English
Español
Français
Deutsch
Arabic
Hindi
简体中文
Shop Local in and around Colorado Springs
Start on Small Business Saturday and keep on shopping small all through the holidays. These places make shopping extra festive and many of them are located right in the middle of some of the most festive historic districts in the Pikes Peak region. Enjoy hot chocolate, appearances by Santa, strolling carolers and live music, twinkling lights and friendly faces. You'll find a dozen reasons to feel good about your shopping, and lift the spirit of the holidays!
Follow along as we venture around Old Colorado City, Garden of the Gods Trading Post and Manitou Springs and discover unusual shops, unique items and lots of friendly faces!
Historic Manitou Springs: Eclectic Options for All
Not only is Manitou Springs full of great little shops and galleries, the businesses are all local. The town of Manitou tends to stand out as quirky and fun, so you can expect shop owners to fill their shelves with things you can’t find at a large retailer. From specialty stores focused on gourmet foods, sweet treats and tasty snacks, to art galleries, clothing stores and metaphysical shops, you’re bound to find a unique gift in Manitou for every person you care about.
We suggest you park in one of the main lots, bundle up in layers and stroll up one side of the main street to the end of town and then make your way back down the other. Be sure to check out the side streets, too. Manitou Springs is also an excellent source of Colorado gear and souvenirs, so be sure to bring your out-of-town guests out and make a day of it. The arcade is open in the winter and there are plenty of restaurants for a mid-shopping rest.
- Check the Manitou Springs website for free parking hours on select dates!
- Christmas Parade 12/8 at 6 p.m.
- Strolling Holiday Brass plays Christmas tunes throughout the town on Sundays from noon-2 p.m. through Dec. 22.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Looking for a unique gift that keeps on giving? What about a present for the eco-conscious friend in your life? There’s no better place for green gifts than the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The famous mountainside zoo has fair trade and repurposed gifts that don’t just delight your recipient. They do good, too. Many gifts at the zoo help refugees or protect animal habitats. Some of these dual-purpose gifts include handmade Christmas ornaments, bracelets that track your favorite animal and journals made from elephant poop.
Yes. You read that right. Poop. You wouldn’t believe how cool recycled elephant poo can be! Since an elephant’s diet is all vegan, their waste is basically raw cellulose. The average adult elephant produces nearly 500 pounds a day. After it is thoroughly cleaned and processed, the paper looks linen-like and is used to create all sorts of notebooks, cards, and notepads.
If you have a family in your life you want to surprise with a year-round gift, we strongly suggest one of the zoo’s many membership options. You’ll be gifting them with memorable experiences you simply cannot contain in a box. The zoo is open 365 days a year and allows families to bring in their own food and snacks, making it essentially free entertainment with your generous annual pass!
Garden of the Gods Trading Post
The Garden of the Gods Trading Post looks deceptively understated from the outside. But, as you pass through the front doors, you’ll soon find it is much, much larger than it appears. The location has grown from its humble roots as a small mercantile shop to the massive gallery and specialty store it has become today. An absolute one-stop-shop for souvenirs, the Garden of the Gods Trading Post also happens to have one the best selections of local art and Native American crafts in Colorado.
Some of the other highlights of this store include its selection of handmade jewelry and local art. We also like the selection of rocks and minerals for all the amateur geologists in your life. The toy selection at the Trading Post is also fun, with gifts that range from whimsical and silly to educational (and still just as fun). They have a huge selection of fudge, so give yourself a little gift, too.
Local's Tip
The Garden of the Gods Trading Post also has a cafe and coffee shop. Grab your favorite Starbucks drink or a local craft beer to enjoy while you shop. Or treat yourself to some locally made ice cream once you’ve checked off the last gift on your list.
Ghost Town Museum
The Ghost Town Museum is a great place to take visiting guests over the holidays. The tickets are inexpensive, there’s lots of historic artifacts for the grownups to peruse, lots of fun games for the younger kin — and it is completely weather proof. You won’t get snowed out of this adventure.
The gift shop is nearly as much fun as the museum, and it’s clear this shop’s buyer has a sense of humor. You’ll see plenty of your traditional tourist souvenirs, plus a number of unexpected treasures. This is the place to go for fans of the Wild West, fans of John Wayne and practical jokers. With a selection of old-fashioned candy, humorous mugs and wall plaques, and an entire display dedicated to dog lovers, you’ll be able to find several presents in one trip.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Whether you’re looking for contemporary or Native American, the shop at the Cliff Dwellings has got you covered. Pottery, drums, jewelry, blankets, moccasins, toys, books and so much more can be found in their multi-level gallery.
