Are you planning on driving the 88 miles from Golden to Vail? The trip includes stunning Rocky Mountain scenery, the highest vehicular tunnel in North America and some of the most unique shopping. If you didn’t know better, you might breeze through without stopping. But if you did that, then you’d miss out on some seriously delightful gift shops! Life’s about the journey, not the destination. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 gift and souvenir shops to discover along the way. Join us as we travel from Golden to Vail and find a special spot for everyone! There's a gift shop for soap, candles, antiques, flowers, olive oils, candy, art, jewelry, and even exotic jerkies!
Spinster Sisters Co. makes its home at the foot of the Rockies in historic Golden, Colorado. They are a natural skincare brand, founded by Kelly Perkins, who realized that she and her friends needed an alternative to the witches' brew of chemicals that many modern skincare products represent. They handcraft all-natural skincare products - sourced locally when possible, and are 100% vegan. Spinster Sisters Co. have grown exponentially from their humble 2011 roots as a local craft fair vendor. In 2019 they were honored as a Colorado Company to Watch. This is a great gift shop for environmentally conscious shoppers; Spinster Sisters Co. uses very simple packaging to conserve resources and reduce waste. Stop at their storefront in historic downtown Golden, Colorado to check out their full product line. They also hold tours and events at the 7,860 sq. ft. Microsoapery where their products are made. Contact the Microsoapery to schedule a group tour.
Mountain Lux Candles is a family-owned and operated business located in the heart of historic Golden, Colorado. They are a ‘make and take’ candle gift shop, offering a specialized, hands-on experience that allows you to create a custom scented candle. There are over 80 fragrances to choose from and put together the way you want! Because everyone perceives scent a little differently, designing your own fragrance means that you can create a candle that you will truly love. This is a completely unique experience! Sharon and Mark are friendly, knowledgeable and great conversationalists. You can also craft your own scented lotions, wax tarts, room sprays, and reed diffusers. The custom-candle pour takes 2 hours to set, giving you enough time to explore some other sites around Golden. Love candles but don’t have time to wait? Mountain Lux Candles also carry a large variety of scents and pre-poured candles, gift-packs, note cards, and candle holders.
Stems is a friendly, creative and fun flower design studio located in 'The Chalet' on Meadow drive, in a quaint A-frame built in the late sixties. Mindful of the environment, they've created a warm and inviting space using reclaimed wood and repurposed furniture. Dore Huss, the owner, is known for her abundant fresh floral and plant designs. Stems carries the largest variety of flowers in Evergreen from local Colorado growers, California, Oregon, South America and Hawaii. We love their artful combinations of colors, textures and other elements of nature. Standout pieces include beautiful birch boxes and pumpkin centerpieces. Stems also keep a large selection of house plants and succulents. Making succulent gardens is their favorite! Want a truly original souvenir? You are welcome to bring your own container for them to fill.
You've probably been driving by it for years, so it's long past time for you to pull off the highway and look inside this not-so-hidden gem. Located right off of I-70 in Evergreen, this 20,000 square foot shop is a mix of high-quality European antiques and a seemingly endless selection of home decor. Ski Country showcases thousands of hand-picked, turn-of-the-century antiques, from larger furniture pieces like trunks, sideboards, tables and armoires to smaller decorative items like skis, snowshoes, skates and sleds. Not an antique aficionado? Well, there's something for you too! An incredible array of lamps, throw pillows, artwork, florals, bath and body products, fragrant candles, gourmet food, and baby products await you! This isn't your typical antique shop and you'll find oodles of inspiration and ideas to use in your own home. Perhaps the best time of year to wander in is around Christmas. A number of themed, decorated trees are spread throughout the store creating an absolute winter wonderland of holiday goodness. A great place to find wreaths, garland, ornaments, holiday tableware, stocking-stuffers and unique gift ideas for everyone on your list!
Visit Ski Country Antiques & Home
The most picturesque town in Colorado might just be Georgetown. It’s so beautiful that John Denver chose it for his holiday film, “The Christmas Gift.” Once you experience the 200 Victorian buildings and charming main streets you’ll understand why he chose it. Our favorite gift shop in this pretty village is Georgetown Jerky & Emporium. The owners Max and Jann have created a welcoming store with a one-of-a-kind jerky experience. The jerky ranges from regular to exotic proteins such as Alligator, Elk, Wild Boar, Venison, Buffalo. The Georgetown Jerky & Emporium is located in the historic Hamill block in downtown Georgetown, Colorado. In a previous life, the building was Merchants National Bank. At the back of the store is a bank vault that is over 150 years old! This vault is a piece of Georgetown history and a work of art. Don’t hesitate to ask Max and Jann about the incredible history of this store location and town. Also, be sure to try their deep-fried peanuts!
