23 Best Things to Do in Littleton, Colorado

© The Littleton Museum

The Littleton Museum is Colorado's first Smithsonian-affiliated museum, showcasing the past, present, and future of Littleton and the South Platte Valley through a variety of interactive exhibits. The American Association of Museums-accredited facility is set on 50 acres near Ketring Lake, open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays during the morning and afternoon hours. Three exhibition galleries detail the region's natural and cultural history from the prehistoric era through the present day, including a Fine Arts Gallery presenting art and photography works in conjunction with the Littleton Fine Arts Board. A Kids' Connection interactive gallery offers hands-on exhibits for youngsters, while two recreated living history farm sites showcasing the agricultural history of the South Platte Valley during the 19th century.

6028 S. Gallup Street, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 303-795-3950

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Roxborough State Park is a beautiful Colorado state park best known for its striking red sandstone formations, which date back more than 300 million years to the Permian, Pennsylvanian, and Cretaceous eras. The park, which spans more than 3,300 acres throughout Douglas County, was originally established in 1975 and is a recognized National Natural Landmark and Colorado Natural Area. Dramatic hogback, spire, and monolithic rock formations are showcased throughout the park, including the tilted Fountain Formation, which leans at an impressive 60-degree angle. Important archaeological sites are also located throughout the park, along with protected habitats for ponderosa pines, Douglas fir trees, black bears, coyotes, mountain lions, and more than 145 bird species. Six hiking trails span the park, connecting to nearby Pike National Forest and the Douglas County trail system.

4751 Roxborough Dr, Littleton, CO 80125, Phone: 303-973-3959

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Robert Clement Park is a charming public park in Littleton originally constructed in 1987 and managed as part of a joint agreement between Jefferson County Open Space and the Foothills Park and Recreation District. The park, which is located on lands formerly belonging to the Grant family ranch, is named in honor of former County Commissioner Bob Clement, an influential figure in the park's development. A wide variety of athletic fields are available for visitor use, including tennis courts, softball fields, sand volleyball courts, and batting cages. 1.4 miles of lighted nature trails are also offered, along with a skate park, splash park, amphitheater, and two children's playgrounds. Visitors with valid fishing licenses can use the 60-acre Johnston Reservoir to catch a variety of fish species throughout the year.

7306 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton, CO 80123, Phone: 303-409-2600

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Chatfield State Park is a lovely Colorado state park offering a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities throughout the year. The park, which is located within Littleton's beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills, is a prime spot for boaters and watersport enthusiasts of all types, from caneoists to sailors to waterskiiers. A floating restaurant and marina are offered for visitors, along with boat rentals of all kinds. Anglers can fish for trout, bass, walleye, yellow perch, crappie, and channel catfish, while hikers and bikers can enjoy more than 26 miles of trails throughout the park's trail system. Other popular activities include horseback riding, hot air ballooning, ice fishing, and snowshoeing. 197 single-family campsites are available for overnight stay, along with 10 reservable group camping sites.

11500 N. Roxborough Park Road, Littleton, CO, 80125, Phone: 303-791-7275

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The Hudson Gardens and Event Center is a lovely 30-acre nature facility in Littleton's historic downtown, open to the public 365 days a year for free. The garden center's roots date back to 1941, when Country Kitchen restaurant proprietors Evelyn and King Hudson purchased a five-acre property in Littleton, which became a personal gardening project after the couple's retirement. Following Evelyn's death in the 1980s, the gardens were opened to the public in 1996 as an event center and botanical garden facility. Today, visitors can stroll through the facility's landscaped gardens and partake in outdoor activities such as birdwatching and photography. Annual special events include a summer concert series, gardening and beekeeping workshops, and a Hudson Christmas holiday event.

6115 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 303-797-8565

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Deer Creek Canyon Park is an expansive public park in Littleton set within beautiful Deer Creek Canyon, showcasing rolling hills and habitats for bears, cougars, and elk. The park is home to several hiking and equestrian trails, including the hiking-only Meadowlark Trail, which spans 1.6 miles through gently-sloping terrain, making it a great spot for novice hikers, young children, and older adults with mobility concerns. Plymouth Creek Trail is home to its namesake creek and "The Wall," a steep rocky terrain area that is a popular spot for mountain bikers looking for a challenge. Bikers can also use the 2.5-mile Red Mesa Loop, along with the Homesteader and Golden Eagle Trails. Visitors should note that rattlesnakes are common within the region and should exercise appropriate caution. Ample public parking is offered, though visitors should note that lots fill up quickly on weekends and holidays.

