Memories From 6,169 Miles on the Road

After 15 days, 6,169 miles, and countless stops along the way, our California road trip eventually came to an end. We had seen beaches, historic towns, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, California, Route 66, and plenty of places in between.

Of course, no road trip would be complete without bringing a few souvenirs home. During our journey from Florida to California and back, we picked up a collection of souvenirs that now remind us of the places we visited. Some were practical, some were decorative, and a few were simply things we couldn’t resist.

A Little Piece of Each Stop

Looking back at everything we brought home, it’s interesting to see how many different places are represented. There are souvenirs from New Orleans, Las Vegas, Gallup, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Groom, Texas, and Route 66. Together, they make a pretty good snapshot of our trip.

One of my favorites is the New Orleans ornament featuring the colorful buildings of the French Quarter. We also brought home a New Orleans cathedral ornament, along with a few other items celebrating our time in the city.

Souvenirs from our 6,169-mile California road trip

Souvenirs From the Road

Our collection also includes reminders of some of the most memorable stops along the way. The Grand Canyon ornament brings back memories of standing along the South Rim and taking in one of the most incredible sights of the entire trip. The Hoover Dam ornament reminds us of another major highlight, while the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ ornament takes us back to our stop in Groom, Texas. We also picked up Route 66 souvenirs in Gallup, New Mexico, including items connected with the historic El Rancho Hotel. Those little souvenirs may not seem like much individually, but each one brings back a specific memory from the trip.

Hats, Mugs and Other Road Trip Memories

We didn’t stop with ornaments. We also brought home several hats and coffee mugs from different places we visited. The mugs include Biloxi Beach, Texas, Hotel El Rancho in Gallup, and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, while the hats represent places including Gallup, Biloxi Beach, and New Orleans.

Hats, Mugs and Other Road Trip Memories

One thing I like about souvenirs like these is that they actually become part of everyday life. A coffee mug sitting in the kitchen or a hat hanging in the closet can bring back a memory of a particular day on the road.

New Orleans Came Home With Us

New Orleans may have been one of our final stops, but it certainly wasn’t forgotten. We brought home several New Orleans souvenirs, including shirts, ornaments, and other items celebrating the French Quarter and the city. The blue New Orleans shirt with 1718 on it is a reminder of the city’s founding, while the other shirts connect us to some of the places that stood out during our visit.

After spending several days exploring New Orleans, it was nice to bring a few reminders of the city home with us.

More Than Just Souvenirs

When we first started this trip, I don’t think I realized how much we would end up seeing. We drove more than 6,000 miles, crossed numerous states, visited major landmarks, explored cities and small towns, and experienced everything from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Coast and back again. Now, looking at these souvenirs, each one tells a little part of that story.

• The Grand Canyon reminds us of the breathtaking views in Arizona.
• Hoover Dam brings back memories of one of America’s greatest engineering achievements.
• Groom, Texas reminds us of the enormous Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Gallup brings back our stay at the historic Hotel El Rancho.
• Las Vegas reminds us of several days exploring the Strip.
• And the New Orleans souvenirs bring back our final days of the trip before beginning the long drive home.

Bringing the Adventure Home

One of the best things about taking a long road trip is that the memories don’t end when you pull back into your driveway. Every time we see one of these souvenirs, we can remember where we bought it, what we saw that day, and the miles we traveled to get there. After 15 days and 6,169 miles in our Jeep Gladiator, we had accumulated quite a collection of memories—and a few things to put on the shelf. Our California road trip may have ended, but these souvenirs make sure that a little piece of the adventure is still with us. And there was still one more part of our New Orleans experience I wanted to share—the beautiful interior of St. Louis Cathedral, which deserves a post of its own.