Visit Georgetown Jerky & Emporium
Silverthorne is just south of Dillon. Without a bit of signage, you might miss it entirely! In fact, before 1967 there was nothing in Silverthorne but a gas station and makeshift camp for the Dillon Dam workers. The town has now grown to over 4500 people and offers one of the most beautiful shopping experiences in the nation – the Outlets at Silverthorne. There are more than 50 brands here, offering savings of up to 70 percent on brands including: Williams-Sonoma, Ralph Lauren, Nike, Coach, J. Crew, Columbia, Calvin Kline, Eddie Bauer and Levis. However, it’s really the beautiful Rocky Mountain setting that distinguishes this mountain shopping experience. The Blue River flows right through the center of Silverthorne, providing a zen-like nature break. The shopping is split into three villages, connected by bridges. Whether you want to spend a few hours or a full day browsing, the Outlets at Silverthorne offers a distinctive haven for mountain shopping.
Frisco was founded in 1870 and enjoyed a mining boom until it became all but a ghost town during the Great Depression. Revived in the 60’s by Colorado’s ski industry, downtown Frisco is one of the prettiest and most historic main streets in Colorado. A dozen historic buildings, including the old schoolhouse, jail and chapel, were relocated to the Main Street and surrounded by Aspen trees to make a beautiful park. The Sunny Side Up Studio is on the Main street. This creative gift shop offers tons of charming artsy pieces to choose from. It's the perfect place to find a unique souvenir for your trip, a thoughtful gift, or create something amazing in one of the art classes on offer by the owner, Ash. These drop-in creative experiences are available for people of all ages and levels of ability.
Visit the Sunny Side Up Studio
If you decide to detour down the Blue River to Breckenridge, be sure to stop in at Olive Fusion. This store is the ultimate place to sample and purchase from over 80 different olive oils and balsamic vinegars. We love a good, niche gift shop experience! They don’t just carry olive oil though, but also an extensive line of sea salts, fusion sugars, hand-blended spices, recipe kits, and loose leaf teas from around the world. The black truffle popcorn set is a must-try! This is a playground for foodies and you can taste EVERYTHING! They sell a lot of their popular flavored oils and balsamics in "sample" size so you can a few of those small bottles and take them home to experiment without breaking the bank. Their pre-packaged spice/oils kits are fun for gifts - but also delicious. This is a great place to pick up a unique gift for a foodie friend, or yourself of course!
Jim Cotter is an exceptional artist. He had the foresight to open his gallery space in Vail in 1970, and was able to grow with the town. Mr. Cotter believes that jewelry is an art form, a smaller version of sculpture. If you’re looking for a truly unique souvenir shop, then you should stop here. You'll be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful selection of jewelry anywhere else! Mr. Cotter works primarily with gold, silver and set stones and his unique pieces are bold and unusual - definitely not run of the mill rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. This shop is one of Vail’s enduring treasures and always worth a visit. It’s a fantastic spot to find a statement piece that you will feel great wearing.
Mon - Sun - 10:00am - 5:00pm
First of all, how could you not love a candy store called "Fuzziwigs"? If you’re a kid in Vail, or even just a child at heart, you'll end up at Fuzziwigs. Conveniently located by the Children’s Fountain in Vail Village, this magical shop is filled to overflowing with an incredible selection of traditional, exotic and nostalgic candy. There’s also an ice cream counter as well as house-made delicacies such as fudge, truffles and caramel apples. It’s a great spot to get your sugar fix, or pick up some specialty sweets as delightful presents. From hard candies, gummies, to chocolate covered everything, there are options to satisfy every sweet tooth! The variety of this gift shop is unparalleled; it might remind you of something out of Harry Potter. For a fun after-dinner walk in Vail, swing past Fuzziwigs for a sweet treat. The crisp mountain air and sparkling lights will lend the evening an air of enchantment. Be sure to try the homemade dark chocolate sea salt caramel; you can thank us later.
We hope that you enjoy your mountain corridor gift shopping! Want to keep the experience going after your trip? Check out the latest in our online collections.
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