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Along the Front Range between Boulder and Loveland, Longmont is a stop-worthy destination for all the reasons visitors love Colorado — great brews and views, a distinct flavor of local arts and access to the outdoors. You’ll find three spectacular golf courses, beautiful parks and a Certified Colorado Creative District in Longmont. Survey the work of local artists in galleries and coffee shops — especially during the Second Fridays events. Explore the recently expanded Longmont Museum & Cultural Center for outdoor summer concerts, exhibits on the history of the region and more. The area’s brewery scene (1) is also noteworthy. Left Hand Brewing Co. and Oskar Blues’ Tasty Weasel Taproom are longtime favorites, while 300 Suns, Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse, Großen Bart, Shoes & Brews, Wibby and SKEYE have emerged in recent years. But the latest additions are Open Door Brewing Company in the trendy Prospect New Town neighborhood, and a second location of Bootstrap Brewing, which got its start in nearby Niwot. For a little twist on adult beverages, visit St. Vrain Cidery or one of the town’s several craft-spirits distilleries — Still Cellars is a microdistillery and arthouse featuring organic spirits like whiskey barley and apple eau de vie, plus live performances and film screenings. Fit in as few or as many stops as you want in a day by catching a ride on the hop-on/hop-off Brewhop Trolley, which transports craft-beer lovers to a dozen venues every Saturday and Sunday. Need another way to get around? A newly launched bike-share program through Zagster boasts 10 locations throughout the city. Now it’s time for a snack: The Art of Cheese is a local cheesemaking school with courses that cover cheesemaking, pairings, tours, cheese tasting and more. For more cheesiness, there’s also Cheese Importers and Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy (2), both with culinary experiences to explore. For a heartier meal, options range from casual hangouts to upscale bistros and everything in between. Downtown, make your way to rustic-chic The Roost or Pumphouse Brewery for pub-style fare. If you’re traveling along Hwy. 66 toward Rocky Mountain National Park, Praha Restaurant is a can’t-miss establishment tucked into a quaint, red-brick house, with a Czech-focused menu and Old World ambiance that have beckoned diners for a decade. History buffs should check out the Dougherty Museum’s impressive collection of restored antique automobiles, farm equipment, musical instruments and more. Open on weekends from June through August, the museum came to be in 1977, thanks to a longtime local farmer who was inspired by the Ford Museum in Michigan. Highlights include the 1902 Mobile Steamer, which may have been the first car in the county. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Heritage Center explores the area’s agricultural history through interactive exhibits and a 1909 farmhouse furnished with items from that era. For those seeking thrills, Mile-Hi Skydiving Center (where the Denver Broncos’ Thunderstorm sky-diving team trains) hosts excursions to Longs Peak for all experience levels. There’s also the Warrior Playground, an outdoor obstacle course and training facility, styled after those on “American Ninja Warrior,” where visitors can hone key ninja skills. For a more relaxing excursion, consider stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking on Union Reservoir or cycling along the St. Vrain Greenway — considered the crown jewel in the city’s trail system — which links numerous parks and runs along St. Vrain Creek. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Firestone (page 196), Frederick, Longmont (page 200), Lyons QUICK TIP The best place to watch the sunset in Longmont is at McIntosh Lake or Golden Ponds. Don’t forget your camera, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife: Bald eagles, great blue heron, osprey, pelicans and prairie dogs have all been known to make an appearance. appearance as the sun dips behind the mountains.
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