What kind of souveneirs do you buy?

Umbrella earrings purchased in Seattle
@GardenGerty (169585)
United States
August 10, 2025 1:23pm CST
Bob and I have tried to get a blue or blue and white mug from every state we visited. We have a lot of state mugs, but not all of them are blue and white. We have our favorite coffee mugs, so many of ours do not get used. When my kids were young and we would go places we made a point to buy post cards, because those photographers got better pictures than we did and most of the details were already on them. Just needed the date. My picture is my earrings from Seattle. They are sterling silver and need polished, but as you can see, they are umbrellas. I bought them from a craft stand inside Pikes Market. If you do not know much about Seattle, it rains almost every day. People say they do not get freckles, they get rust spots. I love silver, and turquoise, so it is no surprise I got these earrings to remind me of the trip I took as a sponsor for a Bible Quiz group from our church, right after my husband died. I did enjoy visiting Seattle.
20 people like this
20 responses
@jstory07 (148771)
• Roseburg, Oregon
10 Aug
I always bought a shirt from every place that we went to.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
One of my friend's husband was a corporate pilot. He always brought his daughter a shirt.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112929)
• United States
10 Aug
I do wherever I can. But sometimes they want an arm and a leg, and I just won't pay that.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
@porwest Some of our mugs come from thrift shops. At one travel center they had a mug I loved as a pencil holder, they just handed it to me.
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@porwest (112929)
• United States
10 Aug
Tee shirts and ball caps. 99% of the time that's what I buy. My wife likes magnets.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
Yes, magnets are cool. Tee shirts and ball caps are fun as well.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112929)
• United States
11 Aug
@GardenGerty They're all mainly useful too.
@AmbiePam (121144)
• United States
10 Aug
I SO would have bought those earrings! I used to get postcards, and a bell from every state. Unfortunately, in my late teens my sister threw them all away when cleaning out a closet. I still like to get a few postcards, but that’s about all I make a point of getting now. Seattle would be such a great place to visit!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
It was great to visit. We went up in the Space Needle. I had with me one person who was afraid of heights (became a pilot) and one claustrophobic--you go up in an elevator, so that was a hoot. Sorry your sis threw things away.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (121144)
• United States
11 Aug
@GardenGerty A pilot, that’s funny! Eh, it’s okay she threw them away. I try to remember they are just things.
@LeaPea2417 (40061)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Aug
Lately, my favorite souvenirs to buy on trips are refrigerator magnets and shot glasses.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
I could see how it would be fun to collect refrigerator magnets.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56396)
• Canada
10 Aug
We usually find a book regarding the local history of the area and bring that back home. I like your earrings.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
What a great idea! I do pick up brochures from displays that are free. I wore the earrings yesterday in honor of the rain here.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56396)
• Canada
11 Aug
@GardenGerty I love to learn as I go to places all about them.
@wolfgirl569 (136009)
• Marion, Ohio
10 Aug
They are cute
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
They seemed perfect for me.
1 person likes this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
11 Aug
I think the movie Sleepless in Seattle makes this city very famous As to the souveneirs, usually I will choose those small items which can represent the local culture.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
That is a good idea. Seattle was a good place for us to visit with lots of things to see. Yes, something local is best. My earrings were made by a local artisan.
1 person likes this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
12 Aug
@GardenGerty I heard that the Amazon headquater is located there? That is an interesting building to visit.
@snowy22315 (209173)
• United States
10 Aug
I have no specific category, but I usually get something fairly inexpensive. I have alot of refrigerator magnets .several here, but in a storage locker I have a whole box of them. I tend to like T shirts if they don't cost too much. I also have a couple of art pieces, bottle openers etc. I try to find things that are somewhatpractical if possible
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
Yes, practical is good.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190011)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Aug
I always buy post cards when I travel. I wonder if you can still get them. Haven't been any where in so long. Rust spots, huh? That's cute. Cute earrings. I'd love to live near Seattle since I enjoy the rain. I recall traveling near there and enjoying the rain so much I didn't want to come home.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
You know, I have not looked for postcards as souveneirs in a long time myself. I have known several people from Seattle over the years.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (190011)
• Boise, Idaho
12 Aug
@GardenGerty ...........I wonder if it still has the restaurant at the top of the needle that rotates.
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
11 Aug
It depends. I got myself a Four Corners Monument t-shirt and a “I stood on the corner in Winslow, Arizona” bumper sticker, plus a keychain for my best friend (who’s also a major Eagles fan). If I see a golf ball with something special on it, I’ll get it for my brother. Usually, though, I don’t buy a lot of souvenirs.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
My dad used to collect bumper stickers. You would have a houseful of souvenirs, you travel so much.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
11 Aug
@GardenGerty — exactly. As it is, I have an external hard drive full of photos!
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
11 Aug
We have been in Seattle and it rained every day, thanks god not all the day long. Those earrings are cute. We only bought small things as souvenirs, so I can keep everything in a large box.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
Yes, it rained a lot. I hear the same about Orlando, Florida, but I have never been there. Now many people just take pictures on their phone for remembrance.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
11 Aug
@GardenGerty We have been many times in the Orlando area, but we stayed in Kissimmee, that is very close. We almost never had rain in Kissimmee or Orlando, if it rained it was a very short powerful shower.
@rakski (156709)
• Philippines
11 Aug
that is nice! I usually buy a shirt of a small pouch
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
Those small pouches come in handy for organizing your things.
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@rakski (156709)
• Philippines
12 Aug
@sallypup (69236)
• Centralia, Washington
10 Aug
I live about 90 miles from Seattle. I am glad to not live there because it is way too big and way too polluted. My favorite souvenirs come from local thrift stores. I love it when I find a thrift store that benefits animals. The people running the thrift stores are usually kind volunteers trying to help their local area. I get a real feel for the area that way while my money helps them and their cause.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
11 Aug
Those are really cute earrings. I always bought magnets...relatively inexpensive and small...Hubs would buy T-shirts and tiles.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
Magnets seem to be very good as souvenirs. Tiles is an interesting idea.
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@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
12 Aug
@GardenGerty I have a whole box of tiles that hubby bought on our trips. They never got put up in the "Florida" room.
@kaylachan (84892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Aug
I never really have been interested. Well, getting sick while so far away from home works nt fun.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
I liked our mug idea, until they took over the house. I am sorry if you got sick while traveling.
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@kaylachan (84892)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Aug
@GardenGerty Yeah, it can happen.
@noni1959 (13067)
• United States
12 Aug
I don't usually buy things where I visit now, with a few exceptions. Over the years I gathered post cards from different states and cities, but have since given many away and even used some to send hello's to friends. Your earrings are so fun.
@JESSY3236 (22287)
• United States
12 Aug
cute earrings. I always try to find something to get as a souvenir.
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug
Your ear-rings are lovely. I bought fridge magnets for a while as they were cheap and easy to pack. The last things we bought were two coffee mugs but we rarely buy much now.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
That is the same for us. You do have lots of pictures, though, and that is great.
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@Traceyjayne (11515)
• United Kingdom
11 Aug
I also try and get a mug from wherever we go …I don’t use them though they go in a cabinet .i would be so sad if a holiday memory got broken.
@Deepizzaguy (122324)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
11 Aug
I usually purchase items like cups and baseball caps as souvenirs.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
11 Aug
I bet they bring back good memories.
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@Deepizzaguy (122324)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
11 Aug
@GardenGerty The glass cups that image of New York City are priceless.