Boulder's inventors, creators, makers and guides have you covered this holiday season. Come enjoy a weekend of shopping for Boulder gifts, with plenty of stops for great meals and maybe even a hike in there, too.
This year, we're including lots of made-in-Boulder gifts and some awesome, hands-on experiences — the best gifts of all, according to Forbes. Get ideas for everyone on your list, and find charming Boulder boutiques, shops and businesses where you can spend time shopping and playing.
| Shop Boulder’s Gift Markets |
These all-natural scented soy candles are each freshly poured with love in Boulder. The Sunshine Canyon scent is a soothing blend of amber and bamboo. After you make your purchase, you can take a hike up Sunshine Canyon in Boulder and breathe in the fresh air on the trail that inspired the candle's name.
Where to Buy It: Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery
If your loved one has ever wanted to experience the freedom of sailing high in the air, a gift certificate for a hot-air balloon ride over Boulder is a dream come true. They'll peacefully float above fields, forests, lakes and more and feel like you're eye level with the dramatic Rocky Mountains on the horizon.
Where to Buy It: Fair Winds Balloon Flights
This incredible local artist is using her talents for good. Katherine Homes' unique and colorful illustrations are available on hats, stickers and prints with 10 percent of profits going to partners who help protect threatened species and wildlands.
Where to Shop It: Go Far
This sweet jewelry shop is filled to the brim with geometric-shaped and gem-adorned earrings, rings, necklaces and more. The best part is you can watch the artisans create the jewelry on site at their workshop behind the register.
Where to Shop It: Bohemi
Topo Designs' handmade Rover packs are (in the Boulder company's own words) "the Goldilocks of rucksacks." Not too big, not too small. If you have a loved one who is a traveler, student or hiker, this pack will be a cheerful, cool addition to their gear stash.
Where to Shop It: Topo Designs
This chic, bright educational kitchen on Pearl Street lets you train like a Top Chef (something Boulder knows a bit about) — while you and your loved one bond over the experience. Choose from tasty experiences like "Date Night in Paris," "Evening in Israel," "Recipes of Julia Child" and "Sushi Night."
Where to Shop It: Online at FoodLabBoulder.com
Boulder-based Slalom Fox uses real fruit juice and premium spirits to make a fresh-tasting cocktail in a can. Camping trips, picnics and barbeques just got kicked up a major notch.
Where to Shop It: Hazel's Beverage World
This charming children's book was illustrated by Boulder artist Janet Stevens and features a trip to Boulder's own Ideal Market (and a cast of mischievous barnyard animals).
Where to Shop It: Boulder Book Store
Give someone you love the gift of time outdoors, learning how to become Spiderman! This all-day course teaches an exceptional foundation of climbing-related skills while allowing for plenty of time actually climbing rocks. Your recipient will learn a lot: knot tying, belaying, rappelling and climbing techniques — not to mention fun, freedom and confidence.
Where to Shop It: Online at Colorado Mountain School
These made-in-Boulder old-fashioned puzzles are more than puzzles. The dazzling artwork they feature and the beautiful wood construction makes them coffee-table conversation pieces.
Where to Shop It: Liberty Puzzles
Sierra Designs made the move to Boulder in 2003 and fit in with this outdoor-loving town right off the bat. These down booties will keep your loved ones' tootsies warm on the coldest winter days and are dreamy for camping since a rubber sole lets them go from fireside to tent.
Where to Shop It: Moosejaw
Take your loved one’s library to a whole new level with an artistic book jacket collection by the creative souls at Boulder's own Juniper Books. Favored by the likes Gwyneth Paltrow, these impressive designs aren’t cheap, but they are sure to become family heirlooms. This particular design features a Rosie the Riveter-inspired illustration by a local artist and includes the following authors: Joan Didion, Maxine Hong Kingston, Maya Angelou, Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers, Ursula K. Le Guin, Toni Morrison and Patricia Highsmith.
Where to Shop It: Juniper Books
The three sisters who founded Shine Restaurant & Potion Bar have also created a selection of house-made herbal tonics, called potions. Each flavor is made with specific intentions and exposed to particular soundwaves and gemstones to absorb those "energies." Try Fairy Bubbles, a pomegranate-hibiscus blend that has been tuned to the sounds of laughing babies and wind in the trees and to the energy of rose quartz, for example. (Yeah, we can’t believe we just wrote that sentence either — but it really is tasty!)
Where to Shop It: Peppercorn
Has your brother, sister, friend or someone you know been talking about trying an Ironman race forever? Help them make this the year they achieve their goal. The Ironman 70.3 (a "half Ironman") happens in Boulder each August at the beautiful Boulder Reservoir and along a beloved course with stunning Flatirons views.
Where to Shop It: Online at Ironman.com
Founded by Jenn Hanely in 2013, Island Farm is a dreamy, oceanside-meets-mountainside shop filled with fluttery blouses and textured sweaters, exquisite yet low-key jewelry and vintage-y gifts. This canvas and burlap Boulder, Colorado, USA tote with leather handles can hold a throw blanket and pillow as a decor piece at home or a stack of magazines and books for a trip to the coffee shop.
Where to Shop It: Island Farm
Gorgeous Nordic-style knits, lush cashmere and cozy accessories are available right at the source from this Boulder-based company's showroom, tucked away in a quiet Boulder neighborhood.
Where to Shop It: Krimson Klover Showroom
Where to Shop It: Peppercorn
If your furry friend has his own little stocking hanging on the mantle (we're not judging!), fill it with this special honey-oat biscuit with love from Boulder.
Above: Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery
The following emporiums, markets and gift shops are great places to find several Boulder artisans (and amazing gifts) in one spot:
