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Coal built Lafayette. Mary Miller founded the town on her farmland in 1888 after coal was found beneath it, naming it for her late husband, and for decades miners from Italy, Wales and Mexico worked the shafts east of Boulder. The last mines closed long ago, but modest miners' cottages and a handful of brick storefronts still line the streets around Public Road.
Today this Boulder County city of about 30,000 has a relaxed, artsy main street with breweries, coffee shops and family restaurants, plus the small Lafayette History Museum, housed in a miner's home. The town has a soft spot for festivals: oatmeal in the dead of winter and Palisade peaches in late summer.
Outdoor life centers on Waneka Lake, where paddleboats glide in front of a wide view of the Front Range, and on the Coal Creek Trail, which links Lafayette with Louisville, Superior and the open space beyond. Boulder, the Flatirons and the foothills are about 20 minutes away.
A city lake ringed by a 1.2-mile path, with a boathouse that rents paddleboats and kayaks in summer and wide views west to Longs Peak and the Indian Peaks. Anglers cast from the shore and the fishing docks, and the picnic areas are busy on weekends. Come at sunset for the best mountain light.
The historic center along Public Road, where early 1900s brick buildings and miners' cottages now hold breweries, coffee shops, an art center and small restaurants. Summer brings outdoor music and street events. Walk a few blocks off the main road to see the tidy cottages of the coal-mining era.
A small free museum in a former miner's house on Simpson Street, long known as the Miners Museum. It tells the story of the coal camps, the miners' families and the early town through tools, photos and household goods. Volunteers love to share stories, but hours are limited, so check before visiting.
A hands-on museum for babies to about age ten, with exhibits on light and color, water play, a pretend grocery and climbing areas. Rotating seasonal programs keep it fresh for locals. It works best as a two-hour stop, and a playground in a nearby park lets kids burn off any leftover energy.
A mostly gravel multi-use trail that follows Coal Creek through Lafayette, Louisville and Superior, past cottonwoods, farm fields and open space. It is gentle enough for families on bikes and runners of any level. Start from Old Town and pedal toward Louisville for coffee, about five miles each way.
A city-owned 18-hole public course with rolling fairways, prairie grasses and big views of the Indian Peaks and the Continental Divide. It has a driving range, lessons and a casual grill. Book tee times online in summer, when mornings fill quickly, and expect afternoon wind off the mountains.
A one-day street festival in Old Town each August that celebrates Colorado's Palisade peaches with fresh fruit, peach pies, ice cream and cobbler, plus live music and craft vendors. Locals buy peaches by the box to take home. Arrive early, as the best baked goods sell out by midday.
An offbeat winter festival held each January, built around a giant oatmeal breakfast with dozens of toppings, a fun run and health fair activities. It is a cheerful community gathering that raises money for local causes. Dress warmly, bring an appetite and expect friendly crowds at the morning breakfast.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Mikepascoe, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mikepascoe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mikepascoe, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Mikepascoe, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
