the hustle and bustle of the holidays begins and get that perfect group shot? The final product will be great for decking the halls and also a welcome edition to the packages you send to family members who are far away.

Tana Pedersen Lord is a contributing editor to Ancestry Magazine and author of The Official Guide to Family Tree Maker 2006. She can be contacted at AMUeditor@ancestry.com, but regrets that she cannot assist with personal research questions.