| > | | | | logo and such, if it has been a truly special stay, |
| Turning your travels into home decorations. | | | | this may be all you need or want. I’ve |
| Heading out of town for a long weekend, or | | | | been to some, such as the Biltmore in Asheville, |
| maybe you have a business trip abroad? Whether | | | | North Carolina, that offered holiday ornaments |
| it is a roadtrip to Charleston, a romantic getaway | | | | featuring their property. I collect these so this |
| to Europe, or even a camping adventure in North | | | | was an ideal memento of my visit. |
| Georgia, there are always opportunities to collect | | | | I do know some who collect ashtrays and towels |
| treasures and mementos from your travels. Here | | | | and have been known to rely on “borrowing” |
| you will find quick tips and easy ideas for bringing | | | | these from rooms and bars. Most embarrassing |
| back something memorable from even the most | | | | when one is caught, (a fellow traveler was |
| mundane of destinations. | | | | recently!) Stick to items you can buy. Besides |
| First take a look at your itinerary, any pockets of | | | | where would you display a large collection of |
| time at leisure? It doesn’t have to be | | | | ashtrays and hotel towels?? If determined to |
| more than an hour or so to make it worth finding | | | | have it for free, consider limiting yourself to |
| out a local specialty and locating a source. Okay, | | | | matchbooks, and the wine cork from dinner. |
| so you’ve rolled your eyes, groaned and | | | | The most important part about anything bought |
| said it is all business, no leisure at all. Believe it or | | | | along the way is the story attached to it. So |
| not, you can even get novel items these days in | | | | always try to record, at the minimum, where you |
| the airport boutiques, and I don’t mean | | | | purchased, the date, and what you paid. More |
| T-shirts or ball caps. (Of course, being a captive | | | | interesting, of course, is who you were with and |
| consumer at the terminal shops, you will pay | | | | what was the occasion. What inspired you to pick |
| more, chalk it up to part of the experience!) Many | | | | up this treasure? You might be surprised to learn |
| airports are becoming regular shopping meccas | | | | how fascinating goods can become once you |
| for the traveler short on time. Look for specialty | | | | know their history. It is much like antiquing, the |
| retailers showcasing locally made goods, whether | | | | value comes in knowing the provenance of the |
| it is a special jam or hot sauce, or a postcard | | | | piece. These stories will be lost if you don’t |
| made in copper (a regional mineral of wealth), | | | | take care to write them down and protect them, |
| favorite chocolates (I used to buy See’s, | | | | however insignificant you think they may sound, |
| only available on the West Coast and in Hawaii.) | | | | someone later may be endeared by it. (I still |
| For a true collectible try a snow globe specific to | | | | regret no knowing the stories behind many of the |
| that city, or even a refrigerator magnet particular | | | | cherished elements I inherited some fifteen years |
| to the same. This can be a fun way to keep | | | | ago, when my mother died suddenly. While |
| track of where you’ve been despite the | | | | certainly she had shared the tales while we were |
| jet lag and travel snafus. | | | | growing up, like most children, especially |
| Now, if you do have a bit of time to yourself or | | | | teenagers, I didn’t pay attention, not |
| maybe this is a weekend of playing hooky from | | | | realizing, I wouldn’t get a chance to ask |
| the rest of the world, you’ll have ample | | | | again. And, she had great stories!)It is always |
| opportunities to seek out local flavor. If staying in | | | | more interesting and personal to be able to |
| a larger hotel, always avail yourself of the | | | | incorporate your own trips and adventures in your |
| concierge, they most often know the places to | | | | interior than merely fill it with a lot of meaningless |
| go, what to buy, what to pay, and other useful | | | | but pretty decorative elements. I often work with |
| tidbits. (I once did an entire 30 day overseas trip | | | | clients in displaying collections they have created |
| with just air and hotel, and relied entirely on the | | | | and mementos they have saved. Those who do |
| concierge to plan my daily itinerary, it was | | | | not have as many, I encourage to seek out what |
| personal and perfect!)Better yet, if you are | | | | means something them, and I also take care to |
| staying in a bed and breakfast or other | | | | bring them elements that speak to their interests |
| homestyle accommodation, the owners or | | | | and preferences, sometimes their hopes and |
| managers will be able to provide this information | | | | dreams. We all reflect what we surround |
| too. In some cases, these places will sell | | | | ourselves with, it is up to us to make sure it |
| decorative elements from the rooms. Of course, | | | | inspires and makes us smile. |
| many hotels do offer lines of product with their | | | | Happy trails! |
