Get gifts everyone will love and support local businesses with this handy holiday gift guide for shopping in Colorado Springs. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite shops in the Pikes Peak region and broken them down into categories to make it easier to find what you need. Need more inspiration? Check out last year’s guide for additional local places to shop. Happy shopping and happy holidays from Watts Media.
Food and wine make excellent gifts because they are so easy to customize to your recipient. They are great presents for friends, family, neighbors, employees, coworkers and anyone else who likes eating or drinking (or both). Check out these local shops to find a variety of options your giftee will love.
This gem of a bakery, cooking school and restaurant has every kind of lovely pastry you can think of — and a whole holiday catalog, too. You can pick up pre-made apps for the holiday party, gift the host a delicious yule log and then go home and fill everyone’s stockings with bags of hot cocoa, handmade chocolates and truffles. They even have advent calendars! You can also gift cooking classes to aspiring pastry chefs or specialty beverages line wines and French sodas.
Gift your loved ones a little jar of summer from Pikes Peak Lemonade. This local shop specialized in creating jars of delicious lemonade concentrates made fresh here in Colorado. They boast the only lemonade tap room in the country, so be sure to visit in person to sip on some samples. Pikes Peak Lemonade offers unique flavor combinations like rose, jalapeno and lavender, which are great for cocktails or changing up your lemonade routine. Be sure to let your recipient know that they can bring their jars back in for discounted re-fills. They’re going to want more.
https://www.pikespeaklemonade.com/
Ranch Foods Direct sells high-quality meats ethically raised on the small business’s private Colorado farm. If you want that perfect steak or holiday brisket, this is the best place to shop in the city. But there’s more than meat in the two Colorado Springs locations. There’s also plenty of local goods like scratch-made pasta, soups, breads and snacks. If you know a foodie, this would be an excellent shop for a gift card, too. You might even see a few items from the French Kitchen listed above! They try to make everything as local as possible so you know your purchase invests in the community.
What’s the best part about living in Colorado? We like to think it’s the epic mountain playground that surrounds every person who lives here. If your giftee likes to get out and play, we’ve got some excellent recreation shops here in the Pikes Peak region to help them have all the fun they can pack into their free time (with a little help from you).
This downtown shop is a longstanding favorite for cycling enthusiasts. They carry all the top brands and every kind of gear you can think of, too. You can find bike-related gifts at a variety of price points, from gloves and accessories to fully-loaded bicycles and e-bikes. The shop also sells apparel, like shorts, shirts and jackets. There’s a fully functional bicycle mechanic shop in the back, so feel free to gift a more practical present like a bicycle tune-up or gift card for future repairs. If you just don’t know what to get, the knowledgeable staff should be able to help you with a present that any cyclist will love.
https://www.oldtownbikeshop.com/
The days of being picky about secondhand gifts have passed most of us by — especially when it comes to expensive outdoor equipment. Mountain Equipment Recyclers give a second life to tents, skis, backpacking gear and more to help hikers, skiers, snowboarders, cyclists and anyone else on a budget enjoy the great outdoors. That includes gift givers, too. A recycled item might not be for everyone, but we trust that you’ll know who will appreciate scoring a normally pricey, brand-name item with a lot of life left in it for Christmas. Oh, and be sure to look for discounted items that are still brand-new with tags for those who prefer new items.
We have a lot of lakes and rivers around these mountains just waiting for kayakers, SUPers and fishermen to paddle on out and enjoy them. Pikes Peak Outfitter sells an amazing collection of boards and kayaks, including fishing kayaks. If your recipient can’t store boating items but still loves the water, the shop also offers reasonable rentals — hello gift cards! It’s also worth noting that the shop sells snowshoes, too. That means you can still knock out gifts for folks who prefer their lakes frozen with a couple feet of snow on top.
https://www.pikespeakoutfitter.com/
Help your friends and family feel extra fancy with gifts from local boutiques and businesses in Colorado Springs. You can easily balance your budget while shopping small and still find a gift that’s just right.
This upscale lifestyle boutique offers a collection of recognizable brands for both men and women. In fact, the men’s collection is pretty big, with classy shirts and fine accessories for guys with discerning tastes. The shop is named after the owners’ dogs, so you can also find a few unique pet items, as well.
https://www.stellaandbeauocc.com/
Urbane Collective offers gorgeous women’s clothing with inclusive sizing. The shop owner has made it a goal to ensure that people of all body types can find beautiful pants, dresses and tops. Pay a visit to one of their three locations in Colorado Springs and discover unique accessories, classic pieces and trending fashion. If you know your loved one will enjoy the clothing, but just don’t know what to get, a gift card is a great option. While the price point won’t mimic the big box prices, many items are surprisingly affordable and higher quality.
Gift them the strange and unique items no one else will dare to give. Or simply find that one gift that is so different from the rest that they’ll never forget who gave it to them. This collection of shops caters to the odd.
