Taking sand from beaches

What should I put the sand in so it doesn't spill in my suitcase? Also is the sand at Freeport, and Nassau nice?(those are the islands that I'm visiting on my cruise)

I use zip lock bags and have not had a problem. If flying, you may want to double up the bags. Good Luck.

I use zip lock bags and have not had a problem. If flying, you may want to double up the bags. Good Luck.

I've used the little plastic 35 mm film containers that I saved for years. Maybe that dates me:o!

Thanks for the answers, I don't have any film containers because I haven't used those types of cameras in a LONG time. I think I'll just bring plastic bags.

What about prescription (Rx) bottles? You will need a 12 year old to open them!

Collecting sand from beaches reminds me of Saving Private Ryan.

Kirk

What about prescription (Rx) bottles? You will need a 12 year old to open them!

I was thinking that too but orange ones the all white ones

I was thinking that too but * orange ones the all white ones

*not the

I started a collection a few years back and purchase little decorative bottles from the area to keep it in once I am home. I agree zip-top bags are the best!

I'm looknig forward to adding some pink Bermuda sand to my collection in 2012.

I'm looknig forward to adding some pink Bermuda sand to my collection in 2012.

I also looking to getting some samples of Pink sand... we will be visiting Bermuda in 2 weeks...

I just brought sand back from Barcelona in zip lock bag. Got it pre-cruise. No problem at all.

Let it sit with the top open on the vanity in our cabin until it completely dried out while cruising.

I started going to the thrift store months before my cruise and looking for blue jars from Italy after accidentally finding one that was really cute. I have a nice assortment of the blue glass items now (I always make sure they are printed from Italy on the bottom) and I put in them:

1--sand from Barcelona

2--lava from Mt. Etna

3--shells from Croatia

I still have other jars/corked bottles to use in the future. Kind of a little "collage" of sand, etc.

We collect coins

For those of you who collect sand...

My birthday just passed and to celebrate my hubby planned my day around a beach theme. One of the special treats he gave me was a set of little glass bottles with a cork top. They're the perfect size for my growing collection. He purchased them thru an online company and if anyone is interested, I'll ask him for the co. name.

Seeshore - What a great birthday theme. I've been looking for something cute for my sand collection so I would love to know the name of the company. Thanks.

What should I put the sand in so it doesn't spill in my suitcase? Also is the sand at Freeport, and Nassau nice?(those are the islands that I'm visiting on my cruise)

US Customs Regulations ..... Soil ( which sand is considered) is prohibited to brought back. Tough many have successfully brought it back into the US it can be confiscated if you randamly selected to have a full inspection. Read page 49 of the attached document.

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/kbyg_regulations.ctt/kbyg_regulations.pdf

Seeshore - What a great birthday theme. I've been looking for something cute for my sand collection so I would love to know the name of the company. Thanks.

bagelmom6-It's called the Sunburst Bottle Company. I did a search and easily found the site. I still plan to pick up decorative bottles when I'm on a special vaca to a new port but I'll use these bottles to fill in my collection. We're going to the Outer Banks in a couple of weeks so I'll be using one then. My plan is to find small labels, you know the oval ones with the letters designating the beach town, or I'll make them myself.

What should I put the sand in so it doesn't spill in my suitcase? Also is the sand at Freeport, and Nassau nice?(those are the islands that I'm visiting on my cruise)

I thought I was the only one that took sand home. When we cruised Hawaii in 2003, I was sitting on Waikiki Beach and thought, I wish I could take some Waikiki Beach Sand home. I had bought a small bottle of water and it was empty and I just filled that up with sand. I did that on Fanning Island also. To me it was the best souvineer I brought home and everyone wanted some of my Waikiki Beach sand. Those bottles of sand sit in my curio cabinet and I would'nt part with them for the world. I also pick up small rocks and mark them.

What should I put the sand in so it doesn't spill in my suitcase? Also is the sand at Freeport, and Nassau nice?(those are the islands that I'm visiting on my cruise)

I thought I was the only one that took sand home. When we cruised Hawaii in 2003, I was sitting on Waikiki Beach and thought, I wish I could take some Waikiki Beach Sand home. I had bought a small bottle of water and it was empty and I just filled that up with sand. I did that on Fanning Island also. To me it was the best souvineer I brought home and everyone wanted some of my Waikiki Beach sand. Those bottles of sand sit in my curio cabinet and I would'nt part with them for the world. I also pick up small rocks and mark them.

For me, not only is sand brought home but rocks, shells, sea glass, etc............ :)

Since my DD was little, rocks have been a collectable! :) (she is now 33 and a geologist)

@ xxoocruiser: This is what CBP says -

Soil, Sand, Minerals, and Shells

"Soil-borne organisms threaten both plants and animals. If you visited a farm or ranch in a foreign country, agricultural specialists may have to examine and disinfect your shoes or clothing. Vehicles must also be cleaned of any soil. No soil or earth of any kind is allowed into the United States without a permit issued in advance by USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine Permit Unit. Pure sand, such as a small container of decorative beach sand, is usually allowed. Always check with the permit unit in advance for details."

I plan on bringing some home on my next cruise!:cool:

You can buy those clear, plastic Christmas ornaments at Hobby Lobby, Micheal's, etc. and put sand from various vacations in the ornaments, then decorate with paints, glue on other small things purchased while on vacation, etc. Put the date and place on the ornament. Every year when you put up your tree, you will have your sand ornaments to remind you of your vacations!

Carole

Container store sells nice small, smaller and smallest clear glass bottles with black lids. I put a sticker on the bottle lid that tells me where it came from and the date. I have quite a sand collection. My children ridicule me. :)

Sand is inert. It won't hurt anything. It is not the same as sand.

Seeshore - What a great birthday theme.

On my mother-in-law's 75th birthday, we bought a large glass jar, and 24 packets of colored sand. Her children and grandchildren that attended the party, each told her what she had meant to them, then poured a layer of sand into the jar. Some family from across the country phoned in, while another family member poured the sand. She now has a nice keepsake memento to display.

I got the idea from a wedding, in which each family had members do this.

Maybe you could start a little cruise sand jar, and keep adding layers of sand to it from each place.