DeborahB

Good question!

Magnets and shells

Been collecting shells for as long as I can remember. I have some from when I was little. And none of those store bought shells either!

placeu2

We are an eclectic family:

My wife collects bells
One son collects shot glasses
Other son collects key chains

Me? I collect pictures that I take myself...an embarassing amount!

fluffnfold

Besides charms for my bracelet, I try to bring back a small piece of art from everywhere I travel (no larger than 5 x 5). I mat and frame them, and display them on little easel stands in one of my guest bedrooms.

I also collect the wooden Cat's Meow pieces, although most of these are from places in the US. There are only a few from outside the US, for major tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, London Bridge, Chichen Itza, Leaning Tower of Pisa, etc.

Wednesday

wow, great question...as I looked around, most things I have around were from a vacation....I have several of each of these categories as I can't always find all everywhere.
-Original, local art, sculpture, craft is my first choice.
-Day of the Dead skeletons, I used to go every year in Mexico City to the same guy in the same booth and buy almost everything he had.
-Local maps
-Postcards, send many, save a couple
-Mug, glasses, keychain, deck of cards
-rocks, stones, feathers
-ashtrays (don't smoke)
-Photos, I try to take photos now instead of always spending money on "stuff". With a digital camera it is so much easier to take a ton.
-hotel amenities, I still have TONS of soaps, travel size things I will take on the next trip.
-Statue of Liberty, you would be amazed at all the places I have found them in all forms, statues, stuffed ones, headbands, etc.

GoTravel

Reading this thread and looking around my house, it seems I have collected lots of the stuff you all collect. It's funny that I didn't realize I was collecting!

Jster

Wow..I am SO mainstream..not sure if that is a good thing or maybe we are all at the edge!

my top 5:
Memories! Photos! Magnets! and Christmas ornaments! and RECEIPTS!

adoptionisfab

Food especially tea from every location so when I eat or drink it I remember the trip.

turn_it_on

Wow, my greatest accomplishment is resisting all this junk! I really wanted something from the Mauna Kea Hotel on the Big Island because I love the plumeria logo and I had to hold back because I just knew that a tshirt would end up in the back of the drawer, so I got this awesome heavy black and gold keychain instead which makes me think of the trip (it was nice to replace the one from Vegas that said "Mabel's Whorehouse, where the customer comes first"). I also like to take the postcards from the hotel stationery and send them to my boyfriend. He likes taking the pens; we make a good team.

love
no tchotkes for roxy

rainbowfish

I collect Christmas ornaments from every place we go.

CAPH52

Magnets and local cookbooks. The two best ones I've ever found were "Simply Colorado" and "Simply Colorado Too!" written by the Colorado Dietetic Association. Really good quick, healthy recipes. But I also like those ones that are supposed to be the "best of the best" of community cookbooks for the state or area. Every time I look through one of the cookbooks it brings back memories of the trip.

shaz60

We collect friends. So far we have friends we have met in Bermuda from NY, camping friends from Boston and Brooklyn NY, and New Orleans friends who were from TX. These are the ones we have stayed in touch with over the long run. Others we just exchange Christmas cards but the memories are there forever.

amwosu

I've been known to get an occassional tattoo or piercing on vacation. It doesn't thrill my husband so I've not done it for awhile.

I was tempted to tattoo or pierce something in Venice Beach recently but I managed to keep biking down the beach trail without any new additions.

pollyvw

In all these posts, I don't believe anyone has mentioned what my children collected when we traveled as a family--PATCHES. You know, like the ones Scouts were on their sleeves. We found them in most places we visited, marked,of course, with the location and some representative scene. I do believe Itchitucknee(sp) Springs, FL was their favorite patch. Patches don't take much space in the suitcase; they don't break when you get them home; and its easy to arrange them in attractive displays.

acsproul

Firstly, we collect shot glasses. Also, receipts and postcards for scrapbooks

pollyvw

OH! My keyboard can't spell. Scouts WEAR patches...not were them! LOL!

MaureenB

Back when my husband and I were starving students, I collected matchbooks because they were FREE. They're also good because they have the name and address on them, sometimes a photo or image of the place. I think I'll start collecting them again!

mlgb

Rocks... but not labeled. They go outside in the succulent garden, where they can't clutter up the house.

Edda

I always bring back a little miniature item for my old wooden printer boxes, like a little sheep from Ireland, a miniature Eiffel Tower, little pewter figurines, etc. I also try go get a McDonald placemat from each country and have them all framed in our basement. I never eat there, just ask for a placemat and walk out and have gotten a lot of strange looks. It is free and does not take up any room in your luggage!

palmettoprincess

Don't laugh. I shop at charity thrift shops like Oxfams and find lace that I use to line shelves with. I found handmade lace for $4 to $10 dollars. It was probably a wedding present that no one wanted to launder. Also check the internet for "boot" sales. For less than $50 I found keepsakes for me and presents for my family.
Another free keepsake is beach glass. I have a collection of beach glass and shells in my jewelry box.

yale

Christmas tree ornaments