2018-12-13 04:12:35
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, three National Historic Districts, beautiful parks and a Certified Colorado Creative District in Longmont (2). Stop by the Visitors Center in the heart of the downtown district to pick up maps and brochures and magazines about the city and surrounding areas. Then, survey the work of local artists in galleries and coffee shops — which are especially bustling during Second Fridays events. Make your way to Longmont Museum & Cultural Center, which houses exhibits on the region’s history and hosts outdoor summer concerts and movies. Or head to the Dickens Farm Nature Area, a 52-acre site along St. Vrain Creek with biking trails, boating and tubing access, a nature-themed playground and more. The area’s brewery scene is also noteworthy. Left Hand Brewing Co. (3) and Oskar Blues’ Tasty Weasel Taproom are longtime favorites, while 300 Suns, Longs Peak Pub & Taphouse, Großen Bart, Shoes & Brews, Wibby and Bootstrap have emerged in recent years. The latest additions to the roster are Outworld Brewing, Primitive Beer and Brewmented, a new homebrew supply store with a taproom and brew-on-premises system — allowing aspiring brewers to use on-site equipment to create their own beer, wine, mead, cider or kombucha. For a little twist on adult beverages, visit St. Vrain Cidery or one of the town’s 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, while Dry Land Distillers creates spirits inspired by Colorado’s lands and iconic places in the American West. Now it’s time for a snack: The Art of Cheese is a local cheesemaking school with courses that cover cheese making, pairings, tasting and more. For more cheesiness, there’s also Cheese Importers and Haystack Mountain Cheese (1), 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. For killer St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork and hot links, Georgia Boys is a beloved barbecue joint. History buffs should check out the Dougherty Museum’s impressive collection of restored antique autos, farm equipment and more (open weekends June through August). 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 some thrills, Mile-Hi Skydiving Center (where the Denver Broncos’ sky-diving team trains) offers sky-high views of Longs Peak. There’s also the Warrior Playground, an obstacle course and training facility styled after those on “American Ninja Warrior,” and a new nine-drop whitewater park for tubers and kayakers on the St. Vrain River at Dickens Farm Nature Area. For a more relaxing excursion, consider stand-up paddleboarding 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 Boulder (page 192), Firestone (page 197), Frederick, Longmont (page 200), Lyons (page 201) QUICK TIP The hop-on/hop-off Brewhop Trolley transports craft-beverage lovers to a dozen-plus venues in Longmont, including a cidery, two distilleries and an array of breweries, every Saturday and Sunday. Need another way to get around? A newly launched bike-share program through Zagster boasts 10 locations throughout the city.
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