Secrets of the Suburbs

From gourmet pizzerias and beer gardens to eclectic boutiques and Asian markets, our Mile High suburbs are overflowing with places worth discovering. We’ve pulled together an assortment of spots that embody the vibrant, appealingly quirky spirit of our city’s outlying areas. So read up, get out there, and try something new in the next town over.

Marathon Shopping Spree

When we’re in need of serious retail therapy but can’t handle the stress of the mall, we hightail it to Littleton for a fix. Kids underfoot? Try Couture Kids Consignment Boutique (www.couturekidsboutique.com) for the hippest duds in munchkinland. Bookworm in the family? The Neighborhood Bookstore (www.neighborhoodbookstore.com) is your spot—trade in your used reads for credit toward new purchases. Fashionistas, swing by Details Boutique (www.detailsboutique.com) for trendy wardrobe staples, accessories, and girly bath gifts, or the blue-painted Blue Ruby Boutique (www.bluerubydesignboutique.com) for a well-edited and accessible selection of designer looks. Got a thing for vintage? You’ll spend hours in the Pink Attic Cat (www.pinkatticcat.com) or the Oh, So Charming Cottage (www.ohsocharmingcottage.com) sorting through an eclectic assortment of back-to-your-childhood items that make the perfect repurposed home accessory or holiday decor accent. For professional help in the interior design department, hit Seasons (www.seasonslittleton.com) for the hippest duds in munchkinland. Bookworm in the family? The Neighborhood Bookstore (www.neighborhoodbookstore.com) is your spot—trade in your used reads for credit toward new purchases. Fashionistas, swing by Details Boutique (www.detailsboutique.com) for trendy wardrobe staples, accessories, and girly bath gifts, or the blue-painted Blue Ruby Boutique (www.bluerubydesignboutique.com) for a well-edited and accessible selection of designer looks. Got a thing for vintage? You’ll spend hours in the Pink Attic Cat (www.pinkatticcat.com) or the Oh, So Charming Cottage (www.ohsocharmingcottage.com) sorting through an eclectic assortment of back-to-your-childhood items that make the perfect repurposed home accessory or holiday decor accent. For professional help in the interior design department, hit Seasons (www.seasonslittleton.com) for home goodies, custom floral arrangements, and decor consultation.

High-Country Salute

Climbing the Rockies is a rite of passage for us Denverites. But even if you wouldn’t call yourself extreme—heck, even if your mountain exposure consists of the view off your back porch—you’ll appreciate the Bradford Washburn American Mountaineering Museum (www.mountaineeringmuseum.org), which occupies the old Golden High School. Check out one of the world’s only scale models of Mt. Everest, learn about Colorado’s 10th Mountain Division, or swing by every third Thursday for happy hour with local brews and bands. This isn’t your average small-town museum: It partners with the Colorado Mountain and American Alpine clubs, and the National Geographic Society—we’re talking legit adventure cred here.