microdol

Be sure you move around the magnets on the fridge from time to time, because they attract moisture on the other side of the metal they are stuck to, and after a few years, it can start to rust through.
My in-laws did.

seetheworld

My new screen saver is a picture of my DH riding a bike along the River Cam in Cambridge, england. He's holding a beer in one hand while riding.

ethel

We collect magnets from our trips...Right now, my favorites one are of George and Laura Bush. I went to DC for work and got a magnet of George Bush as a joke for my fiance (he doesn't really care for him) and he just went recently for work, as well so he brought me back one of Laura...I like to use George to hold up our sometimes very high electric bill.

schlegal1

We actually bring magnets back for my sisters-in-law and their families. A cheap and easy gift that doesn't take much space or create clutter.

For ourselves, I collect keychains (have since childhood), Dh collects shot glasses (and others collect on his behalf so we have TONS) and we decided we wanted a "together" collection so we collect Christmas ornaments as a couple. The ornaments are best because we actually get to go through them every year when decorating the tree!

BTilke

My mother! I think the reason she has an oversized fridge/freezer is simply to hold the 100+ travel magnets she's collected. From South Africa to Alaska, the bases are covered. One of these days, the fridge is going to tip over from their combined weight.

dan_woodlief

I have to admit that there are two things I buy virtually everywhere I travel - a magnet and at least one postcard (no matter how many photos I take). Sometimes I will also buy a small item, such as an Eiffel Tower, pyramid, or mini Statue of Liberty to sit on my desk at work.

I have always done the postcard thing and started regularly buying magnets nearly 10 years ago. I like to be reminded of all the great places I have been and all the ones to come. It makes life better for me.

The first magnet we got was a Volcanoes National Park from Hawaii on our honeymoon many years ago - sand glued to a piece of wood to form a volcano picture. I have wine and restaurant-themed magnets from Paris, attractive magnets from several Italian cities, Hershey kisses with all family members' names from HersheyPark, Civil War battlefields, local zoos and aquariums, virtually every U.S. city I have visited that is touristy enough to warrant a magnet, etc.

BayouGal

We buy postcards, too. My parents have a lot of very old, unique ones. I'd like to get a few framed, especially a very old one of Old Faithful.

moldyhotelsaregross

My best friend and I buy the TACKIEST magnets we can find for each other. Me, I bought a coo coo magnet that actually coo coos and she bought me a sand dollar painted lime green with all sorts of tiny junk hot glued to it.

annw

I love travel magnets and admit to collecting mugs too. The most recent -- cuckoo clock and beer sten magnets from Germany. My favorite--a mona lisa maget from the Louve bought the day they filmed the Da Vinci code there.

ncgrrl

ME! The refrigerator will probably topple over from the magnets one day.

I like ones that have my name on it with a scene of the locale, but it's hard to find 'ncgrrl' at most stores. Actually, my given name is usually sold out.

shortcake05479

I looooove travel magnets! I always bring one back for my mom and aunts too when I go on vacation b/c they collect them.

My fave is a little glass ladybug i got in Venice

seasweetie

We collect tiles from the trips we go on together (doesn't count if we're solo or someone gives them to us) and my husband has made a border of them around the top molding of the kitchen. It's nice to look at each and remember where we were.

I've always wanted to start a collection of the most incredibly tacky souvenir I could find each place I go, but just don't have the space.

ChristieP

Me! Me! My BIG fridge is COVERED with them! I probably have close to 100! I have most of the big US cities now, and I am trying to work on Europe and the Caribbean.

BayouGal

Tiles!! What a great idea, seasweetie. Wish I'd have heard that years ago. LoL

travelenthusiast

schlegal1 - We also buy Christmas ornaments. My favorite is of a gondola that we bought in Venice. The shop worker hardly spoke any English and I was able to my limited Italian from college to ask if he had an ornamant.

Fodorite018

We also do the Christmas ornaments. I love having our travel tree I don't have a tile collection per se, but I do have a lot from travels and I love using them.

Grcxx3

I try to always collect - christmas ornaments (sometimes more than 1), magnets, and spoons. I also collect patches for my kids.

My children give me a hard time about the spoons - but I try to get interesting ones rather than the typical souvenir ones. I don't have them displayed (YET!) so right now they are just in a drawer in my buffet.

Kal

I had so many on my fridge it stopped my compressor with an electro magnetic pulse....

Colette

I sometimes buy magnets, but I collect matches from restaurants and hotels from my travels. I keep them all in a big pottery urn, and it's fun to dig through every couple of years. I'm wondering if that little hobby will soon have to "go up in smoke" (teehee) now that so many places have gone smoke-free??

jetset1

Colette~ the best matches are in boxes. I love them for my candles(I am a big candle freak and bought a dozen new ones today)..I always keep my eyes open for them.
Neat to pull out a forgotten box a few years later, usually from an evening bag I rarely use for everyday,lol. J.