Looking for a vibrant city escape with mountain views and outdoor fun? Head to Westminster! Nestled between Denver and Boulder, Westminster is perfect for biking trails, wildlife spotting, shopping, and mountain scenery. Whether you're chasing sunsets, kayaking at Standley Lake, or enjoying family attractions, Westminster offers the best of Colorado suburbia with easy access to big-city excitement.
Westminster, CO Highlights:
- For Families: Visit the Butterfly Pavilion – Walk among 1,600 butterflies and explore hands-on insect exhibits.
- For Outdoor Enthusiasts: Hike or bike the Big Dry Creek Trail – A scenic multi-use path winding through nature, creeks, and parks.
- For Kids: Splash around at Westminster Center Park – Also called “Peter Pan Park,” this whimsical playground has fountains and shaded play areas.
- For an Adventure: Kayak or paddleboard at Standley Lake Regional Park – Enjoy mountain views, birdwatching, and water sports on the lake.
- For Shoppers: Explore The Orchard Town Center – Shop popular brands, catch a movie, and dine outdoors in a relaxed open-air setting.
Best Time to Visit Westminster, CO
The best time to visit Westminster is from late spring through early fall (May to October). These months offer warm temperatures, ideal for hiking, outdoor festivals, and enjoying Colorado’s scenic parks. Winter is also popular for those heading to nearby ski resorts.
How to Get to Westminster, CO
- If you are traveling by car: Westminster is located along U.S. Route 36, about 20 minutes from both Denver and Boulder.
- By Air: Denver International Airport (DIA) is about 35 minutes away and serves major domestic and international flights.
- By Bus/Train: RTD offers regional bus and commuter rail service (B Line) connecting Westminster to downtown Denver.
Where to Stay in Westminster, CO
- The Westin Westminster – Upscale hotel with views of the Rockies, a walking trail, and easy access to the Promenade.
- Hyatt Place Westminster – Stylish, modern hotel perfect for families and business travelers alike.
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott – Spacious suites with indoor pool, free breakfast, and proximity to local attractions.
Best Things to Do in Westminster, CO
1. See colorful butterflies at the Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center
Rating: ★★★★★
The Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center in Westminster, Colorado aims to change the way that people typically think about insects, as well as provide guests with a chance to see a wide variety and large number of butterflies as they fly freely around them. The Butterfly Pavilion is the first stand-alone, non-profit, Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited insectarium in Colorado, as well as a leader in invertebrate connection, inspiration, and knowledge. The Wings of the Tropics exhibit features more than two hundred species of plants and countless butterflies from throughout the world in a climate-controlled conservatory measuring 7, 200 square feet.
Address: 6252 W. 104th Ave, Westminster, CO 80020, Phone: 303-469-5441
2. Hike along the Big Dry Creek Trail
The Big Dry Creek Trail offers an array of activities for visitors and locals alike throughout the year. The point-to-point, 11.7-mile trail often has a moderate amount of traffic between Broomfield and Westminster, Colorado and passes a lake along the way. The trail is a great way to spend the day outdoors as it is a good trail for all ages and skill levels. Dogs are allowed on the Big Dry Creek Trail as long as they are kept on a leash. The trail is a good way to explore some of Denver’s northwestern suburbs and runs from Standley Lake to I-25.
Address: 10455 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster, CO 80020-4135
3. Kayak at Standley Lake Regional Park
The Standley Lake Regional Park acts as both a facility for storing water and a multi-use recreational park. It provides the supply of drinking water for Westminster, Thornton, and Northglenn, Colorado. The lake itself, Standley Lake, spans across more than one thousand acres and is the largest body of water in the city, and the third largest reservoir in the metropolitan area of Denver. While Standley Lake Regional Park offers a variety of activities, such as wildlife viewing, camping, bicycling, hiking, and more, the lake provides opportunities for paddling, fishing, and power boating with a permit.
Address: Simms St & W 100th Ave, Westminster, CO 80021, Phone: 303-425-1097
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
4. Relax at Westminster Center Park
Westminster Center Park is a manicured, well-maintained, ten-acre city park that features a play area, an amphitheater, and an obelisk at the center. The grounds include water features, a whimsical playground, a walking trail, a plaza, and an expansive grassy area for playing lolling about. One of the park’s water features was designed to evoke the appearance of the River Thames in London. A blue ribbon meanders along the concrete and include a number of pop jet fountains. The playground at Westminster Center Park is modeled after Neverland, leading to the name of “Peter Pan Park” by the locals.
