1. Snow Globes from Roadside Gift Shops
There’s just something magical about a tiny world inside a globe, Kim Hart from Artsy explains. Whether it was the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, or a random “Welcome to Ohio” sign, kids loved turning it upside down and watching the fake snow swirl. These were especially popular in the ‘80s and ‘90s, when gift shops everywhere stocked them in plastic or glass versions. They were fragile, yes, but that only made them feel extra special.
Parents might groan at the clutter, but for kids, it was a way to bottle up the entire trip. Snow globes were a mini version of memory-keeping before smartphones. You could practically hear the tune of a music box when you looked at one. And let’s be honest—most of them leaked eventually, but we kept them anyway.
2. State-Shaped Magnets
Fridge magnets shaped like U.S. states became a staple of family road trips. Every Stuckey’s or Cracker Barrel sold them, often in bright colors with cheesy icons representing the state—like a cowboy boot for Texas or a peach for Georgia. The ultimate goal? Complete the whole country on your mom’s fridge.
Even if you’d never been to North Dakota, odds are someone grabbed that magnet just to fill in the gap. They made kitchens into unofficial travel maps. Some were made of rubbery plastic, others hard resin, but all were kitschy perfection. And let’s not forget how easily they doubled as tiny toys on long car rides.
3. Pressed Pennies
You’d put your shiny penny in the machine, crank the lever with all your might, and out came a squished souvenir etched with the attraction’s name. Pressed penny machines were everywhere from national parks to zoos to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums, according to Michael Weissenstein and Joseph B. Frederick from AP News. They only cost 51 cents—two quarters and a penny—but the memory was priceless. It felt like you were creating your own treasure.
Kids collected them like Pokémon cards, and many came home with special little albums to keep them in. Each design was a badge of honor, proof you’d been there. The designs were often comically low-res, but that didn’t matter. It was the thrill of the crank and the clink that sealed the deal.
4. Seashell Necklaces
Whether you visited Myrtle Beach, Key West, or the Jersey Shore, chances are you went home with a string of pastel shells around your neck. These necklaces usually came from tourist shops near the boardwalk and felt very exotic when you were eight. Some even had a little puka shell or plastic shark tooth mixed in for flair. They were the ultimate beach badge, according to Werneri Grundström from Nobbier.
You’d wear it proudly for a few days until the string inevitably broke or the shells started to smell weird. Still, it was the beachy equivalent of a crown. For inland kids especially, it screamed “I’ve seen the ocean.” And bonus: they were super cheap and easy for parents to say yes to.
5. Mini License Plates With Your Name
These were found hanging in rotating wire racks at nearly every rest stop in America. The goal was always to find your name—or at least a close enough spelling. They came in all colors, mimicked real license plates, and were the holy grail for kids with common names. Seeing “Ashley” or “Michael” on a plate somehow felt wildly personal.
If your name was unusual, you learned the sting of being left out. But if you scored one, it went straight on your bedroom door or backpack. Some even came with chains so you could wear them as a necklace, which felt like a power move. It was the perfect souvenir for kids who wanted something “official-looking.”
6. Plastic Tomahawks from Historic Parks
Places like Colonial Williamsburg or roadside pioneer forts always had plastic tomahawks in the gift shop. Often wrapped in faux leather and topped with neon feathers, they were less historically accurate and more “awesome play weapon.” They appealed to the pirate-loving, action-figure-toting crowd. And they made great props for sibling sword fights.
These were usually bought with allowance money and immediately used on the walk back to the car. They didn’t last long—cheap plastic and all—but while they held up, they were treasured. Parents usually regretted saying yes once the backseat battles began. But for kids, they were the ultimate mix of history and playtime.
7. Coonskin Caps
Thanks to Davy Crockett reruns and visits to places like Silver Dollar City or the Alamo, these fuzzy hats were a surprisingly popular buy, according to Melissa Gaskill from Texas Highways. Made from synthetic fur and usually featuring a striped “tail” in the back, they turned any kid into an instant frontiersman. Wearing one felt like being on an adventure, even if it was just walking through a Cracker Barrel. Some even came with matching pop guns or mini canteens.
Kids didn’t care that they were sweaty or looked ridiculous—they made you feel cool. You’d proudly wear them until your head started itching or someone at the gas station laughed. For a few glorious hours, you were king of the wild frontier. Bonus points if you made your parents call you “Daniel Boone.”
8. Alligator Heads from the South
In Florida, Louisiana, or along the Gulf Coast, you could walk into a gas station and come out with a real taxidermy baby gator head. Morbid? A little. But to a kid, it was the ultimate “gross but cool” trophy.
