24 Best Things to Do in Longmont, Colorado

© Longmont Museum and Cultural Center

Longmont Museum and Cultural Center is the official historical and cultural museum of the city of Longmont, originally opened to the public as an extension of the St. Vrain Historical Society in 1940. Since 1970, the museum has been incorporated as a division of the City of Longmont, showcasing a wide variety of exhibits and collections related to the history of the St. Vrain Valley. Permanent exhibits include the Longs Peak Room Interactive Gallery, which explores the cultural and social history of the city of Longmont, and Front Range Rising, which showcases artifacts related to Colorado's Front Range region. Up to eight temporary rotating exhibits are highlighted each year, drawing from the museum's collections of more than 17,000 artifacts and 10,000 photographs. Annual special events include a popular Día de los Muertos festival, which highlights traditions from the Mexican holiday.

400 Quail Road, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-651-8374

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Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain protects 2,871 acres at Colorado's Rabbit Mountain, which was formed approximately 65 million years ago along with much of the Rocky Mountain range following the retreat of sea levels in the Colorado region. The preserve has been protected by Boulder County since 1984, encompassing grassland, shrubland, and forest areas within the county's eastern foothills. Diverse ecosystems are home to a wide variety of plant and animal life, including black bears, bobcats, coyotes, elk, and prairie rattlesnakes. Visitors can explore a number of hiking trails throughout the preserve, including the easy 2.2-mile Indian Mesa Trail, the scenic 1.5-mile Little Thompson Trail, and the moderate-difficulty 2.5-mile Eagle Wind Trail.

15140 N 55th St, Longmont, CO 80503, Phone: 303-678-6200

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Sunflower Farm is a spacious rural farm and preserve facility in Longmont, officially designated in 2018 as an Educational Demonstration Farm. The farm is the home of the Sprouthouse Preschool program, which has been operating for more than a decade and offers farm-based early childhood education incorporating traditional art and STEM education with nature-focused exploration and free play. A school-age farm program is also offered throughout the year, teaching farming, gardening, and animal care skills to homeschooled students of all ages. Summer camps are offered each year for children ages five through 12, along with an annual Farmfest event which opens the farm to the public on select days between May and December. Visitors can feed farm animals, chip in and help with daily farm operations, or play among the farm's ziplines and giant treehouses. On hot days, water play activities are offered, and on cold evenings, visitors can roast marshmallows over the farm's bonfires.

11150 Prospect Rd, Longmont, CO 80504, Phone: 303-774-8001

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© Wibby Brewing

Wibby Brewing is a craft microbrewery in Longmont, originally opened to the public in 2015 by Ryan Wibby, a former employee at nationally-recognized craft breweries Ithaca Beer Company and Deschutes Brewery, and his business partner and college friend Ted Risk. The brewery, which is housed within Longmont's historic former Butterball Turkey plant, serves up delicious German-style lagers brewed with American hop variants and Rocky Mountain-sourced water, including its year-round Wibby India Pale Lager, Moondoor Dunkel, Lightshine Radler, and Lightshine Helles Lager. The brewery's family-friendly and dog-friendly taproom is open to the public daily, with food trucks parked on site most days and a wide variety of special events hosted throughout the week, including game nights and live music performances.

209 Emery St, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-776-4594

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© The Dougherty Museum

The Dougherty Museum is one of Longmont's hidden cultural gems, originally founded in 1977 by Boulder County farmer and antique car enthusiast Ray G. Dougherty. Today, the museum is open to the public on weekends seasonally between June and August, showcasing an impressive collection of more than 40 classic turn-of-the-century steam, electric, and early combustion engine restored antique vehicles. Most cars are in operating condition, including Colorado's first car, the 1909 Mobile Steamer. Other cars on display include a 1909 Packard and a 1915 Stanley Steamer, which are displayed alongside collections of farm and household tools such as horse-drawn buggies and an 1880s-era granary. Repeat visitors to the museum can sign the museum's guest book and return free of charge for the remainder of each operating season.

