The great outdoors will seem even greater after visiting this discount outdoor adventure shop. Unlike other stores that make the same claim yet sell gear that is best suited for a backyard slumber party, this shop features only top-of-the-line gear by such makers as Sierra Designs and Moss. Everything on the shelves is either used, discontinued, overstocked, cosmetically blemished or closed-out. This allows for markdowns at 20 to 60 percent below retail. Ropes, tents, climbing shoes, clothing, sleeping bags, cookware and binoculars are just some of the items in stock.

When the ordinary bouquet just will not do, pop into this shop in the trendy Highland area. This shop creates floral arrangements with a funky flair, blending eucalyptus, orchids and twigs with traditional flowers. An accompanying shop features an extensive selection of candles, glass vases, jewelry, aromatherapy accessories and unique house wares, which make it easy to pick a masculine or feminine gift for any occasion.

Confluence Kayaks allows you to experience a wild mountain adventure without ever leaving the city. Conveniently located a block off the South Platte River and within walking distance of downtown, these river-running specialists offer daily and weekly kayak rentals. If you need lessons, no problem, for the shop's river-savvy staff provides beginner classes for the novice and advanced river techniques for the experienced. It also offers the largest selection of kayak gear in Colorado, including top brands like Lotus Designs, Mountain Surf, and Eskimo.

Come practice Spanish at this popular and wonderfully authentic Mexican bakery, and pick up a tasty Torta. Bite into the Carnita, or try out a hearty ham and cheese sandwich! In addition to cookies and cakes, Rosales Mexican Bakery offers traditional candies such as Membrillo and Grenudas. Groceries are also available. Chiles, Masa and Nopales are among the regular goods, and as an added bonus you can even drink the water here.

This bookstore is bedecked with posters of famous Latino faces as well as positive messages to promote literacy and the preservation of a proud heritage. Titles go beyond the famous works of fiction and nonfiction to include sections on cooking, crafts and art, and a special section for children. A Spanish-speaking book club meets twice a month, and children meet once a week to discuss their latest discoveries. Often, there are autographing sessions and panels that provide discussion of topics that are important to the Hispanic community.

St Killian's cheese shop, located next to the main Highland shopping district, is the best specialty cheese store in Denver. With a huge selection of pre-cut, made to order, and rare cheeses, St Killian's variety can't be beat. The staff is knowledgeable about the age, discovery, and making of their various cheeses. Moreover, the store itself is welcoming, clean, and cheerful, and the cheese is fairly priced even for the rarest varieties. Cured meats, vinegars, oils, and European canned meats are also available. Be sure to check out St Killian's cheese making demos!

Park Hill Cooperative Bookstore is a non-profit bookstore designed to give the community an active part in running a bookstore. Book loving volunteers run the place, along with one paid employee who manages the operation. Patrons bring in their old books and trade for new ones. For local or out of town bibliophiles, this hidden gem is a true find. From fiction to history, all genres are offered.

If you are in search of the perfect souvenir that captures the magic of your Colorado visit, but cannot seem to find anything other than shot glasses, coasters, and moccasins, wander into this memento center. As the name implies, this shop sells nothing but keepsakes that are 100 percent Colorado. Featuring the work of more than 400 Colorado artisans and craftspeople, the eclectic shop carries the expected and the unusual. Ute and Navajo Indian pottery, aspen wood walking sticks and vases, Colorado screensavers, gold panning kits, books, posters and music are all in abundance.

In 1973, Eugene Kiefel bought a small (750 square foot) bike shop in a northwestern suburb of Denver. It was a choice between a bike shop and a Dairy Queen franchise. The bike shop won. Today it is Denver's most respected bike shop, encompassing 15,000 square feet and carrying an assortment of the most popular bike brands and accessories including Trek, Intense and Yeti. The staff is comprised of recreational and professional racers, top-notch mechanics and fitness experts.

Mutiny Now is the only bookstore on the trendy midtown Broadway stretch, but it deserves to be there as much as the other trend-setter shops nearby. Mutiny Now specializes in used and rare books, with over one thousand used books alone in stock, and the owners run daily book groups, donation drives, and other events to help promote literacy in Denver. The atmosphere is more like an indie coffeehouse than a bookstore, the staff is well-informed and friendly, and the chairs and reading areas in the store make it a great alternative place to meet up with friends. Mutiny Now both is the edgiest bookstore in Denver and a cause worth supporting.