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Lakewood is a city of about 155,000 people just west of Denver, stretching from busy Colfax Avenue to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Long a collection of farms and suburbs, it only incorporated in 1969, and it has since built a real downtown at Belmar, on the site of an old shopping mall, with shops, restaurants and plazas.
Lakewood's most famous attraction is Casa Bonita, the pink-towered Mexican restaurant on Colfax where diners watch cliff divers plunge into an indoor waterfall pool. Colfax Avenue also keeps classic roadside motels and neon signs from its Route 40 days, and the Lakewood Heritage Center preserves historic buildings and farm life, alongside landmarks like the giant green Sinclair Dinosaur.
Outdoors, Bear Creek Lake Park and the trails of Green Mountain offer hiking and biking with mountain views, and Belmar Park has a lake and walking paths. Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Dinosaur Ridge are only a few minutes west, making Lakewood an easy base for concerts and foothills adventures.
A famous pink-towered Mexican restaurant on West Colfax with a huge indoor fantasy setting of caves, a 30-foot waterfall with cliff divers, puppet shows and arcades. It reopened in 2023 after a major renovation by the creators of South Park. Reservations are usually required, so book early.
Lakewood's walkable downtown, built on the site of the old Villa Italia mall, with shops, restaurants, a cinema, apartments and public art. It hosts a winter ice rink, summer concerts and a farmers market. Parking garages are free, and it is easy to combine with Belmar Park.
A city park around Kountze Lake just south of the Belmar district, with walking paths, wetlands, a playground and lots of birds such as geese, herons and ducks. It is also the setting of the Lakewood Heritage Center. The loop around the lake is flat and easy for all ages.
A green corridor along Bear Creek in south Lakewood with a paved trail, dirt paths, ponds and wildlife habitat, linking to the regional Bear Creek Trail. Deer, foxes and many birds are often seen. It is a quiet place to walk, run or ride; parking is at several trailheads.
A 20th-century history museum in Belmar Park with historic buildings moved to the site, including a one-room schoolhouse, farmhouses, a diner and a collection of old vehicles and tractors. It hosts events and an old-fashioned summer concert series. Check open days before visiting.
The city's performing arts venue near Belmar, with a 300-plus seat theater hosting concerts, dance, children's shows and touring acts, plus galleries with changing art exhibitions that are free to visit. Check the season schedule and buy tickets in advance for popular shows.
A creative district along West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood with galleries, artist studios, murals, public sculptures and the Lamar Station Plaza. Monthly art walks and summer events bring the area to life. Follow the 40 West art trail on foot or by bike to see the outdoor artworks.
A large city park on the southwest edge of Lakewood around Bear Creek Reservoir, with trails for hiking, biking and horse riding, a swim beach at Soda Lake in summer, fishing, a marina and campsites. There is a daily vehicle fee. It is great for a half-day outing near the foothills.
A large open space covering Green Mountain in Lakewood with trails across grassy slopes that offer wide views of Denver and the Front Range. It is popular with hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers. There is little shade, so bring water and a hat, and watch for rattlesnakes in summer.
A large outlet and value shopping mall near the junction of I-70 and Highway 6 in Lakewood, with outlet stores, big-box retailers, a movie theater and a food court. It is a practical indoor stop in bad weather. Parking is free, and it gets busy on weekends and holidays.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: Jeffrey Beall, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
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