DOWNTOWN. This expansive outdoor mall, accented with lush planters and graceful trees, features a wealth of retail and dining facilities and has helped to revitalize downtown Denver. The pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare is also convenient if you want to browse, since stores, hotels, restaurants, cafes, and entertainment venues lie in a concentrated stretch. Even so, the scope of the mall is quite large, spanning multiple city blocks. A complimentary shuttle service transports visitors from one end to the other.

SOUTH DENVER. Over 400 antiques dealers pack this 18-block stretch of shopping terrain. Whether you peek into one of the co-ops or spend hours browsing specialty shops, you're sure to find a one-of-a-kind treasure. Silver, porcelain, Depression glass, toys and dolls, jewelry, furniture, clothing, and much more can be found along this charming, strollable section of Broadway. Fatigued deal-hunters need look no further than Heidi's Brooklyn Deli or Cafe Metro for a hearty sandwich and a reviving cup of coffee, respectively.

CITY PARK. Taking its name from the venerable Bluebird Theater, this 17-block district ranges from York Street to Colorado Boulevard. Once a down-on-its-luck area, Bluebird has now re-emerged with hip businesses, a rosy outlook, and an artsy vibe. Among the retail tenants are coffee shops, galleries, salons, bars, restaurants, health clubs, and independent businesses focused on everything from guitars to bicycles to flowers.

CHERRY CREEK. The upscale Cherry Creek North Shopping District is an enclave of fashionable boutiques, galleries, and elegant restaurants favored by the city's most practiced shoppers. Many stores carry unique, handcrafted items, a boon if you're trying to find something special for that hard-to-shop-for person. Art lovers can spend hours perusing the variety of galleries that line the quiet streets. Throughout the year, festivals, fairs, and public events take place in the vicinity. Opposite Cherry Creek Shopping Center.

HIGHLANDS. Over the last ten years, the neighborhood surrounding the intersection at 32nd and Lowell Streets has grown into a hub for art, clothing and cuisine. Pick up some funky accessory or object (likely pink) at Starlet, or hunt for your favorite literary masterpieces in West Side Books. If you're thinking of parking on side streets, be aware of signs indicating that the spaces are for local permits only. Individual business hours vary.