Estes Park Activities and Things to Do

Shopping In Estes Park

There are over three hundred unique shops and galleries located in Estes Park.

They offer a wide variety of shopping from handcrafted art to special giftware and fine apparel. Native American dcor, hand-blown glass, and handcrafted pottery and jewelery are also some of the many things you may discover.

Most of our shops are individually owned and, for that reason, filled with merchandise you won't find anywhere else. Some even consider Estes Park's downtown to be Colorado's most unique shopping mall. Take a stroll downtown and check it out!

Art Galleries

With over one hundred area galleries, artist studios, and national art events; the visual art scene in Estes Park is alive and something worthy to explore during your next visit to Estes Park.

Since the mid-1800's, artists like Albrecht Bierstadt, Charles Partridge Adams, John Fielder and others of note, have painted en plein air (on location) or photographed the essence of the Northern Colorado Rockies for future generations to enjoy and collect. Today over 200 artists reside in the greater Estes Valley, and like their predecessors, are creating a legacy for novice and seasoned collectors to enjoy.

Whether your preference is a mountain landscape, wildlife photography, abstract art or an eclectic mix of each, every gallery has something unique to offer. Some locations have artists on hand demonstrating technique and different mediums of art or have special events planned throughout the year. Others will have special shows based on special themes or events year round. There is no better place in Colorado to purchase a piece of art reflecting the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park sponsors four Art Walks each year. This self-guided tour of the local gallery scene is free, and can suit individual needs. Most galleries are open daily throughout the year, though exact hours vary with each location. Visitors are welcome by special appointment to meet with artists in their studios.

Contact the Cultural Arts Council for Art Walk maps and gallery information at 970-586-9203, or visit www.EstesArts.com for area gallery listings.

About the Artist Linda Palmer

For the third year in a row, Linda Palmer's work is seen gracing the cover of an Estes Park Vacation Guide. By using both realism and objective impressionism in her paintings, she is able to communicate this vision of her surroundings.

Linda Palmer has lived in Colorado nearly her entire life. She is both a watercolor and pastel artist and is an active member of the Estes Park Plein Air Painters, the Cultural Arts Council, and the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, just to name a few. She has painted for years, but it wasn't until the year 2000 that she decided to devote herself full time to her craft.

Linda is now also a signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado, and has competed and won several awards in numerous juried art shows both at the regional and national levels. In addition, she has recently had a painting published in International Artist Magazine.

"I love to use color to get the mind of my viewers thinking in a different way...To walk them through the painting and hold them in a certain spot, as though you're in a park, walking down a lane to a bench, and then there's something ahead that draws you on," she explained.

She could hardly have chosen a better setting to portray the glory of the natural world than Estes Park. To purchase one of Linda's prints, you may contact her at 970-223-3604 or you may view her work on the web at www.LindaCPalmer.com