13388 Grizzly Dr, Littleton, CO 80127, Phone: 303-271-5925

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Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms are an expansive 700-acre native wildlife refuge and working historic farm, located on the banks of beautiful Deer Creek in Littleton. A wide variety of landscaped gardens are showcased throughout the facility, including Community-Supported Agriculture program gardens, a sensory garden, an iris garden, an herb garden, and the Janice Ford memorial garden. A riparian demonstration garden, a survival garden, and a native plant garden are showcased within the Deer Creek Natural Area, while garden lots for more than 150 neighborhood gardeners are showcased at the Community Garden. A butterfly house is operated throughout the spring and summer months, while a corn maze is offered as part of the facility's annual Pumpkin Festival in autumn.

8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, CO 80128, Phone: 720-865-3500

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South Platte Park and the Carson Nature Center is an 880-acre urban oasis in Littleton, originally established in 1965 as part of the Army Corps of Engineers' efforts to create nearby Chatfield Dam. Today, the park serves as a major public green space for the Denver metropolitan area and an important natural habitat for a wide variety of native flora and fauna. Five lakes are available for paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, including the adjacent Chatfield Reservoir, acclaimed as one of the state's best fishing spots. Wildlife programming is offered at the Carson Nature Center, with serves as the trailhead for an extensive hiking, biking, and horseback riding trail system. Nature programs include wildlife walks, astronomy classes, and group canoe outings.

3000 W Carson Dr, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 303-730-1022

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The Danny Dietz Memorial honors fallen United States Navy SEAL and Littleton resident Danny "D.J." Dietz, one of several soldiers killed as part of covert action against the Taliban in 2005. The story of Dietz's unit inspired the 2013 feature film Lone Survivor starring Mark Wahlberg and Emile Hirsch, based on the book of the same name by Marcus Luttrell, the unit's only surviving member. The bronze statue, which was constructed by Cañon City artist Robert Henderson, depicts Dietz as posed in one of the final pictures taken of him before his fatal mission, decked out in full combat gear and carrying his M-4 rifle. It was dedicated on the Fourth of July in 2007, two years after the Dietz family was notified of their son's death in combat.

Berry & King Street, Littleton, CO

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Ridge Indoor Pools are located within the Ridge Recreation Center, open to the public daily with the exception of major national holidays on a varying seasonal schedule. Three pools are available for visitor use at the center, including a 25 meter by 25 yard lap pool with 10 lanes, ranging in depth from 3.5 to 13 feet. An activity pool offers leisure activities for swimmers of all ages, including a bubble bench, a children's play area, a tot slide, and a body flume slide and splashdown area. A warm therapy pool is also available for therapeutic use, offering dual-access handrails and an hydraulic chair lift. Swimming lessons and drop-in aqua fitness courses are offered periodically, along with lifeguarding and other specialty courses.

6613 S. Ward Street, Littleton, CO 80127, Phone: 303-409-2333

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© JungleQuest

JungleQuest has been selected as the Denver area's best place for children's birthday parties by the Rocky Mountain News, featured in Fordor's as one of the Denver region's top family-friendly entertainment destinations. Since 1994, the facility has offered a wide variety of challenging and fun indoor adventure center activities, including ziplines, safari swings, rope bridges, and rock climbing areas. Experienced and kid-friendly Safari Guides guide young explorers through activity challenges, which are geared to teach real-world problem-solving and self-confidence skills. All young participants must go through a "Law of the Jungle" safety orientation before entering the adventure center, with all safety and climbing equipment provided for all children. Parents and guardians can watch children play with free admission at the Jungle Lookout Viewing Deck. Birthday party packages are available for young visitors looking to celebrate their birthdays at the facility. School group rates are also offered, as well as summer camps and daycare field trip opportunities.

8000 S Lincoln St, Littleton, CO 80122, Phone: 303-738-9844

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© Town Hall Arts Center

Town Hall Arts Center is an intimate 260-seat theater in Littleton's historic downtown district, offering a wide variety of live theatrical and music performances each year between September and June. The theater, which has been acclaimed as one of the Denver area's best small theaters by Denver Westword and The Denver Post, presents six mainstage musical theater productions each year, along with a full lineup of concerts and special events, including the annual Littleton Jazz Festival and events held in correlation with Denver's Pride event. Visitors can also explore the Stanton Art Gallery, named in honor of Denver native and renowned interior designer Charles Edwin Stanton, which showcases rotating art exhibits by regional artists. Theater education courses are offered throughout the year for area residents, including children's workshops and adult education classes.

2450 West Main Street, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 303-794-2787

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© St Patrick's Brewing Co.

St Patrick's Brewing Co. strives to brew uniquely Colorado-style lagers and ales, originally opened to the public in 2012 by co-owners Chris Phelps and David Barron. Though the company began exclusively producing bottle-conditioned beers, today, it offers a full slate of year-round and seasonal traditional lagers, including its 317 Red Lager, Espresso Amber Ale, Tropical Beach IPA, and Luminosity Blonde, which was voted as the United States' best honey lager in 2015. The company's taproom is open to the public seven days a week throughout the afternoon and evening hours, located within the same building as Lucile's Creole Cafe. Food trucks are parked on site most weekends, with a wide variety of special events offered throughout the week, including ping-pong and cornhole tournaments, Pints and Pizza events, and Canvas and Craft Beer drawing parties.

2842 W. Bowles Ave, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 720-420-9112

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© Littleton Depot Art Gallery

Littleton Depot Art Gallery is the official public art gallery of the Littleton Fine Arts Guild, which was originally founded in 1962 by 10 area female painters and has grown to encompass more than 60 members today. Since 1969, the Guild has been housed within a restored historic landmark train station for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad, which was constructed in 1888 and relocated to its current location in 1965. Art galleries are open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays during the morning and afternoon hours, showcasing the works of member artists working in a wide variety of media, including watercolor, oil painting, sculpture, photography, woodwork, glass, jewelry, and mixed media. Additional galleries are showcased within a renovated 1890s-era caboose, which was relocated to the facility in 1979.

2069 W. Powers Ave, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 303-795-0781

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© Colorado Antique Gallery

Colorado Antique Gallery is Denver's largest antique mall, operated along South Broadway Street in Littleton's historic downtown since 1992. The mall offers more than 50,000 square feet of retail space showcasing more than 285 of the state's top antique retailers, open to the public seven days a week during the morning and afternoon hours. Shoppers can peruse a wide variety of unique antique pieces, ranging from one-of-a-kind furniture and artwork to beautiful vintage jewelry, kitchenware, and collectibles. Professional and knowledgeable antique dealers are on hand to answer all questions about merchandise, which is showcased within the mall's well-lit, welcoming showroom. Inventory sells fast, though all items may be held for up to 30 days within the mall's warehouse. All items may also be shipped with arrangements made at the time of purchase.

5501 S Broadway Ste 135, Littleton, Colorado 80121, Phone: 303-794-8100

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Hildebrand Ranch is an historic 19th-century ranch located on the premises of Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms, which is also home to an expansive 700-acre botanical garden and natural preserve. The ranch was initially constructed as a log cabin by pioneer settlers in the early 1860s and purchased by Frank Hildebrand in 1866 along with a large parcel of surrounding land. Throughout the late 19th century, Hildebrand and his wife Elizabeth Trich constructed several barns and farm structures on the property, which was operated as a working cattle ranch and farmstead. Today, the Hildebrand Ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and preserved as a living history facility, open to the public seasonally during the afternoon hours Thursdays through Sundays. Other structures preserved on the site include an 1874 schoolhouse, a granary, and a fully-functional blacksmith shop. All visitors should call ahead prior to visits to confirm volunteer docent availability.

8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton, CO 80128, Phone: 720-865-4346

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Arrowhead Golf Club is a stunning championship golf course in Littleton designed by legendary golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr. that has been ranked as one of America's top 75 public golf courses by Golf Digest. The par-70 course, which is one of the world's most-photographed golf courses, spans more than 6,600 acres throughout the beautiful Rocky Mountain foothills landscape, showcasing drastic elevation changes and beautiful views of nearby red sandstone rock formations. Visitors can book tee times seven days a week or take a variety of golf instruction courses from the course's PGA-certified instructors, including women's and youth instruction courses. After a round of golf, visitors can also dine at the On the Rocks Bar and Grill, which serves up delicious American-style entrees at lunch and dinner seven days a week.

10850 Sundown Trl, Littleton, CO 80125, Phone: 303-973-9614

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© Colorado Journey Miniature Golf Course

Colorado Journey Miniature Golf Course is one of Denver's most acclaimed miniature golf courses, noted as the area's "Best Miniature Golf for Newbies" by Denver Westword. The facility offers two separate 18-hole miniature golf courses showcasing scale-level recreations of some of the state's most famous natural landmarks and attractions, including the beautiful Mesa Verde, Conestoga Pass, and Florissant Fossil Beds. All game tickets include free use of golf balls and putters, with private pavilions available for rental for groups of up to 48. Young visitors looking to celebrate their birthday parties at the course can also rent birthday party packages, which provide access to a private party area. The course is located at Cornerstone Park, which is also home to an inline hockey rink, sporting fields, children's playgrounds, and a seasonal water playground.

5150 S. Windermere, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 303-734-1083

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© Cafe Terracotta

Cafe Terracotta is a unique upscale dining experience in Littleton, offering breakfast and lunch service seven days a week and dinner menus Mondays through Saturdays. The restaurant is based around the ideas of creativity, thoughtfulness, and familiarity, featuring an open-plan kitchen meant to emphasize transparency during the cooking process and engage diners with cooking staff. Classic breakfast offerings include several varieties of eggs Benedict, along with Mexican-influenced entrees such as breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros, while casual lunch menus feature favorite sandwiches and wraps such as reubens, club sandwiches, and falafel wraps. Elegant dinner entrees include chicken Wellington, grilled Irish salmon, braised short ribs, and spaghetti squash au vin blanc, accompanied by an extensive Californian and European wine list. Four-course tasting menus are available at special occasions throughout the year, including Christmas and New Year's Eve.

5649 S Curtice St, Littleton CO 80120, Phone: 303-794 6054

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© Los Dos Potrillos

Los Dos Potrillos is one of the Denver area's favorite Mexican restaurant chains, offering locations in Littleton, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, and Parker. The chain was originally founded in 2002 by Jose Ramirez, a former employee at Las Palmas, and strives to serve up authentic Mexican dishes in a classic, family-friendly environment. Extensive menus highlight favorite dishes such as burritos, enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, and chile rellenos, with combination plates available at lunch and dinner. Land and sea entrees are also served up, along with a wide variety of shareable Mexican appetizers, including quesadillas, nachos, ceviche, and queso and guacamole. A full children's menu is served, along with a selection of traditional Mexican desserts such as flan, sopapilla, and arroz con leche.

10065 W San Juan Way, Littleton, CO 80127, Phone: 303-948-1552

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© Toast

Toast is an independent American-style restaurant in Littleton, open for breakfast and lunch service daily beginning at 6:30am. The restaurant, which was opened by owners Bill Blake and Jason Parfenoff, specialized in upscale American cuisine crafted with locally-sourced ingredients such as Izzio's Artisan Bakery, Coda coffee, and Colorado's own Polidori sausage. All meals are prepared from scratch, including clever breakfast offerings such as creative eggs Benedict varieties, interesting breakfast burritos, and sweet and savory variants of French toast. Delicious sandwiches are also available for lunch, from classic options such as triple-decker club sandwiches and reubens with locally-sourced corned beef to unique varieties such as grilled Granny Smith apple, fig, and brie sandwiches. Soups and sandwiches are also served, along with a variety of creative coffee shop beverages.

2700 W. Bowles Ave. Suite B, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 303-797-9543

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© Nono's Café

Nono's Café is a charming Littleton restaurant serving up a constantly-changing menu of New Orleans-influenced fare at breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The restaurant, which is operated by owners Sonda and Brian Brewster, strives to craft unique dishes with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients at reasonable prices in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere. Cajun-style fare options available at lunch and dinner include smothered catfish, crabmeat au gratin, crawfish Monica, and blackened ribeye steak, served up alongside homestyle favorites such as beef stroganoff, shepherd's pie, and Big Easy-style burritos. Clever sandwich options include fried catfish, shrimp, or hot sausage po'boys, blackened catfish sandwiches, and Bayou burgers with roast beef gravy and Cajun dressing. At breakfast, diners can choose from favorites such as hash brown pie or huevos rancheros or craft their own omelettes with a variety of fun ingredients. A full gluten-free menu is available for diners with dietary concerns.

3005 W County Line Rd, Littleton, CO 80129, Phone: 303-738-8330

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© Breckenridge Brewery

Breckenridge Brewery is Colorado's third-oldest craft brewery, opened to the public in 1990 by founder Richard Squire at a location in Breckenridge. Since 2015, the company has been headquartered in Littleton, offering public taproom and touring locations at both its Littleton and Breckenridge locations. Year-round and seasonal brews are distributed to more than 35 states, including the company's signature Vanilla Porter, Avalanche Amber Ale, Mango Mosaic Pale Ale, Hop Peak IPA, and Oatmeal Stout. Visitors can purchase pints or to-go growlers at the brewery's Littleton location, enjoy delicious brewpub fare at the brewery's restaurant, or embark on 90-minute brewery tours offered five days a week.

2920 Brewery Lane, Littleton, CO 80120, Phone: 184-GOT-BRECK

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