Lincoln Avenue, between Fifth and Ninth streets, is where most of the more interesting shops and galleries are located. Art lovers will enjoy Artisans' Market of Steamboat, 626 Lincoln Ave. (tel. 970/879-7512; www.rockymountainfun.com/artisans.html), a nonprofit cooperative of local artists; and Steamboat Art Company, 903 Lincoln Ave. (tel. 800/553-7853 or 970/879-3383; www.steamboat-art.com), which offers an eclectic selection of limited-edition prints and other art, plus jewelry and crafts in wood, glass, and pottery. The Homesteader, 821 Lincoln Ave. (tel. 800/321-4702 or 970/879-5880; www.thehomesteader.net), is a delightful kitchen shop with all manner of kitchen gadgets; salsa, chutney, and other Colorado-made food items; plus gourmet coffee beans and an espresso bar.
If you forgot to pack your cowboy hat, there's a tremendous selection of Stetsons, plus just about everything else a Westerner wears, at F.M. Light & Sons, 830 Lincoln Ave. (tel. 970/879-1822; www.fmlight.com), which has been in business since 1905. For books, magazines, card, and gifts -- not to mention a coffeehouse and cafe that transforms into a wine bar at night -- head to Off the Beaten Path, 56 7th St. (tel. 970/879-6830).
Lyon's Corner Drug & Soda Fountain, at the corner of Ninth and Lincoln (tel. 970/879-1114), isn't just a drugstore and card shop (although it does have an excellent selection of greeting cards); it also has a great old Wurlitzer jukebox spinning golden oldies (no charge!), and an old-time soda fountain where you can get real malts, ice-cream sodas, egg creams, phosphates, sundaes, a variety of gelato flavors, and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