8306 N 107th St, Longmont, CO 80504, Phone: 303-776-2520

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St. Vrain State Park, also known as Barbour Ponds, is a popular family-friendly state park located near Longmont, accessible via Highway 119 and Interstate 25. The park stretches across 604 acres of land area, with an additional 152 acres of water surface scattered throughout several ponds and lakes. It is one of the state's most popular birdwatching destinations, home to the largest blue heron rookery in Colorado and occasional bald eagle sightings. Anglers can fish for bluegill, crappie, yellow perch, rainbow trout, and largemouth bass, while watersport enthusiasts can enjoy boating, waterskiing, and jet skiing on the park's various bodies of water. On land, more than 6.5 miles of bicycle trails are offered, along with opportunities for overnight camping at modernized tent and RV campsites. Well-behaved dogs are permitted throughout the park on leashes.

3785 Weld County Road 24.5, Firestone, CO 80504, Phone: 303-485-0186

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Union Reservoir Park, formerly known as Calkins Lake, is a 736-acre natural reservoir in Longmont that serves as one of the state's few remaining natural lakes, adapted for use as a reservoir in 1903 as a result of drilling by the Union Ditch Company to release lake water into the nearby St. Vrain Creek. The reservoir, which is located approximately seven miles from Interstate 25, is a popular destination for year-round outdoor recreational activities, including boating, windsurfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. The reservoir is also home to a seasonal swimming beach and the Union Sailing Club, one of Colorado's largest racing sailing clubs. Anglers can fish for walleye, trout, crappie, catfish, and bass at one of the state's finest fishing spots. Day-use picnic facilities offer tables and grills, while a variety of special events bring triathletes, boaters, and community festival attendees to the park throughout the year.

461 County Road 26, Longmont, CO 80504, Phone: 303-772-1265

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© 300 Suns Brewing

300 Suns Brewing is a community-focused craft microbrewery in Longmont, originally opened in 2014 by founders Mark Lushear and Jean and Dan Ditslear. The brewery, which is named in honor of the average number of days of sun that the state of Colorado receives annually, is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays, serving up delicious craft brews, including the company's year-round Rabbit Mountain Red Ale, Sun Worshipper American Brown Ale, Hop and Sol IPA, and 1st Avenue River Pale Ale. Bar snacks are served up at the brewery's taproom, including artisanal paninis, charcuterie plates, and Bavarian hot pretzels, with food trucks frequently parked on site throughout the week. Regular special events include the brewery's Trivia Thursdays, drop-in acoustic jams, Barley-Har-Har comedy nights, and Barre to Bar dance classes.

335 1st Ave, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 720-442-8292

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© St. Vrain Cidery

St. Vrain Cidery was the vision of owners Cindy and Dean Landi and cidermaster Dan Daugherty, who founded their company in 2015 to spread the love of craft alcoholic ciders to the Longmont community. Since October of 2016, the company has been producing dry American-style ciders in a variety of unique fruit flavors, ranging from traditional apple ciders to unusual variants such as pink guava, key lime, and chokeberry ciders. The cidery's public taproom, which is open Wednesdays through Sundays during the afternoon and evening hours, serves up the company's year-round and seasonal ciders along with a variety of craft ciders from Colorado-area cideries, allowing visitors to try up to 24 taps of the state's best hard ciders at any given time. Pints, flights, and growlers are available for purchase, along with food from various regional food trucks parked on site throughout the week. Public special events include live music performances, game nights, and CiderYoga classes.

350 Terry Street #130, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-258-6910

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Roosevelt Park was one of the first urban parks planned as part of the Chicago-Colorado Colony, named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt's historic 1900 visit to the Longmont region. Today, the park is home to the St. Vrain Memorial Center, which offers a public auditorium, a gymnasium, and a multi-use pavilion which may be rented for private special events. The park's rose garden, which is located on the western end of the facility, was originally planted in 1945 by the Longmont Lions Club and serves as a veterans memorial. Longmont's Senior Center is also located within the park, along with a seasonal ice skating rink open to families during the winter months. Other park amenities include a children's playground, an activity and wading pool, a stone shelter, and a series of sculptures created by artist Michele VandenHeuvel.