While the kids journey back in time in the dwellings, you can get them some goodies for their stockings that they’ll never expect!
North Pole - Santa's Workshop
The North Pole is the place to go for all sorts of Christmas gear and cheer. This holiday-themed amusement park stays open through Christmas Eve to ensure everyone can immerse themselves in the magic of Santa Claus, candy canes and festive fun. It’s where Christmas magic and memories start!
One of the more unique gifts you can pick up in the North Pole is a specialty Christmas ornament for your tree or the tree of someone you love. Other stores may have Christmas ornaments for a season, but the North Pole has them all year long — and they’ve collected some beautiful options you can’t find anywhere else.
While you’re at the North Pole, be sure to visit with Santa. Kids can also drop letters to Santa at the park’s post office to ensure the jolly man knows exactly what gifts to bring. Be sure to check out some of the other gift shops in the village during your visit. Admission is required during peak dates. Check the reservation calendar for more information. There are a few non-peak dates in early December where you can do a shopping-only trip.
Old Colorado City: Unique Gifts in Every Shop
With over 100 locally owned shops, galleries and restaurants, there is no shortage of unique gifts in Old Colorado City. It has an eclectic variety of options for curating memorable Christmas presents, like a British tea shop, a game shop, a specialty sculpture gallery, candy shops, apparel boutiques, toys, yard sculptures and so much more. OCC really prides itself on offering one of the best shopping and strolling experiences in the Pikes Peak region.
Be sure to shop hungry! Several great restaurants are tucked along this little strip, including shops with locally made chocolate and ice cream. If you can manage to visit on First Friday, many of the galleries serve snacks and beverages in the evening to help fuel your body until you can find the perfect restaurant for your post-shopping dinner. Otherwise, we suggest you plan for lunch and make a day of your shopping excursion.
- Once you're done shopping, celebrate the Holidays in Old Colorado City with fun events.
- Get Photos with Santa on weekends through December 22.
- Enjoy the Christmas Stroll with carolers on November 30. #SmallBusinessSaturday
ProRodeo Hall of Fame
Did you know that the first rodeo ever was held in Colorado? What else more perfectly celebrates the Spirit of the West than the rodeo? It’s a sport filled with horsemanship, cowboy skills and magnificent animals that helped build the West. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame details that legacy in their beautiful museum and offers you a little something to take home with you as well. You’ll find jewelry, belt buckles, toys and books that are perfect for every cowpoke or little rustler in your life.
Space Foundation Discovery Center
The Space Foundation and Discovery Center is dedicated to bringing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to kids in a way that is accessible, engaging and, most importantly, fun. If you have a kid — or an adult — who cannot take their eyes off the sky, the Space Foundation Discovery Center might be the best place for you to find space-themed gifts.
The toys, books and apparel sold at the Space Foundation are all related to space, the stars and our own home planet. One of the coolest gift ideas is their astronaut ice cream. Imagine how cool your kids will think it is to find that in their stocking on Christmas morning.
You can also consider purchasing a Discovery Center Passport. The family pass is incredibly affordable and gives your loved ones free access to the center all year long. They will also get free admission to many of the Space Foundation’s educational programs and invites to members’ only events. A membership also includes membership in the ASTC Passport Program, which gives you access to partner centers throughout the country and the world. There are more than 450 locations that participate!
More Unique Gifts: Give the Gift of Adventure
Memberships
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- Space Foundation Discovery Center
- Western Museum of Mining and Industry
- Fine Arts Center
- Colorado Springs Philharmonic
- Pikes Peak YMCA
- PikeRide
- Royal Gorge Bridge
Experiences
- Adventures Out West
- Challenge Unlimited
- Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
- May Natural History Museum
- Academy Riding Stables
- Pikes Peak
- Iron Springs Chateau
- Miramont Castle High Tea
- Broadmoor Outfitters
- Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad
- Pikes Peak Cog Railway
- Royal Gorge Railroad
- Echo Canyon White Water Rafting
- Cave of the Winds
Gift Cards
- Manitou Springs shops
- Old Colorado City Shops
- Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership
- Garden of the Gods Trading Post
- Flying W Ranch
- Echo Canyon