These were surprisingly easy to find in places like Everglades gift shops or along the swamp tour routes. They came with the mouth open, little teeth bared, and usually a sticker underneath that said “Made in USA.” It often sat on a bookshelf next to your rock collection or Hot Wheels. Nothing said “I went somewhere wild” quite like an actual reptile skull.
9. Native American–Style Beaded Keychains
Sold at roadside stands near the Southwest and across parts of the Midwest, these keychains were full of vibrant colors and simple geometric patterns. They were often made with plastic pony beads and had a little suede or leather loop to hang them. For kids, it was less about cultural significance and more about how shiny and colorful they were. You’d attach it to your zipper or backpack with pride.
Some even came as DIY kits you could make in the hotel room after dinner. They were a cheap, hands-on way to engage with your trip. Of course, many of them fell apart after a week, but that didn’t matter. For the moment, they were pure magic.
10. Rock Candy on a Stick
No visit to a historic mining town or old-fashioned general store was complete without some rock candy. The sugary crystals grew around a wooden stick and came in every neon color imaginable. It was visually stunning—like science and candy had a baby. And for kids, the idea of eating literal “rocks” was too good to pass up.
You’d spend a solid five minutes just admiring it before the first crunch. It was impossible to finish without turning your lips blue or purple. Parents hated it for the mess, but that didn’t stop anyone. Rock candy was an edible keepsake and pure nostalgic sugar.
11. Glow-in-the-Dark T-Shirts
These were peak ‘90s vacation wear, often bought at amusement parks, planetariums, or science centers. The shirts usually had neon graphics—think wolves howling at the moon or a solar system—and came alive under blacklight. As a kid, owning one made you feel like you had superpowers. Bonus points if it had your destination’s name written in some intergalactic font.
They weren’t exactly breathable, but they were unforgettable. You’d wear it nonstop until the glow faded or your mom decided it needed a “rest.” For a brief, glorious moment, you were the coolest kid in the hotel arcade. And if your sibling got one too, it became an unspoken competition over whose glowed brighter.
12. Foam Dinosaur Toys from Museums
Every kid who visited a natural history museum came out with a tiny T-Rex or triceratops in hand. These foam or rubber dinos were usually squishy, bendable, and slightly sticky right out of the bin. Sometimes they came in tubes labeled “prehistoric pals,” and sometimes they were individually wrapped in plastic with “Made in China” tags. Either way, they were irresistible.
You’d reenact Jurassic Park scenes in the backseat before you even left the parking lot. The detail on them was pretty good for a $3 toy, and they held up better than most. Over time, the color would fade and maybe a tail would rip off, but it didn’t matter. These dinos ruled the toy box for years.
13. Giant Pencils from Tourist Attractions
No one ever used these to actually write, but every kid had at least one giant novelty pencil from a tourist trap. They were often 15 inches long, impossible to sharpen, and had “Grand Canyon” or “Niagara Falls” stamped in gold foil down the side. You probably bought one near the checkout register as an afterthought. But once you had it, it became a prized possession.
You’d wave it around like a wand, pretend it was a sword, or just let it gather dust on your desk. The erasers were usually useless, and it didn’t fit in any pencil case. But it made a statement—you had been somewhere. And for $2.99, it was totally worth it.
14. Viewfinder Reels from Landmarks
Before smartphones, viewfinders were the ultimate visual souvenir. You’d get a circular reel featuring 3D images of wherever you’d just visited—Disneyland, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, you name it. Pop it into your red plastic viewfinder, click the side lever, and boom—you were back on vacation. It was like holding a slideshow in your hand.
You’d cycle through the images over and over, memorizing the order and picking favorites. Some reels were so well-worn they started to stick. But it didn’t matter—it was immersive, magical, and totally analog. For visual learners, it beat the pants off a postcard.
15. Plastic Snow-Capped Mountain Figurines
Found mostly in Western tourist towns like Estes Park or Jackson Hole, these little plastic mountains came mounted on fake wood bases. They usually had a label like “Pikes Peak” or “Rocky Mountains” on the front in gold script. Some even included tiny trees or climbers molded into the side. They were part toy, part trophy, and weirdly irresistible.
They weren’t really to scale and didn’t serve a purpose, but they looked awesome on a kid’s shelf. Holding one felt like you’d conquered nature, even if all you did was ride the tram up. Parents thought they were pointless, but kids saw them as adventure medals. They were like the mountain version of a snow globe—proud, miniature proof you’d been somewhere epic.
