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Over the past 12 years of travel, I’ve definitely gone through stages when it comes to my favorite souvenirs.

During my 20’s, I collected shot glasses, as I drank my way around the world. And for a good 10 years I would buy double the amount of postcards I needed, keeping as many as I would send for myself.

I’ve bought kick-knacks from street hawkers outside the Eiffel tower, key chains of the leaning tower of Piza, and Austrian schnapps in a glass bottle shaped like a violin.

For anyone who’s wondering how long a bottle of Mozart Schnapps lasts, I can tell you that it’s definitely not 12 years!!!

These days, I take photographs in lieu of souvenirs, though regardless of what you buy, they all have the same effect: transporting you back to a moment in time, and allowing you to vividly re-live your travel memories.

But, according to a recent survey by Daniel Scott Kitchens, the holiday fridge magnet is everyone’s favorite travel souvenir.

A Celebration of Our Favorite (Travel) Fridge Magnets

My Favorite Holiday Fridge Magnet!

Tulip Fridge Magnet RF

Proof that fridge magnets don’t have to be cheesy, I was quite inspired after having spent time at Tasmania’s Table Cape Tulip farm to bring the garden home with me!

Every year during September and October, tulip season in Tasmania is one of the most spectacular draws to the Cradle Coast. A tulip farm atop a 12 million year volcano, the fields fly into a rage of color!

Unsurprisingly, people come from all over the world to see this spectacle, and delight in wandering through the farm. In fact, these are the largest tulip fields in the Southern Hemisphere that you can actually wander in.

While I have images from the experience, images which are almost identical to these magnets, there’s something about keeping magnets on your fridge – a constant reminder of your adventures, that takes you back to those moments at least three times a day!

There are very few things in life that will convince me it’s worthwhile to wake up before 4 am. But I decided that being there to watch the sun rise over a tulip farm atop an extinct volcano qualified for this.

So at 3.30 am I rose, and started a two hour road trip through the darkness towards Wynard. And while you might think that Amsterdam has the title of most stunning tulips in the world, Tasmania provides some tough competition.

Photos From Tulip Season 2018

Table Cape Tulip Farm Tasmania’s Tulip Season

Table Cape Tulip Farm Tasmania’s Tulip Season

Turning Your Photos into Magnets

When it comes to souvenir shops, there are certain things we expect regardless of geography. For instance, there will always be racks of postcards. The images may be different, but the postcards will always be on out the street, in front of the door.

There will always be shot glasses with an iconic symbol etched into the glass. There will always be T-Shirts with ‘I ❤️ XXX’ on them. There will be racks of key chains, shelves of snow globes, and, there will always be fridge magnets.

Let’s be honest, it’s not a souvenir shop if they don’t sell fridge magnets!!

However, one of the biggest trends this year is turning your own images into fridge magnets. Just as there are now online apps that allow you to send postcards using your own photos, you can also make your own custom fridge magnets!

Because, let’s be honest, nothing plastic can bring as much joy as a photo can. Sure, an Eiffel Tower or an Italy shaped boot might represent a country or place you’ve been, but it’s not able to capture the moment like a photo can.

So, while the concept of the fridge magnet is definitely not dead, and they’re still everybody’s favorite travel souvenir, the concept is definitely evolving!!

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 50+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.

    

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