Weird Souvenirs To Send Through The Mail

Souvenirs are a thoughtful gesture, and everyone loves receiving snail mail, so why not combine the two? Here are a few weird, unusual and fun things you can send to your friends or family the next time you’re abroad.

When in Hawai’i, don’t bother with a box or shipping materials, just slap a few stamps on a coconut and you’re good to go. In fact, the post office in Molokai will even provide the coconut for you. If you decide to find your own, you’ll want a completely dry coconut to withstand the long journey. Sometimes you can ask landscapers at your resort if they happen to see any to pass them along.

The U.S. post office will allow you to send seashells through the mail, as long as they’re big enough to fit an address and the proper amount of postage. Scour the beaches of your favorite U.S. vacation spot for just the right pick, and then send it back home to your best friend. Along the same lines, you can also send a flip-flop through the mail. Pick up a pair sporting the name of your destination at any souvenir shop.

Not sure you want to stand in line at the post office with something so ridiculous as a coconut or a lone flip-flop? Send a good old-fashioned letter, but enclose it in an envelope created from something you’ll only find where you happen to be traveling. This is an especially good option while abroad, just so there’s no need to check up on the local postal rules regarding mailing unpackaged objects. Use a museum brochure, a public transportation map or even a paper menu. Take a regular envelope, delicately pull it apart where glued, being careful not to rip and then spread it out on your chosen medium. Trace the outline of the deconstructed envelope, cut out the new envelope and fold and tape where needed. It’s sure to be a colorful and fun surprise for your recipient.