How To Turn Your Road Trip Into A Vintage Treasure Hunt For Amazing One-Of-A-Kind 'Souvenirs'

When you visit a fascinating place, it's understandable to want to take a little something home with you as a memento of the great times you experienced there. Most destinations have at least a few souvenir shops where you can get your standard t-shirts, shot glasses, and stickers. If they don't, you can just head to the local grocery store. Some people say that it's the best place to buy souvenirs when you're traveling. If you're looking for uncommon, one-of-a-kind souvenirs, though, there are other spots you may want to check out — antique stores and thrift shops.

To make the most of your trip, you can research your destination ahead of time and create a customized Google Map that lists the antique shops and vintage stores you want to visit. Don't rule out the shopping opportunities that exist along the way as well. With antiquing and thrifting, the journey is just as important. Plus, it's nice to break up your road trip and have some retail therapy outings on the way. One vintage shopper gave their tips on r/thrifting and said, "Once you 'start' the route in google maps on a mobile device (as if you're leaving right now), you can choose "search along route" and search for any combination of keywords that works for you (thrift store, consignment, etc). But a lot of people don't realize because it only works once you're 'enroute' as far as the app knows." 

There are some places that are true curio treasure hunting destinations. For example, Aurora, Oregon, is known as one of America's best antiquing destinations, which is full of vintage finds. Other places may not be as recognized for their classic items, but you can still find some hidden gems. In Orlando, Disney World fans may want to ditch the mouse ears and pins at the theme park's gift shop and visit a unique vintage store about 30 minutes away. Reviews on Google rave about Recycling the Magic in Oakland, Florida, with one saying, "A must go to any Disney fan and anyone who loves vintage in general. There is a wide range of Disney memorabilia from $1 to over $25k. Definitely something for everyone."

If you're traveling somewhere new, just make sure you do your homework before you go. AntiqueTrail.com is an online directory that lists antique stores across the United States. If you're following any vintage accounts on social media, ask if they can recommend any places you should add to your itinerary.  You can also look specifically for local antiquing or vintage shopping Facebook groups in your destination. You could also plan your trip around special events and vintage markets like The Curio Collective — Halifax's biggest vintage and antiques show. With all of the new treasures you'll surely find, you'll need to practice using packing hacks that will save space in your luggage.