700 Longs Peak Avenue, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-651-8404

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Sandstone Ranch Park is a spacious 313-acre community park and natural area in Longmont, open to the public throughout the year for a variety of outdoor recreational activities. The park's Visitors and Learning Center, housed within the National Register of Historic Places-listed 1860 Coffin family homestead building, offers hands-on historical and environmental displays and a full schedule of nature and art-focused workshops and special events for visitors of all ages throughout the year. A 17,700-square-foot skate park is available for visitor use, along with a children's adventure playground with water features and a four-plex ballfield complex. A nature trail embarks from the Visitor Center, exploring the area's beautiful sandstone bluffs, scenic overlooks, and several nearby historic buildings. The park also connects to the region's St. Vrain Greenway, which offers access to nearby Golden Ponds Park.

3001 Colorado Highway 119, Longmont, CO 80504

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© Longtucky Spirits

Longtucky Spirits is one of Longmont's premiere microdistilleries, co-founded by John Young and H.K. Wallace. The distillery, which is located within the city's renovated former Daily Times call building, produces a variety of unique liquors crafted with fine Colorado ingredients, including Rocky Mountain water melted from nearby Longs Peak. Flagship liquors include the company's Lusca spiced rum, Alpine Dry gin, Amaro Arancia Italian-style liquer, and Shine locally-grown corn whiskey. Specialty liquors and bottled cocktails are also offered throughout the year, including collaborations with other local breweries and distilleries such as Left Hand Brewing. Handcrafted cocktails are served up at the company's cocktail lounge, which is open to the public seven days a week and hosts live music performances periodically.

350 Terry St Suite #120, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 720-545-2017

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© D'Barn Reception Hall

D'Barn Reception Hall is a unique event venue hosted within the historic Dickens-Lashley Barn, which was constructed around 1916 by Colorado Senator Theodore Lashley and used as a dairy barn throughout much of the 20th century. In 1996, the barn was relocated to its present site after community preservation efforts and extensively renovated for use as a private event venue. The Boulder County-designated historic landmark is available for rental for weddings, receptions, corporate events, holiday celebrations, and other private special events, hosting up to 200 guests. All rentals include use of the barn's kitchenette, custom-designed oak restrooms, and spacious outdoor deck.

136 S. Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-651-1259

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© The Agricultural Heritage Center

The Agricultural Heritage Center is a public interpretive center in Longmont showcasing the agricultural history of the Boulder County and Rocky Mountain regions, with a focus on pioneer and rural life between the mid-19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The center is housed on the former homestead of 19th-century pioneer George McIntosh, who arrived in the region during the peak of the 1860s Gold Rush, and was operated as a farmhouse and ranch by the Lohr family throughout much of the 20th century. Since 2001, it has been open to the public for free as an interpretive center, showcasing the site's 1909 farmhouse, two barns, milk house, and blacksmith shop. Interactive exhibits highlight aspects of farm life during the early 20th century, with farm animals on site between April and October. The center is open to the public Fridays through Sundays during warmer months, with limited winter operation hours on the first Saturday of each month.

8348 Ute Hwy, Longmont, CO 80503, Phone: 303-776-8688

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© Ya Ya Farm and Orchard

Ya Ya Farm and Orchard is a family-friendly heirloom apple orchard in Longmont, originally founded by Percy Goss in 1896. Today, the eight-acre orchard showcases more than 1,000 spectacular fruit trees, including apple, plum, pear, and cherry trees. Visitors can pick their own apples, cherries, pears, pumpkins, vegetables, and flowers at the farm throughout the spring, summer, and fall months, with reservations required prior to all picking sessions. Families can also interact with farm animals, take tractor-drawn hayrides throughout the orchard, and purchase a variety of farm produce and baked goods from the orchard's farm stand. Each October, the orchard's Applefest fall celebration brings freshly-smoked barbecue and live bluegrass music performances to the farm, with unlimited hayrides offered for families.

