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Or: How We Can Avoid Supporting The Self Storage Unit Industry.

When it comes to travel tips and advice there is SO much emphasis on “what to take”…endless lists of what to bring to your destination. Sadly…tips and ideas for what to bring back are neglected and the shelves and closets of America are brimming with ashtrays from Yuma and snowglobes from Rio. (Last time I checked Copacabana Beach doesn’t get much snow.)

Unlike my pal who has the biggest snowglobe collection in the universe…I am a big fan of avoiding collecting dust collectors on the road. So, here are some of my fave souvenir suggetions that won’t line your shelves collecting dust.

Cloth Bags: you can get ‘em anywhere and they are handy while you are on the road to carry all sorts of stuff. Not only that, they are a great green choice, ‘cuz you can use them for groceries and errands when you get home. I especially love my Whipsnade Zoo bag from London…just because Whipsnade is such a funny word.

I am also a fool for pens, especially the little floaty ones. They tickle my fancy while paying bills and seem to take the sting out of that first VISA bill after returning from vacation!

But let’s face it, you are travelling with kids, so occasionally you are going to have to give it up and bring home some little plastic windmills and Roman Soldiers…not to mention those ubiquitous ‘grabbers’ that range from shark heads in Maui to T-Rex’s and Triceratops at various museums around the globe. But even kids can be persuaded to pick out useful items.

For example, my son selected some wonderful kitchen items like a cheese grater from Italy and a pasta fork from Holland. Speaking of kitchen items, my favorite cheese board hails from Greece, the land of Olive wood. I am also the proud owner of knives from Paris that say FROMAGE and TOMATE that delight my guests and make me happy – mostly because the TOMATE knife is the ONLY knife that I have ever found that cuts a tomato flawlessly.

The ‘useful items’ aren’t exclusively the domain of moms and dads – my son cherishes a dragon pendant from Krakow to this day. And we all know that different kids ‘love’ different things. My son is a BIG train lover

and so we’ve ridden the rails in various locales and then found trains for his collection from Tokyo, Rome, London and more. Your kids might not be train-philic but they may be absolutely passionate about something else. For example, a Travelling Kid who loves Greek Mythology will be thrilled with a book and some “Gods and Goddesses” playing cards. You get the idea.

So, fill your bag and your life with memories that you can use throughout the year…but give yourself and your kids permission for the occasional ESSENTIAL ‘can’t live without it’ souvenir…rubber snakes anyone?

TRAVELLING KID TIP! : Shop Like A Local

Great bargains and memorable souvenirs can be found where locals shop.

Yummy for the Tummy: From Greek Oregano from Athens to Panola Hot Sauce in New Orleans – groovy stuff from local grocery stores and open air markets are something the whole family can enjoy throughout the year. My son especially loved the hot chocolate cocoa from Switzerland. Natch.

Beauty/Body Products: My son’s favorite shampoo was some apple scented baby shampoo in a pink elephant bottle from Paris. I just keep refilling the container. My friend Lizzy loves the idea of bringing the bare minimum in toiletries and shopping for fun new ones when she gets to her destination. I live for the ‘hair oil’ from a tiny Pharmacy in Santorini, Greece.

Utilitarian Objects: That same friend Lizzy covets a cute cat plastic storage container from Tokyo. My son loves his matching French sea creature plate and cup set. Until we owned it I didn’t know that manchot was French for penguin. See? Even educational opportunities can be found.

My fave stores abroad are: Monoprix in Paris; H & M in various countries; Primark in

London; Orviesse in Rome; Daiso in Tokyo and don’t forget outdoor markets in

Amsterdam, Athens, Krakow and other cities around the globe.

Souvenirs: Cool Ideas for ‘what to bring’ Home!

STOP THE SNOWGLOBE MADNESS!