15 Ways To Bring The Best Parts Of Your Vacation Home With You

Because nobody wants a crappy souvenir t-shirt.

1. Make it local

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Think about where you are and what that city is known for. What does this culture make that is beautiful, that might be functional, or will be a great conversation starter at your next dinner party?

2. Hand crafted textiles

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Think clothes, think bedding, think of a cozy blanket on your sofa, or a rug on your floor.

3. Jewlery

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But it doesn't have to be fancy stones and gold. Visit thrift stores, and flea markets to find things that may not be specific to the destination but pieces that you will know you picked up at an awesome little vintage shop while in LA.

4. Booze!

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Ok, you'll drink it and then it will no longer be a souvenir but it is a great gift and part of a great souvenir is being able to reflect back on a moment. A moment where you may have been wasted, stumbling down a New Orleans street and into a bar where you discovered that you liked Brass Band music.

5. Traditional Art

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Is your vacation destination known for hand made face masks? Hand blown glass? Woodcarving or tapestry's? Get this stuff! Hang it on your walls and support local artists.

6. Recipes

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You lived off of breakfast tacos on your trip to Austin, but you can't get them in your city. Work on recreating your favorite recipe and whip that up every once and a while for a nice flavor trip!

7. Tattoos

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You fell in love with Barcelona, a little research and boom there is a great tattoo shop down the street from your hotel. Ink up baby!

8. Photos

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Take tons of pics, print them out and then put them in cigar boxes along with other small knick knacks from that trip (receipts, ticket stubs, menus ect.)

9. Maps

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Fun illustrative maps, vintage classroom maps, metro and subway maps. All maps are good maps.

10. Nature

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Shells, acorns, sand, or rocks from a memorable hike. Whatever it is throw it in a jar, label the jar with the location and date and you are starting an awesome memory jar collection.

11. Go to a Hardware store

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Visit a local hardware store, a kitchen supply store or a pharmacy. Think signage, door knobs, luxurious lotions and potions, madeleine tin pans, or copper cooking tools.

12. Vintage Pennants

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Collect vintage pennants from all of your favorite cities.

13. Food or Spices

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Don't just focus on hot sauce from Cajun country. Think about fresh jams, salt straight from a salt flat, and if you freeze and foil wrap it, you can even bring home amazing butter from France.

14. Custom Tailored Suit

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I know! It sounds crazy but if you are visiting Italy, Portugal, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia or China you can get amazingly beautiful tailored suits and button up shirts in a million and one colors and prints. Go on a travel journey and come back with a wardrobe Don Draper would be proud of.

15. Think outside the box

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Horseshoes from Texas, Lucha Libre masks from Mexico City, an old beer stein from Germany. Think beyond the souvenir shop and find something you'll be psyched to bring home.