Everyone loves to travel – perhaps more importantly, they love to look back on their past adventures and remember the good times. So, for most people, collecting souvenirs along the way is a perfect way to commemorate those adventures! Recently, world explorers met in an online discussion to reveal ideal minimalist things to collect whenever they travel.
1. Local Sauces
From hot sauces to local honey, collecting sauce bottles from every country you’ve visited is an easy – and minimalist – way to commemorate your travels. Not only will you be reminded of your trip when you see the bottles in your home, but if you choose to use the sauces, you’ll be whisked back in time in an even more visceral fashion!
2. Christmas Ornaments
It’s about time people started decorating their Christmas trees with thoughtful ornaments instead of mass-produced decorations. “We buy a small charm or object which we hang on the Christmas tree,” reveals one traveler.
So we’ve got a glass eye charm from Greece, a golem from Prague, and a gold teaspoon from Turkey. Just little things that remind us of that time in our lives that we reconnect with every Christmas.” Now that sounds lovely.
3. Refrigerator Magnets
There’s a reason why refrigerator magnets are so popular for commemorating travels – they’re inexpensive, and you already have a canvas at home to display them on! Besides, what are you using your refrigerator for, anyway – to store perishable food? That’s so last year.
4. Local Yarn
I would have never thought to collect local yarn when traveling, but one woman explains the reasoning behind doing so perfectly. “As a knitter, I pick a pattern that reflects the location and try to pick up local yarn while visiting,” she confesses.
“Every time I wear my Icelandic sweater, I picture the mill and countryside where I picked up the yarn. It’s a wearable, long-lasting souvenir. If you craft, you may be able to choose something that you can incorporate into a project.” I love this woman and her creativity!
5. Interesting Rocks
I know what you’re thinking: “Interesting rocks?” But hear me out. Not only is collecting rocks free, but they will also make for a great conversation piece once they’re in your home.
Imagine the look of surprise when you proudly tell your friends and family that your rocks are not from your driveway but from a mystical land far, far away. Think of all the stories you can tell!
6. Local Art
Supporting local artists while keeping the memory of a beautiful trip alive is a can’t-lose proposition. “I like to get locally made art,” reports one woman. “Just a small print I can put in the bottom of my suitcase. Then I hang it on the wall at home and get to remember my trip whenever I look at it.”
7. Pens
Who doesn’t like collecting pens? I have a borderline-unhealthy obsession with collecting pens from hotels I’ve stayed at, even if I couldn’t tell you where they all are in my house. Nevertheless, whenever I pick a pen up, I find myself smiling at the memories of a previous trip – and that’s the whole point.
8. Enamel Pins
Tiny, collectible enamel pins are arguably the most inexpensive way to commemorate a trip if you aren’t on board with the possibly-bonkers “collect rocks” tip. “They are small and inexpensive, and I get one at each attraction we go to when traveling from the gift shops,” says one woman. “They are a pretty common souvenir, and I have them all pinned to a banner at home that I got on Etsy.”
9. Cookbooks
It doesn’t get much better than preparing an authentic meal from a part of the world you’ve traveled to, and it can’t be done without a local cookbook! A local recipe book is a window into the heart and soul of your trip, and you should take advantage of the opportunity to recreate classic dishes from your trip at home.
10. Coasters
Consider collecting coasters if you’re still not on board with the rock thing I pushed earlier. No, I’m not referring to fancy coasters you’d buy in gift shops across Europe; I’m talking about cardboard coasters found in bars worldwide. They are free to take and often artfully designed, making them the ideal souvenir to commemorate any trip you’ve had!
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