6914 Ute Hwy, Longmont, CO 80503, Phone: 303-549-7447

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© Firehouse Art Center

Firehouse Art Center is the public gallery facility of The Arts Studio, Inc., which has been served as one of Longmont's premiere arts organizations since 1986. Since 1987, the organization has showcased a variety of rotating art exhibits within the city's historic landmark downtown firehouse, presenting up to 12 annual solo and group exhibitions by artists working in a wide variety of traditional and contemporary art mediums. Exhibitions by local, regional, and national artists are showcased within the center's Main and South Galleries, which are open to the public during the afternoon hours Wednesdays through Sundays. A wide variety of public special events encourage the Longmont community to engage with artists and art forms, including the center's Firehouse Films series, poetry nights, and monthly Second Fridays art walk events. Other annual special events include a Catrina Ball in honor of the Mexican Día de los Muertos and a Canvas Carnival showcasing working artists, food vendors, craft beers, and family-friendly games.

667 4th Ave, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-651-2787

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© BrewHop Trolley

BrewHop Trolley is a unique way for visitors to experience Longmont's bustling craft microbrewery and microdistillery scene, offering hop-on-hop-off service each Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can purchase tickets for the trolley's Longmont Loop route and plan their own routes to explore 10 breweries, two distilleries, and one cidery throughout the city. Tap rooms on the trolley's route include Left Hand Brewing, 300 Suns, Wibby Brewing, Longtucky Spirits, and the St. Vrain Cidery. Trolleys pick up at each site approximately every half hour, running between 12:00pm and 9:00pm each week. Coolers with ice water are provided aboard the trolley for hydration, with storage space for keeping growler and six-pack purchases cool throughout the day. The trolley is also available for private special event rental, including wedding and birthday parties.

Phone: 720-209-8505

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© Mile-Hi-Skydiving

Mile-Hi-Skydiving is one of Colorado's premiere skydiving companies, in business in Longmont since 1995. The United States Parachute Association-certified facility is the largest skydiving facility in Colorado, offering indoor packing and training areas, a full gear store and rigging loft, and indoor showers and restrooms for skydiver use. Skydiving experiences are offered year-round on weekends, with additional Thursday hours offered throughout the spring and summer months. Nationally-licensed skydiving instructors lead divers of all experience levels on a variety of dive types, including CReW, freestyle, and tandem dives. An Accelerated Free Fall program is also offered, along with the Mile Hi Swoop Park, one of the largest swoop ponds of its kind in the United States.

229 Airport Rd. Hangar 34G Longmont CO, 80503, Phone: 303-759-3483

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© Dizzy Family Fun Center

Dizzy Family Fun Center is Longmont's unofficial headquarters for family-friendly fun, offering a wide variety of games and play spaces for the young and young at heart to enjoy. The center's action-packed arcade is home to more than 40 arcade and redemption games, while its laser tag arena offers endless fun for groups and individual players alike. A unique Nerf Wars battle area is also offered at the center, along with an interactive ninja race course and a custom-designed laser maze crafted by Longmont design company Funavation. Young children can enjoy safe soft play experiences at Dizzy Kiddie Town, and the center's Ninja Junior course, a smaller version of its ninja course designed for participants ages 5-10. A wide variety of classic American fare is served up at Dizzy's Cafe, including family favorites such as pizza, hot dogs, nachos, and Dippin' Dots and alcoholic beverages for parents. Birthday party packages are available for young visitors wishing to celebrate their birthdays at the facility, along with event rentals for private special events such as team-building events.

