Some think of Fort Collins as a brewery-filled college town, but it’s also one of the state’s best antiquing hubs. With shops lining College Avenue that rival South Broadway in Denver, FoCo and neighboring Loveland are worth the drive up I-25 to find your age-old goods. Bonus: You can still recuperate with a local craft brew after a day of shopping.


YOUR ITINERARY

1. A&J Antique Mall, 6012 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

The A&J Antique Mall calls itself “100 little shops under one roof” and lives up to the billing. A&J houses Josef figurines, estate jewelry, shabby-chic inspired furniture, vintage dinnerware, and Colorado-made ShayShea’s organic soaps. The shop acquires new goods daily, and you can check for updates on its website.

2. Canyon Collectables, 213 E. 4th St,, Loveland

Last fall, Kay Dykes’ 22-year-old Canyon Collectables antique mall was wiped out when the Big Thompson River flooded. Unsure if she had the strength to rebuild, she persevered and reopened in early winter in a new downtown Loveland location. Today, Canyon Collectables is home to nearly 40 dealers displaying rare lamps, refinished tables, and midcentury glassware.

3. Front Range Antiques, 6108 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

Front Range Antiques is chock-full of furniture and collectables from a variety of bygone eras. Browsing is welcome, but a 10-percent-off coupon may convince you that a hand-forged 19th-century iron gate would be perfect for your backyard.

4. Vines Vintage, 1125 W. Drake Rd., Suite B4, Fort Collins

With its bedroom sets, vanities, wire baskets, and gold-leaf rimmed mirrors, Vines Vintage has plenty of options. Less shabby than chic, the shop specializes in repurposing items. Its ingenious design ideas, such as vintage-suitcase shelves or a wreath-adorned metal bed frame, are the perfect inspiration for home decorating projects.