Hello fellow travelers! One of my favorite souvenirs to get when traveling are apparel items such as t-shirts, hoodies, and whatnot. Here are all the pieces from my travel apparel collection!
Sweet Like Iowa Corn shirt from Machine Shed
I picked up this “Sweet Like Iowa Corn” shirt from The Machine Shed in Davenport, Iowa. It’s this lovely blue-grey shade. There is a cute little corn decal on the front. I couldn’t resist how perfectly it captures that Midwest charm!
Mount Rushmore Shirt
I picked up this shirt during my visit to Mount Rushmore over the summer (post coming soon!). It’s a beautiful teal shade. It features the four presidents carved into the monument and has the date the sculpture was completed. It is a perfect keepsake to remember the trip by.
Yellowstone Shirt
During my road trip through the Midwest and Western states, one of my favorite stops was Yellowstone National Park. I couldn’t resist picking up this “Oldest and Best Yellowstone National Park” tee as a keepsake. It’s a soft, teal blue color that instantly reminds me of the park’s vast skies and tranquil hot springs. The design is simple. It features a bear and the park’s founding year, 1872. This makes it both classic and cozy. It is a perfect souvenir to remember one of America’s most iconic landscapes.
badlands shirt
This Badlands National Park shirt is one of the brightest pieces in my collection. It is a vibrant hot pink that perfectly captures the warmth and boldness of the South Dakota landscape. The front features bold black lettering with the park’s name and its founding year. It highlights 1939, along with a silhouette of a bear. It’s a cheerful reminder of the rugged beauty and wildlife that can be found in the Midwest.
Studebaker Museum Shirt
This Studebaker shirt is from the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. It is one of the more unique stops from my Midwest and Western road trip. The design has a classic, vintage feel. It features a soft yellow background. There is bold blue collegiate lettering that reads “Studebaker Est. 1852 South Bend, Indiana.” I love how it reflects the city’s automotive history while still being simple and wearable. It’s the perfect nod to both nostalgia and craftsmanship — a comfortable souvenir that feels timeless.
Wall, South Dakota Shirt
This Wall, South Dakota shirt was such a fun find. I discovered it during my road trip stop at Wall Drug. This location is one of the most iconic roadside attractions in the Midwest. The shirt is a deep maroon color. It features a bold white cowboy graphic and distressed lettering. This gives it that rugged, vintage feel. It reads “Rugged & Durable, Genuine Article,” which feels perfectly fitting for the spirit of South Dakota. It’s comfy, classic, and a great reminder of the quirky charm that makes small-town stops like Wall so memorable.
Deadwood Outfitters Tipsy Buffalo Shirt
This Tipsy Buffalo Bar shirt is from Deadwood, South Dakota. It is one of the most charming and historic towns. I visited it on my Midwest and Western road trip. The shirt is a classic black. It has a bold white vintage-inspired print that gives off an old-saloon vibe that’s perfect for Deadwood’s Wild West atmosphere. It features the fictional bar’s name, “Tipsy Buffalo,” framed by ornate western scroll work and the words “Established 2024.” I love how it captures the playful energy of the town. It is a fun souvenir that brings back memories. I remember exploring Deadwood’s streets and history.
Amana Shirt
This Amana, Iowa shirt quickly became one of my favorites for its simple, botanical design. It’s a soft navy blue tee. It features a delicate white floral illustration. The illustration is framed with clean lines. The town’s name is written underneath. I picked it up while exploring the Amana Colonies, a charming cluster of historic villages. These villages are known for their craftsmanship and small-town warmth. The design feels calm and nature-inspired — the perfect reflection of Amana’s peaceful atmosphere.
Great White Buffalo Shirt
This Great White Buffalo shirt is another fun find from Wall, South Dakota. This town is full of western charm and quirky personality. The shirt is a heathered charcoal gray. It features a distressed white buffalo graphic and bold text that reads, “The One That Got Away.” I love how it captures the adventurous spirit of the Midwest and the rugged feel of the open plains. It is soft, simple, and has that vintage souvenir look. It instantly reminds me of road trip pit stops and quiet stretches of highway.
Corn Palace Bedazzled Hoodie
This Corn Palace hoodie from Mitchell, South Dakota is one of my coziest souvenirs from the trip. The dusty rose color gives it such a soft, vintage feel. The sparkling rhinestone corn design adds a touch of playful charm. It’s lightweight yet comfy — perfect for those cooler travel days. I love how it captures the fun, quirky spirit of the Corn Palace. It’s a roadside gem known for its corn-themed murals. It also embodies Midwest hospitality.
Badlands Sweatshirt
This Badlands, South Dakota sweatshirt is the perfect cozy piece. It helps me remember my time exploring one of the most breathtaking parks in the Midwest. It’s a soft charcoal gray. The simple white script lettering gives it a clean and minimal look. It still feels stylish. The lightweight material makes it great for layering. It’s ideal for those chilly mornings on the road and for cool evenings watching the sunset over the Badlands. It’s one of those pieces that balances comfort and sentiment beautifully.
Black Hills Shirt
This Black Hills, South Dakota shirt is incredibly soft. It’s among the most relaxed tees I picked up during my road trip. The dusty periwinkle-blue color promptly caught my eye — it’s calm and pretty, yet still feels adventurous. The collegiate-style white lettering gives it a classic souvenir look, reminiscent of a cozy campus tee. It’s simple and comfortable. It reminds me perfectly of the scenic drives, forested hills, and peaceful moments spent in the Black Hills region.
Badlands National Park Shirt
This Badlands National Park shirt quickly became one of my favorite souvenirs from South Dakota. The front features a small minimalist logo with a buffalo and mountain design. The back showcases a stunning scenic illustration of the rugged cliffs of the Badlands. They are set under a starlit sky and crescent moon. The muted desert tones blend beautifully against the black background, creating a dreamy, nature-inspired look. It perfectly captures the quiet, otherworldly beauty of the park. It is the landscape that makes you pause. You just breathe it all in.
The Black Veil Skeleton Shirt
This long-sleeve skeleton shirt from The Black Veil in Salem, Massachusetts is one of my favorite spooky finds. The design features a detailed white ribcage and bone illustration. It is complete with spiders and cobwebs woven throughout. This gives it an eerie yet artistic touch. The contrast against the black fabric makes it perfect for the Halloween season. It’s great for any time I want to channel gothic charm. I love that it came from Salem, a town that fully embraces the mysterious and macabre.
Navy Blue Salem Shirt
This Salem, Massachusetts shirt came from the Salem Witch Museum, one of the most iconic spots in town. The design is simple but bold. It features a faded navy blue tee with distressed golden lettering that reads “Salem 1692.” This is a nod to the year of the infamous witch trials. The vintage-style print gives it that perfectly worn, spooky vibe that fits Salem’s history so well. It’s a classic souvenir that instantly brings back memories of cobblestone streets, candlelit tours, and the town’s hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.
Boston Hoodie
This Boston, Massachusetts hoodie is one of those classic souvenirs that you can never go wrong with. It’s a deep navy blue with bold white collegiate lettering across the front, giving it that timeless, campus-inspired look. I picked it up during my visit to Boston. It’s quickly become one of my favorite travel hoodies. The hoodie is soft and warm and perfect for chilly mornings or relaxed travel days. It’s simple, comfortable, and instantly reminds me of wandering along the harbor and exploring the city’s historic charm.
Harvard Long Sleeved Shirt
This Harvard University long-sleeve shirt was actually a find from a souvenir shop near Boston Common. I didn’t visit the Harvard campus, but I couldn’t resist picking it up! The deep crimson color is so classic. The white collegiate lettering paired with the Harvard crest gives it that timeless Ivy League feel. It’s soft, comfortable, and has that perfect “New England fall” aesthetic. I didn’t make it to Cambridge. Still, this shirt still makes me think of Boston’s history. It also reminds me of its charm and crisp autumn air.
New England Aquarium Shirt
This New England Aquarium shirt is one of my favorite Boston souvenirs — simple, soft, and irresistibly cute. The heather gray fabric features a clean navy-blue logo. In the center is a penguin. It is surrounded by the aquarium’s name and the year it was established, 1969. I picked it up after visiting the aquarium, where the penguin exhibit completely stole my heart. It reminds me of that day by the harbor. It brings back the peaceful feeling of watching the penguins waddle and swim.
Peddler’s Village Tie-Dye Shirt
This Peddler’s Village shirt from Bucks County, Pennsylvania is such a cheerful and vibrant souvenir. The tie-dye swirl of pastel pinks, yellows, blues, and greens instantly brings a sense of fun and nostalgia. The shirt features a small white logo on the front that reads “Peddler’s Village, Bucks County, PA.” This keeps the design balanced between playful and classic. I love how it perfectly captures the whimsical, small-town charm of Peddler’s Village. It is a place filled with boutique shops, cobblestone paths, and cozy cafe corners.
