Shop local this holiday season with Colorado gifts for everyone, from the foodie and outdoor enthusiast to the homebody and person who has everything.
‘Tis the season to give and receive. There’s something special about receiving a thoughtful gift. It makes you feel like the person who picked it out truly knows you, which can feel like a gift in itself. And while receiving a present is exciting, finding the perfect gift for someone you love can be just as rewarding, if not more so. There’s nothing quite like finding the thing they didn’t know they needed until they unwrapped it.
In a world where you can order just about anything online, finding a truly thoughtful gift can feel increasingly difficult. But sometimes, the best finds are closer to home. Shopping local gives you the chance to discover unique gifts you might not find anywhere else, all while supporting the Colorado businesses that make our community special.
Here’s a guide to shopping local this holiday season, with gift ideas for everyone on your list.
For the foodie
If you have a loved one who loves to cook, why not help them sharpen their skills with a local cooking class? Sur La Table, with locations in Boulder and Centennial, offers chef-led classes covering everything from sushi, stuffed pasta, bread, and croissants to essential techniques like knife skills. Food Lab, in Denver, offers three-hour classes for cooks of all skill levels, exploring a variety of cuisines. At Centennial’s Uncorked Kitchen, classes cover everything from spices and sourdough to charcuterie. They also offer wine tastings and family cooking classes.
And for the home chefs and foodies who prefer to stay in, you can help give your pantry a Colorado upgrade with locally made honey, freshly blended spices, ranch-raised beef, and other ingredients that make cooking at home more fun.
Start off with something sweet from Björn’s Colorado Honey, a Boulder-based honey producer with three main varieties: traditional, whipped, and propolis. The propolis honey is its most popular. They also have seasonal flavors like cinnamon, saffron, peppermint, and whiskey barrel-aged honey, which make especially fitting holiday gifts. For the cook who likes to add flavor, Denver-based Savory Spice offers an assortment of handcrafted spice blends, including its Taste of Colorado collection, which includes eight blends inspired by the state’s landmarks and neighborhoods.
For the grillmasters, Chef J’s has BBQ provisions ranging from rubs and brines to sauces; Centennial Cuts offers beef cooking tallow for searing steaks, roasting vegetables, and making extra-crispy potatoes. Another option is a beef box from Wiley Ranch Beef. For the finishing touches, consider olive oil from Rocky Mountain Olive Oil, balsamic vinegar from Boulder Olive Oil, or a pepper blend from Flatiron Pepper.
For the creative
Creative friends make the world go ’round! Give the creative one on your list a gift that feeds the soul and their creativity. If they love trying new things, consider a pottery class at Claya Studios—their beginner classes are a great fit for gifting: Try the Pottery Wheel is a fun one-night class, and their six-week wheel classes are perfect for someone who wants to really dive in. ReCreative Denver is another great option, offering classes in everything from embroidery to knitting, along with a whole store of secondhand crafting supplies. Both spots offer online gift cards, so they can choose their own creative adventure. At ReCreative, the gift card can also go toward supplies.
For the crafters who prefer to work independently at home, gift them their next project! Flax & Twine offers kits for everything from basket weaving to embroidery, complete with materials and instructions to help makers get started. A skein of yarn and patterns from Maker + Stitch is another option for someone who loves working with textiles. Two Hands Paperie in Boulder also has all kinds of creative supplies, embroidery kits, and classes.
For the explorer
For the adventurer in your life, you can give them a Colorado adventure with a gift certificate from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It can go toward eligible purchases like park entrance fees or a state parks pass, which makes it a great gift for someone who loves exploring Colorado.
If you’re looking for something more tangible, there are plenty of local brands to shop from. Topo Designs has backpacks for every adventure from day hikes to weekend trips. There’s also Denver-based Adventurist Backpack Co., which has minimalist, weather-resistant bags and a lifetime guarantee. For colder days on the trails, there’s the legendary, Leadville-made Melanzana fleece (purchased by appointment) or a hat from YoColorado. And for smaller gifts or stocking stuffers, consider a pair of Smartwool gloves or cozy alpaca socks from Wuaman.
For the busy parent
Parenting is a full-time job, and during the holiday season, it gets even busier! Gift the busy parent in your life a local meal delivery service so they can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with their family. Some local options include The Spicy Radish in Denver, which delivers fresh, made-from-scratch meals ready to heat and serve; Five Eggs, which offers a rotating menu of prepared meals delivered throughout the Denver metro; or Chef in Boots in Colorado Springs for a chef-prepared meal.
If they’ve got the meals covered, help keep them energized with a coffee cup from Jaroso-based Sarah Welch Pottery, who started her business while raising her young family, and some coffee from local roasters like Huckleberry, Corvus, Rock Canyon Coffee, or Easy Coffee Roasters. Whether they prefer a light, fruity roast, a medium roast, or something dark and bold, Colorado offers plenty of Roasted blends to choose from.
For a gift that will help them to unwind after a long day, grab a home spa set from Formulary55, a Colorado-based company known for its handmade bath and body products. Lastly, you can add some Tension Tamer tea from Celestial Seasonings, a soothing herbal blend with peppermint and other calming herbs, for a relaxing evening at home.
For the little ones
For the kiddos on your list, stuff their stockings with Enstrom’s famous almond toffee, Hammond’s handmade candy canes and colorful sweets, or a box of chocolates from Telluride Truffle.
For a gift that’s more than a sugar rush, pick out a new favorite toy from Begin Again Toys, which makes creative, hands-on toys for all ages from infants to older. Boulder’s iconic Liberty Puzzles offers wooden puzzles ranging from simple to intricate, and Stellar Factory has all kinds of unique games and puzzles— a favorite being the strategic survival card game, Ravine.
For the little ones who love a little adventure and mystery, grab a gift from the Sasquatch Outpost in Bailey. A Sasquatch plush makes a fun companion for their next adventure, and their walking stick is perfect for little explorers. You can also introduce them to the legend of Bigfoot with “The Day I Met Bigfoot” Children’s book.
For the homebody
What’s better than snuggling up at home on a cold day? Give the homebody in your life a few more reasons to stay in. Trek Light makes cozy blankets that are perfect for curling up on the couch with a good book or another rewatch of a favorite movie. Add a candle from Wax Crescent, Colorado Smell Goods, or Old Pine Candle Co. Each candle company offers its own collection of scents, so you can find something that fits their home and reminds them of Colorado. Once you’ve picked your candle, pair it with a matchbox from Ravi Zupa.
For the friend who likes to turn an ordinary night into a spa night, pick up some bath bombs from Idaho Springs’ The Soap Shop, handcrafted soap from Golden’s Mountain Time Soap, and a mineral bath soak from Steamboat Soap Company.
For the person who has everything
And finally, for perhaps the most difficult person to buy for… the one who already has everything. Check out Colorado Crafted for an assortment of Colorado-themed gift boxes with goodies from local makers and businesses. You can handpick your own box to include some of their favorite Colorado finds or choose from one of the pre-designed gift boxes.
You can also give them something literally out of this world (since they might already have everything in the world): a local Astro Tour. Based in Boulder and Breckenridge, Astro Tours offers guided stargazing experiences that take you away from the city lights and give you a closer look at the night sky.
