This is a time capsule worth opening.
Extraordinary things are happening this year. Hannah Montana had a moment. The world watched Madonna and Shakira perform at the first-ever World Cup halftime. And Meryl Streep struck the big screen with her snark again. Since nostalgia seems to be a theme in 2026, we wanted to open another time capsule: Fodor’s Travel is celebrating 90 years this year.
As a retro nod to our history, we’ve launched a vintage North America t-shirt collection featuring the covers of Fodor’s Guides Mexico 1982, Canada 1985, Los Angeles 1985, New England 1987, and Hawaii 1983. Our Shopify store is open, and the tees are now available for purchase.
The ‘80s Aesthetic
There is nostalgia in finding an old version of a Fodor’s guidebook at a flea market with margins filled with comments from the traveler who once used it. We’ve had readers who have grown up with parents pouring through the pages of our guidebooks and those who have lived a lifetime with them. Some still find themselves going back to their physical copies. Our guidebooks have lived many a lifetime—thanks to travelers who are always ready to seek an adventure. And now you see them sometimes being sold as “vintage” on Etsy!
With this in mind, we are creating a moment with our t-shirts that feature old covers from 1980s guidebooks. A fun nod to our legacy—and your experiences.
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Why the ‘80s, you ask? Fodor’s guidebooks first appeared on the scene in 1936, and between 1950 and 1975, the brand published more than 10 million guidebooks. Little changed in terms of cover: it always had the outline of the country, its name, and the year of the edition. But in the 1980s, the guidebooks started looking very different. The Mexico guide debuted an illustrated cover in 1982, and soon, the face of the books became more visual.
We’re bringing back this aesthetic from our ‘80s era, so think of it as opening a time capsule. Something to remind you of a trip you may have taken as a kid; a moment of reflection on the stories you heard of your parents’ journeys; an item of memorabilia for your next trip.
The current collection features five covers from our past: Mexico 1982, Canada 1985, Los Angeles 1985, New England 1987, and Hawaii 1983. Available in multiple colors and sizes from small to 5XL, these are 100% cotton, unisex t-shirts that offer a structured look, perfect to layer a streetwear outfit.
They don’t just look good in a library–these archival artworks are just as iconic when you try them on.
90 Years of Inspiration
Fodor’s Travel came into existence nine decades ago when in 1936, Eugene Fodor published a guidebook for British travelers: 1936 On the Continent: An Entertaining Travel Annual. The good, old-fashioned guide was a 1,200-page encyclopedia, and for the first time, readers got acquainted with culture, people, and travel etiquette along with details on sights and attractions. This was the dawn of a new era.
In the 1980s, he promoted tourism to the U.S., and after the company was acquired by Random House, it got a new logo and underwent a design revamp. And it continued to inspire. The guidebooks carried a comprehensive overview of destinations, including practical information, state and city maps, and a breakdown of what to see and do. The website, Fodors.com, went live in 1996, and our first ebook was published in 2001.
Fast-forward to 2026, and we have published guidebooks on more than 800 destinations around the world. A team of 700 local writers and travel experts helps travelers experience the joys of travel, with these guidebooks as their beacon. As the world changed from print to ebooks to social media, so have we: you can find inspiration across all of our offerings.
If you’d like to purchase one of our tees, head over to our Shopify store.