15 Unique Souvenirs from United States
Looking for gifts or souvenirs from the United States?
As a Canadian, I have been to the US more time than I can count. The US is a varied place, with many unique souvenirs that are hard to find abroad.
I also have a sibling who moved to the US, so I’ve been gifted many unique American gifts and souvenirs that you can’t find elsewhere.
The United States is known for many things that make it unique:
- It’s film industry
- It’s food (especially comfort or junk food)
- National Parks
- Indigenous heritage
- Its music; being the birthplace of country and jazz music and many world-famous stars
- Some of the most iconic cities, stores and universities in the world
All of the above mean that there are a variety of special American souvenirs that you can find in the US. Let’s jump in!
Best Souvenirs from the United States
1. Cornbread mix
Cornbread is one of the oldest foods in the Americas and was developed during the colonial period with early European settlers.
It’s associated mostly with the Southern US states, and it also has Native American origins.
Cornbread is now a classic side dish or starter at many American restaurants. It’s often eaten just on its own, or with butter.
In grocery stores, you may be able to find a box of cornbread mix so that you can make it easily on your own at home.
2. Coffee shop souvenirs
Souvenirs from American chain coffee roasteries or chains can make a great souvenir or gift for a coffee or tea lover.
The most obvious one is Starbucks, but there are other options too:
- Gloria Jean’s is an American coffee chain named after an American actress and singer. There are about 1,000 stores across the country. I have a few Gloria Jean souvenirs and love them!
- Dunkin’ Donut’s is icnoc and they have their own merchandise that you can buy
- If you visit Seattle, you can visit the original Starbucks and do the tour and find exclusive Starbucks souvenirs that are not available elsewhere.
3. America-themed clothing
Red, white and blue are the colours and the designs are stars and stripes.
You can find many souvenirs with these kinds of decorations or colours wherever you go in the US.
Check at Walmart, Dollar stores, the airports, and souvenir stores.
4. Souvenirs related to a legendary person
It goes without saying that many Americans have become world-famous and iconic – singers, actors, inventors, presidents, and athletes.
There are sometimes museums dedicated to famous, iconic legendary people that you can visit and find special souvenirs related to that person.
Here are some examples:
- The Johnny Cash Museum in Nashville, Tennessee has many Johnny Cash Souvenirs
- The Amelia Earhart Museum in Atchison, Kansas sells memorabilia related to Amelia’s experiments and achievements
- The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania that sells souvenirs related to this iconic pop star’s career
There are also many, many more. Whether there is a museum or some sort of historic centre, there’s is often a gift shop with really unique souvenirs to that area!
5. National Park Souvenirs
The United States has some of the most iconic national parks in the world.
California has the most, but almost every state has a national park. If you’re an outdoorsy person or enjoy scenic beauty when you travel, you may very well end up at a national park nearby.
National Parks often have a Visitor’s Centre where you can buy souvenirs related to that park.
Many of these visitor centres are huge, and have lots of selection. You can find clothing, bookmarks, stationary, mugs, camping supplies – pretty much anything. And it’s all unique with the National Park name on it.
It makes you look sporty, outdoorsy and adventurous when you wear it at home!
6. Saltwater taffy
Saltwater taffy was invented in the United States, around the 1880s. It’s a bit debated where it originated exactly, but we can be sure that it’s an original American candy.
We aren’t actually huge fans of saltwater taffy, but we bought some when we were visiting Virginia City, a haunted town in the US – and wow, it was actually really good.
We really enjoyed it even though we don’t usually eat saltwater taffy. So I recommend trying some, especially if you come across a candy factory that makes their own.
7. Disney souvenirs
Disney is an American company, and the country is home to two different Disney theme parks as well as Disney Cruise Line.
You can get a lot of Disney souvenirs at:
- The parks or cruise ships
- At airports that are near a Disney resort, such as Florida or California
- The official Disney Store. Many of them have closed down, but still some remain. Check locations here
8. NASA souvenirs
The United States is famous for its space program, and they have been leaders in space research and exploration.
There are a few space-based attractions you can visit in the States:
- Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida
- NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
- Grissom Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
- California Science Center in Los Angeles which a whole space section and US-space related souvenirs
These are where the majority of the best America space-themed souvenirs can be found, but you may find some at Texas, California, Alabama and Florida airports as well.
9. Beer-pong cups
fascinated by beer-pong cups because they’re often seen in popular American TV shows and movies.
They’re popular for the game Beer Pong, but can be used simply for drinking too. And don’t throw them out right away – they can be washed, and reused a few times.
You can find beer pong cups at dollar stores, grocery stores and even on Amazon.
10. University paraphernalia
The US is famous for its Ivy League, world-class universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale and others.
In addition, there are many state universities (California State University.)
One classic American souvenir is a sweatshirt or hoodie from one of these iconic American schools.
You can find one from the college gift shop in whatever state you’re visiting.
11. Cheez-Its
Cheez-its are cheese crackers that were invented in the early 1900s, and have become an iconic American snack.
They come in MANY different flavours, such as Buffalo Wing, Italian Four Cheese, Mozzarella, Pepper Jack, and more.
You can find them at Walmart, convenience stores and many grocery store chains throughout the US.
12. Pop Tarts
Like Cheez-It’s, Pop-Tarts are are another unhealthy American treat.
We actually have had them in Canada for a long time, and they were more popular in the 90s before everyone realized that it was like eating 2 cups of white sugar every morning.
Still though, if you’re coming from overseas and you’ve never had a pop tart – try it! they are good. But they’re VERY sweet, and would probably make a better snack or dessert as opposed to a breakfast.
13. Sports team’s jerseys and paraphernalia
Many Americans tend to love their sports, and there’s a lot of pride and togetherness that comes with cheering on their team.
Each city has their own sports teams that are popular – whether its the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL.
You can find team jerseys in department stores, but sometimes you can find more expensive, higher-quality ones at the official team brand store, which could be available in person or online.
14. In and Out merchandise
In and Out Burger is famous for its classic, original American burger. Nothing fancy – but that’s what people like about it.
You may come across an In and Out Burger if you’re travelling through the western states. They have MANY locations in the west. See a full guide here so you can see if there’s one near where you’ll be visiting.
15. A bottle of wine
If you enjoy a bottle of wine as a souvenir, then there are several US states that have vineyards and produce their own wine.
New York, Oregon, California, Washington and Michigan are all winemaking regions. You could buy a bottle at a vineyard if you’re in one of those states, or at Total Wine & More ( the largest wine retailer in the US.)
California is the biggest wine-maker in the country, and makes the most world-reknowned wine. But don’t discredit the others.
Read my post on California-specific souvenirs here
16. Dream catchers
Dream catchers are routed in Native American heritage. They come from the Ojibwe tribe inhabited the US states near the Great Lakes, and also in southern Canada.
As such, they can be a souvenir from Canada as well.
American Souvenirs FAQ
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on Google about souvenirs you can bring home from the US, and how to know the best American souvenirs to buy
What is the most popular thing in the US?
Several things are very popular in the US – sports (especially baseball and American football), movies and music, and classic invented in America snacks.
What products is America known for?
America is known for many products – their wine, nuts, beer, as well as their highly popular movie and music scene.
Final Thoughts on Souvenirs from United States
I hope that this article has given you some great ideas of gifts or souvenirs from the United States that are unique to the country and not something you often find elsewhere. It was certainly fun to write, and I hope that you found something to look out for as a special American souvenir or gift