99 Best Shopping in Colorado, USA

Once an apple-packing shed, the Apple Shed has been restored and remodeled into a series of unusual gift shops and arts and crafts galleries. An attached tasting room features their own locally produced Williams Cellars wines and Snow Capped Ciders, while the deli serves breakfast Thursday through Sunday and Mexican fare and sandwiches and salads for lunch and dinner daily.

Show up in downtown Aspen any Saturday from mid-June to early October, and you can enjoy the Aspen Saturday Market, a sort of farmers' market–meets–arts fair. Tents cluster along the corner of Galena and Hopkins and then extend to the intersection of Hyman and Galena. Everything here is Colorado made (or grown), from pottery and paintings to peppers and peaches. Enjoy live music and ready-made foods to eat on the spot.

Boulder's largest independent bookstore stocks thousands of new and used books, including a great selection of photography, history, and art books about Colorado. The bookstore hosts hundreds of community events each year.

This bustling farmers' market brings a hive of activity to 13th Street between Arapahoe Avenue and Canyon Boulevard on Wednesday afternoon from early May to early October, and on Saturday, from April through mid-November. This growers-only market, which has been named the number one farmers' market in the country, features produce, baked goods, flowers, wines and spirits, cheeses, meats, and more straight from the local producers (cherries and peaches are prime in late summer).

Among Boulder's many outdoor equipment stores, Neptune is the longtime local favorite that has been outfitting Boulderites for rock climbing, skiing, camping, and mountaineering since 1973. It’s the real deal, and shopping here comes with a direct view of the Flatirons. The shop is home to one of the largest selections of climbing gear in the country, and it displays one of the largest collections of mountaineering artifacts in the world in its on-site museum. Bonus: Refuel on food, local beer, and coffee at the Neptune Café and Bar.

Denver's REI flagship store, one of four such shops in the country, is yet another testament to the city's adventurous spirit. The store's 94,000 square feet are packed with all stripes of outdoors gear and some special extras: a climbing wall, a mountain-bike track, a white-water chute, and a "cold room" for gauging the protection provided by coats and sleeping bags. There's also a Starbucks inside. Behind the store is the Platte River Greenway, a park path and water area that's accessible to dogs, kids, and kayakers.

This market sells a wide range of fresh and dried fruits, including cherries, pears, apricots, and peaches, as well as chocolate-dipped fruits, nuts, and locally produced jams, jellies, and syrups. During the growing season, the market sells fresh produce as well. There's a second location in Grand Junction.

The gorgeous alpaca garments here—including sweaters, hats, socks, and gloves—as well as cotton and linen dresses, are mostly from Peru.

The family-owned Alpine Arts is the place to go for unique apparel, hats, and souvenirs, as well as beautiful handcrafted pottery, carved wooden boxes, jewelry, and other gifts—most made by Colorado artists and all embodying the state.

Pottery, jewelry, and art supplies are sold at ArtWorks, the museum-style gift shop at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center. The center also hosts visiting artists, summer workshops, and art sales.

With more than 40 years in business, Colorado's largest antique print and map dealer is the place to go if you're looking for rare maps or historic photos of Colorado. Framing and puzzles are also available.

This modern gallery, founded in 1994, helped establish Aspen as a destination for collectors and art buyers. The iconic gallery specializes in contemporary art and is a must for art lovers on a visit to Aspen.

This locally owned bookstore is perfect for browsing through the latest releases while sipping a foam-capped cappuccino from the coffee bar at the back of the shop. You'll also find a good selection of field guides and books on local history.

Locally owned and operated, this gift shop is a treasure trove of trendy collectibles and unique home accents from around the globe.

More than 600 dealers are crammed into a treasure-hunter's paradise, where prices and quality vary. Plan to spend the day if you're serious about searching.

The best place in the area for Tony Lama boots and Minnetonka moccasins is Champion Boots & Saddlery, in business since 1936.

Books and videos are the primary offering here, with more than 400 titles on Ancestral Pueblo and Southwestern topics. You can also find a selection of touristy T-shirts and hats. Hours vary throughout the year.

This family-run business boasts the largest walk-in refrigerator of cheese and cured meat in Colorado. With more than 350 types of cheese, it's no doubt the best place in the state to stock up on all things cheese. Be sure to also check out the massive selection of imported kitchen and household items as well as perfumes.

In a pleasant, predominantly residential neighborhood 2 miles from downtown, the Cherry Creek shopping district has retail blocks and an enclosed mall.

Just north of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center is Cherry Creek North, an open-air development of tree-lined streets and shady plazas with art galleries, specialty shops, and fashionable restaurants.

At Milwaukee Street, the granite-and-glass behemoth Cherry Creek Shopping Center holds some of the nation's top retailers. Its more than 160 stores include Free People, Burberry, H&M, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Neiman Marcus, and Macy's.

The shopkeepers here enjoy playing with the toys as much as their young customers do. This independent shop carries books, imported toys, games, and classics like marbles, dolls, and stuffed animals, as well as adorable clothing.

This longtime co-op gallery is packed with art in various mediums, jewelry, paintings, sculpture, fiber, clay, and glass art. It also hosts an art festival every year around Labor Day.

This square is filled with inexpensive souvenir shops and fine jewelers, upscale eateries and local cafés, plus live entertainment all summer in the courtyard.

This three-story, open-air retail and entertainment complex in downtown Denver houses national chain stores like Sephora, H&M, GNC, and PacSun. There are also restaurants, including Denver's Hard Rock Cafe, and a 15-screen movie theater, the UA Denver Pavilions. Don't expect distinctive local flavor, but it's a practical complement to Larimer Square a few blocks away.

This fine art and handicrafts shop sells a wide assortment of art, including ceramics, frames, jewelry, oil paintings, and more.

The sweetest deal in town, Enstrom Candies is known for its scrumptious candy and renowned toffee.

This gallery has an excellent collection of contemporary decorative and useful ceramics, art glass, photographs, and other fine craft work.

Located in a Victorian house, this independent store stocks more than 20,000 books in its multiple rooms and is especially strong in politics, travel, and literature.