6 Cultural Souvenirs to Collect on Your Travels
Souvenirs are always a must when you go on vacation. You always want to get something to remember the great time you had in a certain place. But instead of the same old t-shirt or keychain, why not try something cultural, with a little more meaning?
Here are six great options for you to pick up on your next trip.
1. Local Jewelry
If you get something handmade from a shop or artisan, you’ll never find the same thing in any of the locations you visit. Many places have a signature stone or style they’ll use as well.
Bracelets are a good way to keep all of your travels on your arm, as layering bracelets is always a stylish look. Handmade things like wooden rings or necklaces are also options. That way, you’ll always be reminded of the adventures you’ve had.
Jewelry doesn’t have to be expensive, either. Many places will have street vendors or small shops and marketplaces where you can buy quality wares for less. You don’t want the fanciest jewelry. You just want something with the personality of where you’ve visited.
2. Currency
This is a fairly easy collection to start. If you’re going to a foreign country, then you’re going to be exchanging money anyway. Keeping a coin or bill from the country you visited is a pretty cheap souvenir, depending on the exchange rate. There are so many different varieties of money that it’s bound to be an interesting collection as well.
The only downside to this is that you’re limited to foreign countries with their own currency. If you’re planning on doing a lot of local traveling or taking a journey across the United States, where there’s a lot of ground to cover in one country, this might not be the best one for you.
3. Stamps
You can learn a lot about a place by what’s on their stamps, such as their rulers, landmarks or other important figures from the country’s history. Stamps are colorful and interesting, so they would do well in a scrapbook or displayed in a frame.
That’s not the only benefit of collecting stamps, though. They can also be worth a fair amount of money later. Stamps tend to collect value, and they have a serious market of collectors out there. In addition to being a great look at culture, they could also be a pretty valuable collection someday.
4. Flat Things
While this sounds kind of weird, hear us out. You end up with so many pieces of paper when you’re traveling. There are plane tickets, key cards from hotels, menus, event brochures, ticket stubs — the list goes on. These things are perfect scrapbooking material. You could even include stamps or currency, making this a super collection.
If you take all these little things you end up with and combine them with pictures you print out from your trip, and maybe some fun stickers, it makes up an impressive scrapbook. Write in captions and little moments you don’t want to forget, too. That way, your trips will be preserved forever!
If you don’t like scrapbooking then print out the best picture from each trip to hang on your wall! Your travel photos will make a great feature gallery wall.
5. Christmas Tree Ornaments
Decorate your tree with your ornament collection each year, and you’re sure to have a conversation starter at your next Christmas party. Many countries have their own unique Christmas traditions, so you can get something to reflect those.
Other places just have an interesting art style, or you can get something that features your favorite place you visited on that particular trip. For being just a seasonal thing, the possibilities are endless as far as tree ornaments go!
6. Scarves/Fabric
If you’re a frequent scarf-wearer, then the choice is obvious. But fabric is a good option even if you aren’t a fan of scarves. It’s thin and easy to transport, and you can take it home to make into a pillow or something else to display in your home. Fabrics and patterns can vary so much depending on the place you’re in. Plus, when someone compliments you and asks where you got it, you have a great story to tell.
Start picking out some different things to bring home with you the next time you take a trip. Souvenirs are better when they have a great story behind them!