For many people, travel goes hand in hand with some traditions. Maybe you collect matchbooks from all the restaurants you visit while traversing a new city, or perhaps you pose for the same photo with a different backdrop in each new destination. Well, Redditor iggydadd asked, “What’s your quirky thing you do on trips that you think no one else does?” Here’s what people said.
1.
“I visit the local botanical gardens. I couldn’t name a single plant in the entire place, but I find them relaxing, especially when they’re hidden in a bigger city. They’re also usually free or by donation, so it’s a nice budget-friendly way to spend a few hours.”
2.
“We really like Mexican food. When we travel the world we go to that city’s interpretation of what Mexican food is. Sometimes, it is a good Mexican restaurant, and sometimes, you wonder if they have any idea what Mexican food is. Oddly enough, we found our favorite Mexican restaurant in Riga, Latvia. It had an amazing creamy green sauce. Unfortunately, it’s no longer open (we had it 11 years ago), or else I would share it.”
3.
“I buy a skein of sock yarn from a local shop (ideally locally made or dyed), and then I bring it with me on a future trip to knit. I have socks from all over the world!”
4.
“I buy clothes. At this point, I have bought almost everything I own while traveling. It gives me an eclectic wardrobe and functional mementos of my travels. I might get dressed for the day or evening and have an outfit that spans three or four continents, and I love to think about those places or trips as I’m getting dressed.”
5.
“I buy reusable grocery bags from different countries as souvenirs. I think they’re a fun way to remember my travels while having a practical use.”
6.
“I go to a local football game whenever possible and always try to get a scarf. The home team has only lost once on my visits, and I’ve never seen a goalless draw, so it’s usually decent entertainment.”
7.
“I love visiting cemeteries in the places I travel. Glasnevin in Dublin was the most magical experience. I don’t know why, but I love cemeteries!!”
8.
“I stock up on gas station snacks. We love to stop at a gas station and see what kinds of snacks or hot foods are available. We’ll often load up on snacks to try, pretend we’re doing a late-night road trip stop.”
9.
“I go to pub trivia night. So far, I’ve been to quiz nights in Ireland, New Zealand, Georgia (the country), the Czech Republic, Korea, and Germany. I wish I had started this tradition sooner. I had already traveled to a couple dozen countries before we started.”
10.
“I buy jewelry from local artisans. I have a beautiful green citrine ring from Thailand, pearl earrings from Hawaii, a necklace from Paris, etc. It reminds me of those places every time I put them on, and I think about where I’d like to visit next.”
11.
“I find a local bookstore everywhere I travel and buy a book or five. Part of my trip planning is finding all the local bookstores and seeing how many we can go to. I’ve also started getting a tote or sticker at each bookstore to keep track of where I’ve been.”
12.
“We’re usually on the road for (American) Thanksgiving Day. But it’s not always easy to find turkey dinner abroad, so we seek out Turkish instead. Usually works out great.”
13.
“I enjoy trying the local take on ‘American food.’ I find it fascinating how many countries have an American pizza with corn on it. I have never in my life seen corn on a pizza in America.”
14.
“Visit the main library in larger cities. Sometimes, the architecture is really cool and modern (Amsterdam and Seattle come to mind), there’s usually some kind of exhibit and a place to sit awhile and watch ordinary people go about their lives.”
15.
“I look for graffiti and street art, especially ones that are hard to find. I’ll walk through small alleys and find some amazing stuff.”
16.
“My friends and I have written reports for the last few years. Just slim reports with all the ephemera, pictures, tips, etc… We all enjoy solo travel. When someone returns, we have a ‘Society of Exploration’ meeting (featuring Port, Brandy, nibbles, and the like) where we critique trips and achievements.”
17.
“I always visit fast food restaurants and look at their menus. In Italy, McDonalds has little fried pizza pocket things, and in Thailand, they have pineapple pies and corn pies.”
18.
“I like to bring home strange toiletries not found at home, for example, shaving lotion in a toothpaste tube, astringent antiperspirants with fragrances new to me, etc… In Germany last year, I found a concentrated herbal-flavored mouthwash that is perfect for traveling; I couldn’t translate the label, but I figured out that you add a little shot to a cup of water. I never get tired of roaming the aisles of chemists, apothecaries, etc. in faraway places.”
19.
“I always make sure to visit a local grocery store just to see what’s out there in other markets.”
20.
“I love visiting Chinatowns and trying Chinese food in other countries. So many places have their own interpretations and fusions, and it’s usually really tasty.”
21.
“I send myself a postcard. I’ll send it on day two of my vacation and I race it to see who gets home first. It’s usually me since international mail is slow. Then I get a nice reminder of my initial impressions when it does arrive. In the end, I turn it into a Christmas ornament.”
22.
“My husband gets a haircut whenever we go somewhere new. He is an old dude with an old dude hairdo, so not terribly challenging. He loves chatting with the locals and trying to make himself understood in Turkish or whichever of the many languages he does not speak. He always has fun and I have some fun pics taken through the windows.”
Do you have something to add? What is a unique, cute, or quirky tradition you’ve made your own while traveling? Tell us in the comments or in this anonymous form.
