Want more of a unique shopping experience? Take a look at the state’s smaller and more historic shopping destinations and discover one-of-a-kind buys.
Most of us have our usual shopping spots, so why not break the routine and experience some of the state’s quaint and historic shopping locales.
Historic Downtown Littleton
A shopping trip to historic downtown Littleton provides patrons with the opportunity to snag some artisanal buys. Gift shops, galleries, cafes and more are easily found at this welcoming downtown thoroughfare. To add to your shopping experience, consider a visit to historic downtown Littleton during their monthly Olde Town Market – held every second Saturday of the month, from July through October - where shops lining the town sidewalks move outside and form an open-air market. The market features everything from modern art and jewelry to antique collectables. For more information, visit the Olde Town Market online at Oldetownmarket.com. And for information on historic downtown Littleton, visit Downtownlittleton.com.
Pearl Street Mall
The Downtown Boulder Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980, encompasses the city’s oldest commercial section. In 1976, the city of Boulder closed Pearl Street between 11th and 15th Street to all automobile traffic and constructed an open-air pedestrian mall. In 1980, the mall won a national award for urban environmental design. Microbreweries, cafes, restaurants, boutique design and clothing stores, as well as outdoor stores and other enticing businesses line the brick pathways in this college town. For more information on this popular, and historic, shopping destination, visit Downtown Boulder at Boulderdowntown.com.
Old Colorado City
This area, adjoining Colorado Springs, was one of Colorado’s earliest settlements. In 1861, it became the Colorado Territory’s first capital—a home to miners, farmers and outfitters in the gold rush days. Today, it retains a bit of Old West atmosphere with historic brick buildings and tree-lined streets. You’ll find Colorado Springs’ biggest cluster of art galleries here, mostly with Southwestern collections. Rare jewelry, kitschy gifts and antiques are among the other goods for sale in these boutiques. The nearby Van Briggle Pottery art studio draws collectors from all over the world. Find out more about shopping Old Colorado City at Shopoldcoloradocity.com
Breckenridge
Breckenridge hosts distinguished shops, including fashion boutiques, book stores, souvenir shops and even quilting and craft stores that offer regular classes. Perhaps most notably, shoppers discover that the town of Breckenridge is pet-friendly. Doggie bakeries provide treats and trinkets to show pets how much they are appreciated. For visitors interested in expressing their own unique nature, try one of the hat stores that carry anything from sophisticated to downright silly hats. Find out more about shopping in Breckenridge at Breckenridge.snow.com.
Telluride/Mountain Village
Western elegance is found in antique shops sprinkled all over this mountain town. Telluride is rich in history, and its vintage, Victorian-era charm will have you feeling like you’re walking through a Western romance novel. Its identity as a 19th-century mining town explains why Telluride houses many beautiful, long-lived antiques. You’ll find jewelry, musical instruments, collectibles, prints and mining memorabilia. Antique markets around Telluride also present plenty of vintage finds, such as American Indian and folk art, Western prints and decorative collectibles. Visit Visittelluride.com for more information.
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