Considering my affinity for trinkets, it shouldn’t be a surprise that I love vacation souvenirs. When I was younger, choosing the perfect trip memory was always a big deal to me…so much so that I think I often spent more time at the gift shop than the actual attraction .

Most of my souvenirs from trips past are still in my old room at my mom and dad’s house, but I do have a couple of my favorites here in Indianapolis.

My favorite of all is this sailboat from Key West. I went to Key West with my mom and dad for winter break five years ago. Our journey began in Miami, and we made the long drive down to mile 0 in Key West! While there, we did all the touristy things — climbed lighthouses, went to Earnest Hemingway’s house (LOVE those 6-toed cats), and ate at the original Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville. We also did a lot of walking, kayaking, seafood eating, and swimming, but one of my favorite parts of the trip was simply taking in the waterfront scenery. I loved walking around marinas looking at all the gorgeous sailboats. To remember the trip, I got this ceramic sailboat from one of those mega-Florida souvenir shops. My favorite part is that it opens up and has a little secret compartment with an anchor inside!

These days, my favorite souvenirs are unique ones (not usually found at a really touristy shop). I like to purchase an antique from a vacation destination, jewelry, or maybe a nice bag or item of clothing.

What’s your favorite vacation souvenir?

PS – One of those 6-toed cats: