As the third-most populous state in the United States, Florida is nearly a country of its own. Florida goes so far south that parts of it aren’t even culturally the South, but something else entirely.
With endless, soft-sand beaches, bustling modern cities, wetlands and swamps, theme parks, and tranquil islands, Florida offers visitors a plethora of experiences. No matter where you go, you can bet it’ll be a unique trip that you can’t get in any other state — or in any other part of Florida.
So how do you commemorate your trip to the Sunshine State? Peruse this list of the 21 best souvenirs from Florida to bring home with you.
Table of Contents
1. Rockets, or something else out of this world
As Florida is home to Space Coast, it only makes sense that something out of this world is among the best souvenirs to buy in Florida. From rocket miniatures to frozen astronaut food, there are so many space-related options.
You can browse the gift shop at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex after catching sight of a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral.
2. Parks Passport
For the nature nerds out there, a Parks passport is a great souvenir from Florida to track your outdoor adventures. Florida is home to 11 National Park Services units, including Everglades National Park and Canaveral National Seashore.
The best part about the parks passport is it’s the gift that keeps on giving — get your passport stamped with each stop at an NPS unit in Florida and then carry it with you as you can continue exploring the United States’ great outdoors.
3. Cuban coffee
South Florida and Cuba have an unbreakable cultural bond due to the significant Cuban immigration over the past several decades. Cuban culture is known for its love of coffee, and that has extended to cities like Miami and beyond.
Pick up a tin or two of Bustelo ground coffee, the official-unofficial coffee of South Florida, or other brands like Mayorga and La Llave. With a cup or two of Cuban coffee, you’ll never run out of energy.
4. A cafetera
If you’re getting coffee, it’s a necessity that you get a cafetera as well. These metallic, stovetop espresso makers are quintessential for the true Cuban coffee experience — putting ground espresso coffee in a drip machine is a cardinal sin.
Also known as Moka pots, you can find these in supermarkets, coffee shops, and on sale online. A cafetera makes all the difference. Take it from me, as I had two cups of cafetera coffee before sitting down to write this article.
5. Coffee cups
To complete the trifecta of Cuban coffee, you need to have some little espresso cups, or tazas, to go along with them. Perfectly sized for a robust espresso and a splash or two of milk, these cups round out the coffee-drinking experience.
Search for some craft espresso cups in a local café or market or browse sites like Etsy to support independent artists.
6. Bottle of sand
Sometimes, instead of buying a souvenir, it’s better to make your own. If you’re in Florida for a beach vacation, buy a little glass bottle with a cork stop at a supermarket or corner store. Then, at your favorite beach, scoop some sand into it.
This easy and affordable Florida souvenir bottles up all those good, sandy memories from your unforgettable trip.
7. Seashell selfies
Everyone has taken seashells from beaches at some point in their lives. It’s hard to resist the marine allure of these natural creations. But did you know seashells provide vital ecosystem functions and sometimes are collected with live animals inside?
If you see a beautiful shell on any of Florida’s marvelous beaches, the best thing you can do is admire without taking it. Snap a selfie, sketch a drawing, or just marvel at the art of nature.
Beaches where shells are not collected have been shown to be healthier ecosystems for sea creatures.
8. Postcards
Postcards may be a bit cliché, but they’re certainly timeless. A great Florida souvenir is a unique postcard. I buy a postcard or two everywhere I visit, preferring to buy them from local art studios that I have a knack for stumbling upon.
Keep an eye out for cute studios or local artist stalls at markets. There are many unique postcard styles and in a place as vast and curious as Florida, you’re bound to find some beautiful ones.
9. Hand-rolled cigars
Another product emblematic of the Cuban cultura influence in Florida is the hand-rolled Cuban cigar.
The Tampa Bay area is particularly known for family-owned companies where cigars are rolled with meticulous care. If you or a loved one are a cigar aficionado, there’s no better souvenir from Florida than a hand-rolled cigar.
10. Souvenir ashtray
You can’t have those cigar ashes falling loose on the floor! Gift your cigars alongside a souvenir ashtray. There are a million styles, from kitschy dollar-store ashtrays with maps of Florida or cartoonish alligators to elegant, wood-carved ashtrays complete with cigar holders.
11. Beach supplies
Anyone who goes to Florida’s beaches once will want to come back. So make sure to purchase some beach supplies that suit you for your next trip to the pristine beaches of the Sunshine State.
Whether it’s a thermos for keeping drinks cool, a handmade beach blanket from a small-town vendor, or a comfortable beach chair, make sure this Florida souvenir prepares you for a long, hot day on the Floridian coast.
12. Anything Disney…
It’s impossible to think of Florida without thinking of Disneyworld. Disneyworld sets the bar for all theme parks across the world and has even worked its way into the idioms of English, where any place can be compared to the “Disneyworld” of its niche.
Bringing home a Disney souvenir from a park visit is essential to the Florida theme park experience. The vast park complex is one of the best places for souvenir shopping in Florida.
13. …or anything Universal
Disneyworld may take center stage, but Universal Studios Escape is a tour de force of theme parks, too.
This theme park is another great place for souvenirs when asking yourself what to buy in Florida. In between the E.T. Adventures and the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, browse the gift stores throughout the park.
14. Chocolates and candy
There’s something about good weather and sunshine that really makes you crave something sweet. Florida is home to so many confectionaries of great quality, from the salted caramels from the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island (I’ve had them, and they’re delicious) to Norman Love Confections in Fort Myers.
No matter where you go, you’ll find some local candy store to settle that sweet tooth.
15. Fountain of youth water
The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine claims to be the mysterious, immortalizing well that Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon searched for.
Bottle up immortality with a vial of water from the well after a visit to this park in the oldest colonial city in the United States.
16. Alligator jerky
Florida is alligator alley. The massive reptiles are ubiquitous in many parts of the state and are the favored prey of hunters in Florida. The season lasts two and a half months and is the source of alligator meat used in world-famous alligator jerky.
If you’re a meat eater looking to expand your palate, pick up a bag or two of alligator jerky during your trip for a nice on-the-go snack.
17. Key lime
Another food-related Florida souvenir is key lime. The name draws from the Florida Keys, the southernmost chain of islands. The annual Key Lime Festival is hosted in Key West, where you can sample the tastiest concoctions derived from the fruit.
Bring a bag back home with you to try your hand at a key lime pie or some key lime cocktails.
18. Athletic gear
Collectively, Florida’s cities are home to 12 professional sports teams including the NBA’s Miami Heat, the NWSL’s Orlando Pride, and the MLB’s Tampa Bay Rays. On top of that, Florida is a powerhouse for minor league and collegiate athletics.
Whether you’re a fan of the teams or not, you can’t deny that Florida’s sports teams are athletic forces. Sports events are a great way to engage with communities when you travel, and there’s no better Florida souvenir to commemorate than some fan gear.
19. Craft art
This Florida souvenir is a bet general, but I thought I’d include it as a reminder that often the best souvenirs are the unique ones.
Florida is home to so many art movements and talented creators, as much in small artist towns like Bradenton and New Smyrna Beach as in cities like Tallahassee and Miami.
Check out local artists near wherever you’re staying and walk away with paintings, sculptures, jewelry, or some other art product.
20. Pastelitos
Cuban bakeries are common across Florida, where you can get some of the best pastelitos, or pastries, around. Put together a box of pastelitos de guayaba (guava), de coco (coconut), and some other varieties to bring some South Florida flavors back home.
A warning — fresh pastries don’t stay fresh for long. Be clever with your timing and packaging. But the worst case scenario is that you scarf down these made-in-Florida food products on your road trip back or in the airport terminal. I think that still counts as a souvenir, right?
21. Thrift store knick-knacks
If you’re like me, you might prefer little assorted knick-knacks to more commercial or thematic souvenirs. I always peruse thrift stores and vintage shops when I travel to see what low-cost, kitschy things I can find.
And in a place as aesthetically…unique as Florida, you’re sure to find some bizarre, eye-catching things. From pamphlets and posters and film photos to funky jewelry and strange figurines, Florida’s many thrift shops, vintage markets, and surplus stores are bound to have all sorts of curios for your tastes.
Where to buy souvenirs from Florida
You can find fresh fruit at supermarkets like Publix and Piggly Wiggly, but it’s always good to search for farmer’s markets near your accommodation for the best quality. Check out a local café like La Colada Gourmet art café in Miami first, but Cuban coffee can also be bought at supermarkets.
For hand-rolled cigars, buy from La Faraona in Ybor City or Habano’s Smoke Shop in Fort Myers. Get pastelitos at local Miami bakeries such as Vito’s Bakery or the multi-location Pinecrest.
Some great thrift stores in Florida include Lotus House Thrift Chic Boutique in Miami, Sunshine Thrift in Tampa, and Dechoes Resale in Orlando. But sometimes the best curios are found in unexpected places.
Art studios and galleries like The Village of the Arts in Bradenton and Oolite Arts in Miami are great for postcards and independent art. Support Indigenous Floridian creators at sales like the Seminole Experience Art Sale in Immokalee.
Conclusion
There are so many options to memorialize your unforgettable trip to Florida. This list of the 21 best souvenirs from Florida is a good place to consider what you want, but nothing is better than choosing a Florida souvenir or gift that feels right when you see it.
