Bring home dirt – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

The expression “dirt cheap” applies to my keepsake hunting.

I like to collect soil from different historical locations. I then take said dirt home and mix it into my garden. My garden has soil from Normandy, Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, Kitty Hawk, Jerusalem, Fenway Park, Sarajevo, Kuwait, Mogadishu (my husband was in the military), and dozens of other spots.

My sister thinks that it’s sort of ghastly that I steal soil from what is essentially, in places like Antietam, a mass grave. I point out that over 22,000 people died to help grow my Shasta daisies.

To each, their own.

Be safe in overnight trains – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

When traveling on overnight trains…

1.) Put your backpack/travel bag in a pillowcase while you sleep on it on an overnight train. It provides an obstacle for thieves.

2.) Also, set up the Coke-can warning system on your compartment door. Put some pennies in a drink can and tie it to the door.

Buy a newspaper – Souvenir tip

by Gadling Staff on

You don’t have to spend a fortune to bring home a great reminder of your trip. A newspaper purchased during a trip provides a fun look into local life and can easily jog your memory.

Buy a newspaper or two and pick up free local guides whenever possible. Once home, revisit the vacation locale by browsing the weather forecast, restaurant reviews, local happenings and events, and other memorable news that occurred while you were there.

Bonus: You can share the newspapers and guides with others who have never been there but who would love to visit.

Postcards as guides – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

The cheapest way to quickly discover what an unfamiliar city has to offer is to peruse a postcard rack and buy a few that intrigue you.

Postcards not only highlight “sight-see-worthy” locations, but if language is a barrier, just show the cab driver the picture, and you’re on your way.

Once you’re at your location, write a memory of your visit, mail it to your residence, and add to your scrapbook.

The biggest plus? No need to carry the heavy travel guides with you.

When packing with kids, make it a game – Packing tip

by Gadling Staff on

I was famous for forgetting major components when packing for a trip or vacation… items like socks and underwear, stuff you really need. So I created a game for my family to pack quickly and easily without forgetting a thing.

  1. I make a list for each child and the quantity they need, i.e., undies 5 pair, socks 5 pair, etc.
  2. I gather everyone into the living room. From the list, I will call out, “Five pairs of socks!”
  3. Each child has to run and locate the item(s) I called out before they return. Whoever returns first gets a point, and the winner gets a special pre-trip prize.

This will continue until all the items are in their suitcases, and my sanity is restored.