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Top Spots In Denver To Get Your Holiday Shopping Done Early

Cherry Creek(credit: Marc Piscotty/Getty Images for Restoration Hardware)
The shopping season is upon us which means you'll want to head out early to get your shopping done. If you miss out on early shopping, then you'll have to deal with those over-packed malls, ridiculous parking lots and stressful situations. Instead, minimize all that trouble — shop early and look at one of these other great shopping districts in the Denver area. You can show up early, get all your shopping done and then just relax while you enjoy the rest of the holiday season with your family.
16th Street Mall
1001 16th Street
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 534-6161
www.16thstreetmalldenver.com

There is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to wander down 16th Street Mall for some Christmas shopping. You'll find lots of great shops, including many locally-owned stores, offering everything from home goods to entertainment to clothing and more. The mall itself is always decked out for the season, and you can even take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the mall, or enjoy the free bus that runs from one end to the other. When you need a bite to eat, you'll find lots of cafes and restaurants to check out, which will give you all the energy you need to get back up and continue your shopping for the day.

Cherry Creek North
299 Milwaukee St.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 394-2904
www.cherrycreeknorth.com

Parking can be a little bit stressful, but once you make it down to the Cherry Creek North shopping district you'll find lots of fantastic stores suiting your every shopping need. From children's stores and toys to high-end clothing and art, there is a little something for everyone in this outdoor shopping district. Located across the street from the Cherry Creek Mall, the Cherry Creek North shopping district is known for its high-end boutiques and elegant shopping experience. There are literally hundreds of shops in this packed district, so you can shop early to get all the gifts you need before the chaos of the rest of the shopping season hits.

Related: Top Shopping Malls In The Denver Area

Belmar
464 S. Teller St
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303) 742-1520
www.belmarcolorado.com

The Belmar shopping mall has more than 70 stores, combining both locally-owned shops with national retail establishments. It's an outdoor district that often offers holiday music and plenty of decorations, so you can really enjoy the season as you shop from store to store. Everything from specialty stores like A Touch of Colorado and Bath and Body Works to clothing stores like Charlotte Russe, Charming Charlie and New York and Company are there. In fact, it's very difficult not to find at least a few great gifts while you browse this great shopping area. Plus, parking is usually plentiful so, if you shop early, you can really avoid some major mall-headaches.

Highlands Square
32nd Ave from Speer Blvd. to Perry St.
Denver, CO 80211
www.highlands-square.com

The Highlands neighborhood has quickly become one of the most popular and hip neighborhoods in the Denver area. It's an older neighborhood with plenty of old-Denver charm, but there are also lots of new shops, boutiques and other great spots to find a special or hard-to-find gift. Pick up some beautiful clothing at 32nd West or Dragonfly, or browse Kismet for unique jewelry and other gift items. Most of the shops in this neighborhood are locally-owned too, so you'll have the knowledge that you're supporting Colorado establishments as you do all your early holiday shopping. There are so many adorable boutiques here that you may even end up coming back for a second or third shopping trip once you realize just how many gems are here.

Related: Top Shopping In Denver's RiNo Neighborhood

Antique Row
South Broadway from Alameda Ave. to Evans Ave.
Denver, CO 80209
www.antique-row.com

Looking for something truly special or one-of-a-kind? Then skip the massive big-box stores and peruse Denver's Antique Row. From beautiful old furniture to clothing, books jewelry, collectibles and more, you'll find it all at one of the many stores along this South Broadway shopping district. If you've got some people on your shopping list who love everything vintage, then this is the place to shop. Park on the north end of the district, walk down one side for a few blocks then back up the other, and you'll hit most of these fantastic, locally-owned antique stores. If you need something really special, then this is the perfect place to shop.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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