Souvenirs with Meaning: Collecting More Than Just Stuff
By Dionne Roberts
We’ve all been there. You’re in a gift shop at the end of your trip, wondering if you really need another magnet. Or keychain. Or that slightly-too-small T-shirt you’ll probably wear once, maybe to bed. But souvenirs can be so much more than a “look what I brought back” moment. The right ones become memory-keepers, truly meaningful reminders of the places you’ve been and the moments that mattered.
For me, I maxed out magnets, ball caps and T-shirts, so these days it’s Christmas ornaments. I’ve collected them for years, and each December when we pull out our Travel Tree, the stories come flooding back. There’s the hand-painted ceramic one from a street artist in Florence. A delicate glass bauble from Prague. A wooden carving from Alaska. As each one goes on the tree, we’re right back there and laughing at ourselves and our adventures.
Other travelers I know have their own traditions. One friend picks up a local spice or tea from each country, so her kitchen is basically a global pantry. Another collects art—small sketches or prints from local artists that now fill her hallway like a personal travel gallery. Even something simple, like ticket stubs, maps, or a scribbled-down menu, can turn into something special when framed or tucked into a travel journal.
At the end of that day, it’s not about how much something costs. The best souvenirs are the ones that make you smile when you see them later. A woven basket from Africa. A piece of sea glass from the Amalfi Coast. A hand-written recipe from a cooking class in Thailand. These little things tell your story and can be great non-digital reminders for your kids as they grow up and look back on your family travels (and travails).
So next time you travel, skip the souvenir shop at the airport and look for something that means something to you. Future-you will thank you—and your shelves (or tree) will be better for it.
Dionne Roberts, MCC, VTA
Foster Perry Travel
888-878-5863
(888-TRVLTME)
