REI

For people who love the rugged outdoors, Denver's flagship REI store may be the closest thing to heaven. Situated along the Platte River, just south of downtown Denver in the city's old power generating station, REI boasts three floors of outdoor equipment and plenty of knowledgeable and friendly employees ready to help. Besides having all the necessary equipment for camping, climbing, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, kayaking, paddling and running, a climbing pinnacle looms three stories high for folks wanting to safely try their hand at scaling a vertical outcrop. A stone's throw from REI's front doors is a white water park on the Platte River, where adventurers can learn to kayak in the rapids.