This is one of the few shops that repeats each year in the holiday gift guide because you really can’t replicate it. Few stores in the city can claim they sell entomological art like mounted butterflies. Even fewer can say they host live tarantulas in the store. While you can’t take the latter home directly, Novis Mortem can help you connect with the actual spider dealer. (Remember, live pets should never be a surprise). Enough about spiders. Novis also sells jewelry, candles, novelty items, clothing, tea and so much more. You can probably cross off a number of people from your list with a single visit. Even a few normal ones.
http://www.novismortemcollective.com/
This local nursery turns into a houseplant haven in the winter. If you know a “plant mom” or “plant dad” who adores their little plant “pets,” this is the best place to go in the city. You’ll find a massive collection of succulents, flowers, vines and air plants at prices that are honestly a bit hard to believe. The staff is incredibly kind, enthusiastic and helpful, so if you know nothing of plants, they can guide you in the right direction. You can also find pots, seeds, decor and a few outdoor plants, bulbs, trees and bushes. They do offer gift cards if you don’t feel like you are plant-savvy enough to select a gift on your own. Beware — you may catch the plant addiction while you’re there.
Give the gift of play to kids and adults in your life with toys, games and collectibles. No one is ever too old to play! These shops sell items that bring on the fun for all ages and stages.
Situated snugly between Poor Richard’s book store/coffee shop/wine bar (also a great place for presents) and the Poor Richard’s restaurant. Little Richards sells a collection of educational toys for all ages. While you will find a few of the latest trending toys here, the shop largely sells items designed to get kids’ minds turning, learning and problem solving while still having fun. Their collection of toys for really little kids is unbeatable. Not even the big box stores can compete with the diverse options. Be sure to check out their collection of science and craft toys for keeping kids entertained and busy.
https://littlerichardstoystore.com/
Board games just keep getting bigger and better each year. The days of Monopoly and Life aren’t over altogether, but they are definitely in competition with the new tabletop games hitting the market these days. Dice Guys has all the newest games, including beloved trading card games like Magic and Pokemon, large board games and accessories and expansions for popular favorites. Check out their collection of smaller card games for the perfect stocking stuffer that can double as Christmas Day entertainment.
Like Dice Guys, Yellow King specializes in modern gaming, with an emphasis on trading card games and role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. You can purchase gaming books, miniatures, dice, mats, paint and other accessories to help your gamer enhance their experience. The Yellow King’s selection of board games is also varied, with rare options, used games and a few of the classics for good measure. Gift your gamer a gift card and they may even find a whole new group of friends at the shop’s various specialty nights geared toward RPGs, mini painting or competitions.
No matter how many e-readers they create, people refuse to close the book on physical copies of their favorite reads. Fortunately, there are still plenty of booksellers out there giving it their all with new, used and collector books for your favorite reader.
This is another store that makes the holiday gift guide each year because its offerings are so unique. Hooked on Books has an amazing collection of rare books — think first editions, signed copies, antiques, limited prints and other hard-to-find options. There are two different locations in Colorado Springs, the store on Maizelend Road and Academy Boulevard and the shop on Tejon. In addition to the rare books, they also have a huge used selection, new books, local books and children’s books. This really is a bookstore for every budget and every reader.
https://www.facebook.com/hookedonbookscoloradosprings/
Make the journey to Monument to pay a visit to this decades-old bookstore. You’ll find new and gently used books, plus other thoughtful gifts that make wonderful stocking stuffers. The shop is really invested in their community and also supports authors who aren’t a part of the more mainstream publishing circuit. You can check out their website weekly to get insights on the latest indie authors, plus bestselling books across a variety of genres, including teens and kids.
Pets are a huge part of your family! While they may not quite understand why you’re so excited to give them a present, they will be stoked when they get to play with their new toy or chow down on a tasty snack. We know you love your dogs, cats, parakeets, mini pigs, goats, chickens and whoever else makes up your family menagerie. Let’s make their holiday special.
Bon Pet Supply has a big selection of pet supplies, including natural snacks, foods and treats. The real star of this shop, though, is the staff. They are so friendly and welcoming and always ready to help. They have a lot of knowledge about all of the products they sell, too. This is the place for stocking stuffers for pets — they have a really rad chew collection right up front with many safe offerings.
The Pet Pantry is a perfect shop for buying gifts for pets and pet parents. The snack selection is healthy and extensive. The toys are pet-safe and designed to keep them busy. And, they have a DIY dog wash. Yes, that means you can give the gift of a clean bathtub and minimal backache with a handy gift card for dog washes. There are four different locations throughout the city, including all the way south in Fountain.
https://pet-pantry.com/north-location/
Not every gift has to be something you can touch. Some presents are the memories and moments your recipient will cherish for a lifetime. Memberships and experiences are allergy-free, clutter-free, repeatable, memorable and unique. We’ve got a few we think you’ll really like to share with someone you care about.
If you’re looking for a one-shot gift for a family in your life, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo will give you a lot of bang for your book with their annual membership. Memberships give your giftees year-round access to the zoo, which is open every single day. Families who receive a membership can also get discounts and priority access to events like Boo at the Zoo and the annual Christmas light extravaganza. A zoo membership is also a way to help parents create special experiences on a tight budget. They can pack a picnic and a few dollars for the carousel and have a relatively inexpensive adventure with the crew.