Rhode Island Shirt
This Rhode Island shirt is a classic black tee. It features bold white lettering that reads “Rhode Island – The Ocean State.” I didn’t find it in a local shop during my trip. However, I ordered it from Amazon afterward. This helped me remember my visit. The design features a simple map outline of the state. It also includes the year it was established, 1790. This combination gives it that timeless, vintage feel. It’s soft and minimal. It reminds me of Rhode Island’s laid-back coastal charm. The charm spans from ocean views to the harbor towns that inspired its nickname.
This Newport, Rhode Island hoodie might have been an Amazon find. It perfectly captures the coastal charm of the city. It’s a navy blue zip-up hoodie with white lettering that reads “Newport, Rhode Island – Est. 1639,” featuring a simple crossed oar design in the center. I didn’t pick it up during my visit. Even so, it instantly reminds me of the nautical vibe Newport is known for. The sailboats, ocean breeze, and seaside shops come to mind. It’s cozy and classic. It’s a lovely piece to wear on cooler days. During those times, I want to feel that New England coast energy again.
Mystic Aquarium Hoodie
This Mystic Aquarium hoodie is one of my coziest souvenirs from Connecticut. It’s a navy blue pullover. The pullover features a clean white penguin logo. Surrounding the logo are the words “Mystic Aquarium – Connecticut – 1973.” The simple, modern design perfectly matches the calm, ocean-inspired atmosphere of the aquarium itself. I picked it up after spending the day admiring the penguins, sea lions, and jellyfish. It’s the perfect comfy reminder of a peaceful coastal visit. It symbolizes one of my favorite aquariums in New England.
Mystic, CT Tie Dye Shirt
This Mystic, Connecticut shirt instantly reminds me of the laid-back coastal vibe of the town. It’s a soft tie-dye tee. The tee features swirls of mint green, pale blue, and soft lavender. “Mystic, CT” is printed in white across the back. The colors feel calm and beachy, like ocean waves meeting the sky. It’s such a fun and relaxed souvenir. It perfectly captures the seaside charm of Mystic. It’s cozy enough for lounging, but cute enough to wear out on a casual day.
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Sweatshirt
This Rehoboth Beach, Delaware sweatshirt was another Amazon find. It still perfectly captures the relaxed coastal vibe of the beach town. It’s a black crewneck with bold white lettering that reads “Rehoboth Beach – Est. 1873 – Delaware.” The slightly distressed font gives it that vintage, worn-in look that I love. It’s cozy, soft, and ideal for lounging or layering on breezy days. I didn’t buy it on-site, but it still brings back memories of Delaware’s laid-back charm. I remember those classic boardwalk moments by the sea.
Cape May Sweatshirt
This Cape May, New Jersey sweatshirt was an Etsy find, and it quickly became one of my go-to cozy pieces. It’s a simple black crewneck. The bold white lettering reads “Cape May – New Jersey” in a clean, classic font. I love that it has that vintage coastal look — like something you’d pick up from a seaside boutique. I ordered it online. It perfectly captures the beach town charm that Cape May is known for. It also embodies the laid-back elegance of the area.
Final Thoughts
Collecting shirts and hoodies from my travels has slowly become one of my favorite little traditions. Each piece tells its own story. Some are items I picked up in person after exploring a small-town shop. Others are cozy finds I ordered later online when I couldn’t stop thinking about the place. Every piece is a memory. They vary from the pastel tie-dyes of Mystic and Peddler’s Village. They also include the classic black sweatshirts from Cape May and Rehoboth Beach. It’s a glimpse of the road trip, the laughter, and the quiet mornings. It’s the feeling of adventure that lingers long after coming home.
These souvenirs aren’t just clothes. They’re comfort pieces that remind me how travel can stay with us in the simplest ways. We notice it in the textures, colors, and words we wear.
Your Turn
Do you like picking up shirts or hoodies when you travel?
You might have a favorite souvenir tradition of your own. It’s something that always brings you back to a special place. I’d love to hear about it! Share your favorite travel keepsake in the comments below. You can also tag me on Instagram. I’d love to see your collection too.
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