You’ve probably heard by now the studies that show how experiences make us happier than things. We get a thrill when we purchase an item, but that thrill fades. After a while, the emotional boost we got from that shopping experience is gone. Hopefully we are left with a purchase that is at least useful and necessary in our lives. But all too often, unnecessary shopping just leads to the planet’s garbage problem.

Experiences, on the other hand, provide an emotional high that never fades. In fact, memories of experiences, especially ones shared with people we love, only increase our happiness over time. 

So instead of spending our budget on things for ourselves, or giving things to the people we love, the experiences of travel may be the very best gift you can give yourself or your loved ones. 

Escaping our day-to-day lives, exploring a new destination, experiencing new sights, scents, sounds and flavors during travel can change our lives… AND give us that perma-boost of happiness.

Traveling together especially creates a lifetime of shared happy memories and stories that can be re-lived and bind us together, and aren’t togetherness, shared laughter, and fond recollections of moments all the things we really want with our families and friends?

Prioritizing acquiring travel and experiences over acquiring more stuff will change your life.

But we’re not suggesting you never shop at all. In fact, you can have you cake and eat it too. Shopping while you’re traveling, and acquiring meaningful mementos of your travels, create those valuable happy memories and delightful objects that trigger those happy memories for the rest of your life.

Souvenirs that reflect local culture and resources and flavors (not junk made in factories abroad that will end up in your local landfill) enhance our journeys to new destinations and the fond memories we cherish.

Local farmers’, artisan’s and Christmas markets, and studio, workshop, winery or distillery visits allow us to discover delightful souvenirs of our journeys and also meet the makers of the arts, crafts, food, wine, and spirits that we will love to share and to remember our journeys, should be essential experiences on every trip.

So we wanted to share some of our favorite travel shopping experiences to inspire travel in the season of giving.