Top Places To Find One of a Kind Gifts In Denver
The holiday shopping season is upon us and everyone is looking for that special gift. Finding unique gifts is especially hard these days in the era of big box stores and look alike malls. Fortunately, as your Local Expert, I am happy to clue you in on some very unique places to purchase gifts in and around Denver.
1. Into The Wind - Located at 1408 Pearl St. in Boulder, Into The Wind is crammed with so many unique toys, that I must caution you not to take children in here unless you have plenty of spare time on your hands. While they specialize in kites, they also carry a wide variety of spinners, windsocks, banners, toy airplanes, and just about anything even vaguely related to wind. You don't think that is unique? Where is the last place you saw that sells a full line of parafoil kites designed to pull a skier or snowboarder up a mountain?
2. United States Mint Gift Shop - The Denver Mint has long been a major tourist attraction in Downtown Denver. In this post 9/11 world, tours are limited to people who made reservations long in advance. Fortunately, you don't need to make a reservation, take the tour, or even go through security in order to visit the US Mint gift shop at 320 West Colfax Avenue. Inside, you will find an incredible variety of collectable coins and currency related gifts. Remember, for most people money is the best gift, so you might as well go right to the source!
3. United States Air Force Academy Gift Shop - The U.S. Air Force Academy is as unique as it get. After World War Two, the miliary realized that it needed an officer's academy for it's newly created Air Force, an offshoot of the Army Air Corp. Located just north of Colorado Springs, the academy features it's landmark, multi-faith Cadet Chapel. At the nearby Visitor's Center, their gift shop offers all manner of US Air Force memorabelia as well as logo gear from the US Air Force Falcons.
4. The United States Geological Survey gift shop - It is a little known fact that there are more government workers in Denver than there are in any city in the United States, other that Washington. About 8 miles west of downtown is the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood. Several thousand people work there for the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Interior, and other branches of government. Within the Department of the Interior, is the United States Geological Survey or USGS. These are the guys who track the natural resources of the United States, and their specialty is maps. At the USGS gift shop, in Building 810, you will find a fantastic selection of books, posters, and of course, maps. You can even have your gift wrapped in outdated, colorful topographical maps.
The Denver Federal Center is a secure government facility that is open to the public. When visiting the Federal Center, be sure that each and every member of your group carries a valid ID such as a driver's license or a passport. You will need to show ID to enter the campus, however no further security is required. Be sure to ask the guard at the gate for directions to Building 810, which is in the southwest corner of the campus.
5. Rockmount Western Wear - This Denver landmark has played a key role in popularizing western attire. They sell shirts, hats, scarfs, belts, and other clothing that epitomizes the distinctive style of American cowboys and ranchers that is recognized the world over. Rockmount is located at 1626 Wazee St. in Lower Downtown Denver.
6. Denver Zoo Gift Shop - I known what you must be thinking, this is just a tacky little gift shop designed to separate parents from their money after a long day of animal watching. Actually, it is a fairly tasteful collection of toys, games, and yes, stuffed animals at the entrance to the Denver Zoo at 2300 Steele Street.
7. Denver Museum of Nature and Science gift shop - I used to love the Discovery Channel store, where I could buy gifts for all my nieces and nephews that were not just advertisements for Hannah Montana and "High School Musical". While the Discovery Channel store is no longer, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science at 2001 Colorado Blvd., has a gift shop that can supply you with all of the educationally cool gifts you need.
8. Engstrom's - Engstrom's is an other Denver original that is a great place to find unique gifts. Engstrom's is a chocolate and candy maker that specializes in an almond toffee that has been described as the best in the world. Although they have several locations throughout Colorado, their flagship store in the Denver area is at 201 University Blvd, near the Cherry Creek shopping center.