40 replies to this topic

[Aaron]

Here's the place to talk about your favorite Estes Park shops. My wife likes the Christmas shop, Simply Christmas. I'm not sure if I have a favorite. I like Outdoor World, and Shirtworks/Rockwall T's.

What are your favorite shops in Estes Park?

--Aaron

[epjunkie]

Among others, Thirty Below Leather.

[Aaron]

bump

[ProfHall]

Ok, for the west side disenfranchised by the "EP" exclusiveness of the topic, I will force the thread to include Grand Lake...or is there a thread for that, too, that I just didn't look for before responding to this one? Wouldn't be the first time... :P

Anyway, in Grand Lake, there is really only one street (!), and it's not too long or too crowded (!!). As you head into town, obviously the first thing to do is stop at Grand Lake Chocolates (on your right, folks). Since this is discussed in many other places on the forurms, I'll say no more. Now, proceed down the board walk. Also on the right is a store whose name I cannot remember, but it is an old inn/guesthouse/store, and it has lots and lots of "decorate your house to look like a cabin in Colorado" stuff, and some really nice art and so on. Some of the smaller picture frames and such are actually affordable...

But my favorite store, and one which requires at least one purchase every year, is Grand Lake Outfitters, down the main street and on the left side. They have all the outdoor stuff being in the park requires, and a really nice selection of the souvenier t-shirts...none are tacky here! They even have the RMNP topo map on a bandana!

Ok, now back to the EP thread...

[Aaron]

I can't believe I left out Grand Lake I've changed the topic title to include Grand Lake.

I agree on your choices in Grand Lake. I wish I could remember the name of that.. "decorate your house to look like a cabin in Colorado" store. I always look forward to going there while in Grand Lake. We've actually been scouting out items to decorate our basement with...once I get it finished. And that Grand Lake Outfitters is the only place I've ever seen sell and display a Hennessy Hammock! They have a lot of "goodies" in there!

--Aaron

[EP Brew]

Earthwood Artisans and Western Heritage.

[Out of Breath]

I'm sorry, I can't help but get a total kick out of reading men dicuss shopping . One of my fav's in EP is Earthwood Artisans, I bought a really nice large pottery vase and a coffee mug with aspen painted on it, souvenirs without looking like tacky souvenirs. I also am into crafts and loved The Time Warp she has the largest selection of seed beads I have ever seen and a nice selection of hand made beads. You can also buy belly dancing clothes there.

Edited by Out of Breath, 14 January 2005 - 08:50 PM.

[Aaron]

Thanks for reviving an old topic. I think I only enjoy "shopping" when I'm on vacation.

You can also buy belly dancing clothes there.

If I would have only known that last year. Oh well, maybe I'll buy it this year so that I can finally put to use a book I bought off eBay..."Belly Dancing For Complete Idiots".

--Aaron

[Out of Breath]

The owner is a belly dancer, if you ask nice and pay her handsomely she may give you a lesson.

[Marvman]

Does she offer a discount if you bring your own belly?

Marvman
(I'd qualify)

[ProfHall]

souvenirs without looking like tacky souvenirs

This is the essence of the problem for me...whether in EP or GL, I'm really picky about which shops I like to visit. As Marvman has noted before, the first step in recovery is recognizing the problem...yes, I'm a snob about some things: coffee and coffee mugs and souveniers like shirts and so on being directly related to this topic.

So, out of breath, you are right on target for me! In GL I like Rocky Mountain Outfitters for "classy" looking t-shirts (can you put classy and t-shirt together?) and hats as well as good gear for being out on the trails, and there is a shop on the opposite side of the street that is in what used to be a hotel and it has all kinds of stuff for your house/cabin and is pretty nice but I don't remember the name. And of course, the best place in GL is the ICE CREAM at GL Chocolates! But that may actually go on another thread...

Anyway, I always look for something at the Outfitter place...

On the EP side, there is a "Trading Post" or "Outpost" or something like that down near the end of town on the east end near the rock climbing wall and Starbucks and all that...across from the big municipal parking lot. They have pretty nice stuff there, and if I remember correctly they also carry the trail patches/tags that folks posted about last week.

Mostly, I try to stay out of the stores as much as possible...not always possible with kidlets wanting stuff to bring home!

[Marvman]

My wife holds a black belt in shopping, so we are required by law to check out every shop possible. One of the places we go to every time we return to the valley would be The Twisted Pine. They have a smaller shop downtown, but the one out on Hwy 36 is really amazing.

Marvman

[Malok]

When I'm in Grand Lake, apart from the ice cream which is first priority, I like to look around the GL Art Gallery. They also are one of my best points of sale for my photography and were completely sold out by the time many of you visited late last summer.

In Estes, I like to hang out at the local Starbucks. The coffee is good, but the characters who work there are wonderful. Buy a coffee and enjoy an hour or more of entertainment from Doug, Dave, Jeff, Joy and the others. The library is also a nice place to hang out, especially with kids as it has a large children's area. James Frank's gallery (Aspen & Evergreen) next to Starbucks is one of my favorite hangouts as well as Eagle's Nest Gallery in the Churchill Shops at the top of Elkhorn Ave.

Just my . Not worth anything when converted to Euros though.

[DeeCeeM]

It took me awhile, but it finally sank in that the souvenirs in the stores just can't beat the ones I bring home in my camera. So now most of the shopping I do out there is for stuff I usually can't get at home (like winter clothes, which is a hit or miss proposition here.) Today I just happen to be wearing a really nice sweater I got at the Blossom in Lower Stanley Village. And on cold mornings walking Everest I've been been very happy I bought a neck gaiter at the store with the rock wall (where I got the "Mental State" cap.)

I also like to look around in the art-related stores, but the idea of having to dust them usually nixes any knick-knacks; and my walls are already full of hangables.

--

[ProfHall]

So now most of the shopping I do out there is for stuff I usually can't get at home (like winter clothes, which is a hit or miss proposition here.)

This sounds like my wife's take on the situation...and today (coincidence? I think not!) she is wearing a beautiful jacket with an "Indian blanket" pattern she picked up on sale at the "store that I can't remember the name of" mentioned in my post above. And, my favorite thing is a very heavy cotton pullover with a great embroidered logo for Grand Lake on it from the Outfitter place.

I'm already thinking about what I "must have" this year....