Longmont, Colorado

A town teeming with diversity, from a historic downtown to a number of tech companies to recreation areas, Longmont offers a bit of everything. It ranks 13th in Colorado in terms of population, with over 86,000 residents.

The city is located in both Boulder and Weld counties with a total area of 27.6 square miles at 4,984 feet in elevation. It boasts over 300 days of sunshine, more than 1,500 acres of parks and open space, numerous options for recreation, and a grand view of the Rocky Mountains. Left Hand Brewing and Oscar Blues Brewery, two popular breweries in Colorado are also found in Longmont.

Longmont City has been included in the “Best Places to Live” by CNN and 24/7 Wall Street in three separate years. It also won multiple awards in civic leadership. Aside from its rich culture and many options for adventure, the community’s friendly atmosphere also makes Longmont a city like no other. This all makes Longmont a one-stop place for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts.

History

Longmont CO Train Station — Built in 1898 by Colorado & Southern Railroad in downtown Longmont. Photo: Ron Reiring

Longmont was originally called the “Chicago-Colorado Colony” by a group of men from Chicago. In 1870, these founders began planning and developing the once-barren site by selling memberships in the town. They used the money to purchase acres of land for its townsite and farms.

The name was changed to “Longmont” in 1981, inspired by the scenic view of Longs Peak, a summit in the Rocky Mountains. It can be clearly seen from the town. It’s one of Colorado’s famous mountains and the most popular fourteeners to summit.

Main Attractions

Downtown Longmont CO Fifth and Main streets — 5th and Main Street in downtown Longmont. Photo: Jayostrom

Downtown Longmont Creative District – A gorgeous mix of quaint and contemporary architecture, the district highlights a generous number of creative services and businesses including art galleries, books, and music stores, dance studios, event venues, live music, theaters, printing, and media, marketing, and web design groups, and musical instruments and lessons.

Longmont Museum – This museum is located in a contemporary building that offers exhibits in art, history, and science. It also has an educational program available for all ages, concerts and performances, film series, and souvenir shops. Admission to the museum is free for children three years old and below, and every second Saturday of the month for the public.

Rabbit Mountain – Enjoy a panoramic view after a short hike in Rabbit Mountain. Rich in plants and wildlife, its amenities also include easy parking that can accommodate 41 cars and 4 horse trailers, picnic shelters, and restrooms.

Callahan House and Garden – Featuring a Queen Anne-design house and an Italian garden, this historic attraction in Longmont offers an elegant Victorian-era ambiance. It hosts a number of special events that are open to the public. The garden is also available to visitors when not booked for the event.

Sunflower Farm – A 50-acre farm in South Longmont that offers children’s educational tours and a quiet, rural environment for the whole family. You can do a lot of things in Sunflower Farm including feeding farm animals like goats, sheep, and llama, exploring an airplane, soaring down the zip line, or simply touring the whole place and appreciating your break from city life.

The farm doesn’t serve food, however, so guests are advised to bring their own.

Recreation

Reservoir West of Longmont CO — Reservoir west of Longmont. Photo: Billy Hathorn

Union Reservoir: Also known as Calkin’s Lake, this 736-acre reservoir supplements water irrigation supplies in the area. It offers many outdoor activities like boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding, camping, fishing, picnicking, swimming, and windsurfing. They also provide dogs with an off-leash area where our furry friends can enjoy a swim.

Fishing: Longmont offers several locations for fishing. This activity is being regulated and a fishing brochure is available to guide the public on what to catch and how much of it can be kept. Facilities that offer fishing activities include Button Rock Reserve, Dawson Park, Flanders Park, Golden Ponds Nature Area, McCall Lake, and many more. You can find a complete list of available fishing spots on the city’s website.

Golfing: Longmont has 3 municipal golf courses with spectacular landscapes and a relaxing view of the Rocky Mountains. The historic Sunset Golf Course is one of the most picturesque nine-hole courses in Colorado. Twin Peaks Course offers challenging layouts for golfers of any skill level and Ute Creek Golf Course is a premier course featuring an 18-hole par 72 championship course.

Sandstone Ranch: Sandstone Ranch covers 313 acres of fun and learning for the young and the young at heart. It features a community park on the eastern side with facilities like a skate park, an adventure playground, a sports field, and a picnic area.
The western part has a four-plex ball field complex. Its Visitors and Learning Center offers a variety of educational programs about nature and arts.

Mile-Hi Skydiving Center: The largest skydiving facility in all of Colorado with over 30,000 jumps recorded every year. It caters to both beginners and pros and has been getting excellent reviews from the public.

Blue Skies Park: Named like so because of its proximity to the Vance Brand Municipal Airport, it features representations of historic planes and flight timelines. Blue Skies Park is a pet-friendly skate park. Its amenities include basketball courts, a bird and butterfly garden, DiVinci Garden, Dog Park, playgrounds, Roller Hockey Rink, Small Wheels Park, and a volleyball court.

Quail Campus: A 44-acre skate park boasting 10 tennis courts. It also offers amenities like picnic areas, a handicap-accessible indoor pool that’s open year-round, a pond, several public arts, and a recreation center. Dogs are allowed in Quail Campus as long as they are on a leash.

Rough and Ready Park: Named after the city’s oldest irrigation ditches, the historic Longmont Rough and Ready Ditch, this nine-acre park offers quite a number of opportunities for recreation. Its amenities include a skate park, basketball courts, volleyball courts, bocce ball courts, a dog park, horseshoe pit, picnic areas, playground, and small wheels park.

Stephen Day Park: The park features a BMX/mountain bike area, a skate park, basketball and volleyball courts, playgrounds, a spray water feature, and a dog park. It was named in honor of a local Vietnam War veteran named Stephen Day.

Longmont Safety and Justice Center CO — Longmont Safety and Justice Center. Photo: Billy Hathorn

Accommodations

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Hotels and lodging:

Read about the best hotels in Longmont.

Special Events

Oct – Day of the Dead – A family-friendly event full of exhibits, food, and festivities, also known as Día de Los Muertos. It is an annual October celebration in honor of Longmont’s ancestors. The City has the biggest Day of the Dead celebration in the entire state with over 6,000 viewers and spectators annually.

Dec – Longmont Museum Holiday Festival – Celebrate the holiday season with a musical and cultural show in Longmont Museum where you can witness some of the best performers and musicians in the area. Before the concert, don’t miss a special Santa reception complete with cookies and hot chocolate.

Dec – Longmont Lights – Head out to Roosevelt Park in mid-December for millions of holiday lights on a spectacular display. You can ice skate at the Longmont Ice Pavilion too, rentals are available.