Address: 4801 W 92nd Ave, Westminster, CO 80031, Phone: 303-658-2400
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
5. Admire the Bell Tower
The Bell Tower of Westminster, Colorado is located at City Hall and forms a connection between the city of Westminster in the United States and Westminster, England. In 1988, the city in Colorado topped the bell tower, which stands at fourteen stories tall, with pyramid-shaped structure made out of steel mesh. The 130-feet-tall spire inspires nearly everything in Westminster, from the city slogans to the city logo, as well as hundred of people who have attempted to climb to the top. The Westminster City Hall Bell Tower has now become a landmark of the community with an English oak from Westminster, England.
Address: 4800 W 92nd Ave, Westminster, CO 80031, Phone: 303-658-2400
6. Practice your swing at The Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills
The Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills is a highly acclaimed golf facility in Westminster, Colorado. The Gold Course is the golf course facility’s only eighteen-hole golf course. It first opened back in 1959 and was designed by Frank Hummel. The landscape along the Gold Course at the Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills is hilly with seven ponds that together create a stunning atmosphere for golfers to enjoy, as well as challenging water hazards near eleven of the holes. The most picturesque views can be found at the 12th hole with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains.
Address: 9650 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster, CO 80031, Phone: 303-428-6526
7. Tour The Frightmare Compound
The Frightmare Compound, founded in the year 1983, was the first haunted house to open in the metropolitan area of Denver. Brad Holder obsessively created the scariest haunted house in Colorado for more than sixteen years before he died of illness. It’s said that he is buried somewhere in the horror house in the deepest caverns. The Halloween horror house has now become a bit of a legend due to its authentic roots. The property caters towards people who crave the feeling of panic, weakness, and utter fear that comes with exploring a truly scary haunted house.
Address: 10798 Yukon St, Westminster, CO 80021, Phone: 303-467-2273
Where to Eat in Westminster, CO
8. Have dinner at GQue BBQ
GQue BBQ serves competition-style barbeque to the Westminster community and surrounding area. The barbeque served here is smoked in-house every day and includes chicken wings, ribs, pork, turkey, jalapeno cheddar sausage, turkey, and USDA Prime brisket. The restaurant is the only barbeque restaurant in the state of Colorado that offers championship-winning barbeque and takes influences from throughout the United States to develop its own unique barbeque style. Along with the smoked meat, GQue BBQ offers desserts, traditional homemade side dishes with a twist, and a variety of both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, including wines, bourbons and craft beers.
Address: 5160 W. 120th Ave, Westminster, CO 80020, Phone: 303-379-9205
9. Have brunch at Early Bird Restaurant
The Early Bird Restaurant strives to be approachable, responsible, and sustainable with a menu created with family and friends in mind. Everything on the menu is made from scratch as the owners and staff at the restaurant aim to make everyone feel like family. One of the Early Bird Restaurant’s priorities is offering healthy, original breakfast and brunch fare with a focus on using the freshest ingredients to create flavorful yet modest breakfast and lunch dishes. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 7:00am until 2:30pm. Early Bird brings a chef-run, world-class establishment to Westminster.
Address: 11940 Bradburn Blvd, Westminster, CO 80031, Phone: 303-469-9641
10. Try Polish-American cuisine at Cracovia Polish Restaurant
The Cracovia Polish Restaurant and Bar is a local family-owned and run restaurant in Westminster that prides itself on being Colorado’s most authentic restaurant serving Polish-American cuisine. Only the highest quality of ingredients are used the dishes served at Cracovia, ensuring that each and every dish features the warmth from a home-cooked traditional meal. The Polish food served at Cracovia Polish Restaurant features a savory and bold blend of spices and herbs paired with only freshest ingredients. The owners act as the restaurant’s executive chefs and came from Poland over twenty-five years ago with more than twenty years of experience in cooking.
Address: 8121 W 94th Ave, Westminster, CO 80021, Phone: 303-484-9388
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