455 Weaver Park Rd #100, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-834-9067

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Lucile's Creole Café, originally opened in 1980 as Lucile's Restaurant by mother-son duo Lucile and Fletcher Richards, has been acclaimed as one of Colorado's best Creole-style restaurants, honored with awards from publications such as Westword Magazine and The Boulder Daily Camera. The restaurant, which operates locations in Denver, Fort Collins, Littleton, Boulder, and Longmont, is known for signature recipes from executive chef Mickey Samuels, including its own line of Creole seasonings and private-blend coffee available for purchase. Breakfast menus emphasize clever brunch favorites such as eggs New Orleans, served with fried eggplant and Creole spices, and New Orleans-style calas rice pancakes. At lunch, diners can choose from dishes such as crawfish etouffee, shrimp Creole, and New Orleans-style gumbo, with side dishes such as fresh collard greens, blackened salmon, and buttermilk biscuits with homemade jam.

518 Kimbark Street, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-774-9814

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© The Twisted Noodle

The Twisted Noodle has been named as one of Longmont's top 10 best restaurants by Culture Trip, acclaimed by regional publications such as the Longmont Daily Times-Call. The restaurant, which offers locations in Fort Collins and Longmont, is family-owned and operated and serves up a variety of delicious dishes using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, including Colorado's own Polodori sausage. A wide variety of signature noodle dishes are served up daily, including the restaurant's unique twists on favorites such as pasta carbonara, jambalaya, marsala, and gourmet macaroni and cheese. Classic sandwiches and subs are also served, including meatball subs, Italian-style sloppy joes, and club sandwiches.

15 Ken Pratt Boulevard, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-772-1421

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© Mike O'Shays Restaurant and Ale

Mike O'Shays Restaurant and Ale is an acclaimed pub opened in Longmont by Mike and Nania Shea in 1981 and is Longmont's oldest continually-operating independently-owned restaurant today. The pub, which has won accolades from publications such as TripAdvisor and the Longmont Daily Times-Call, serves up a delicious menu of Irish-influenced bar fare, including fish and chips, Guinness beef tips, Irish pork stew, and bangers and mash. Clever shareable appetizers include arancini cheese balls, tempura-fried green beans, and sweet potato fries, while burger options highlight toppings such as Guinness mustard and Maryland crab. Gluten-free protein plates are also available, along with internationally-influenced entrees such as chile rellenos, Belgian moules frites, and Tomahawk pork chops with Irish whiskey glaze.

512 Main Street, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-772-0252

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© Martini's Bistro

Martini's Bistro is one of Longmont's premiere fine dining bistros, offering sophisticated dining experiences at dinner Mondays through Saturdays. Elegant entrees highlight fine fresh ingredients, including filet mignon, grilled Irish salmon, scallop risotto, and fiery fettuccine served with chicken breast or grilled shrimp. Shareable appetizer plates including stuffed mushrooms, bacon-wrapped scallops, calamari, and blue mussels served with chorizo and white butter sauce, while unique salads highlight ingredients such as fried calamari, kalamata olives, medjool dates, and candied almonds. A fully-stocked bar offers up a wide selection of local draft beers, California wines, and fine liquors, along with a variety of unique craft cocktails.

543 Terry St, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-651-2772

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Left Hand Brewing Company has been named as one of the United States' most acclaimed craft breweries by the Brewers Association, originally opened to the public as Indian Peaks Brewing Company in 1994 by homebrewers Dick Doore and Eric Wallace. Today, the brewery produces over 65,000 barrels annually, best known for its iconic Milk Stout Nitro, which is largely credited with the rise in popularity of nitrogenated craft beers in America in the 21st century. Visitors to the company's Longmont brewing facility can enjoy hourlong behind-the-scenes free tours led by experienced tour guides, showcasing the company's brewhouse, bottling hall, and cellar. After tours, visitors ages 21 and older can sample the company's year-round, seasonal, and draft-exclusive beers, including its Sawtooth Ale, Extrovert and Introvert IPAs, and Black Jack Porter.

1265 Boston Ave, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-772-0258

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