Nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Longmont is a vibrant small city in northern Colorado. Known for its rich history, craft breweries, galleries, and festive events, Longmont offers visitors plenty of fun activities and attractions to fill their itinerary. Whether you love the outdoors, unique museums, delectable cuisines, or lively culture, you’ll find something that piques your interest in this charming city.
To help you make the most out of your Longmont trip, here is a list of the top 12 things to do in and around the city:
Explore the Outdoors at Union Reservoir
Just a short 10-minute drive from downtown Longmont lies the popular Union Reservoir. Spread over 900 acres, this reservoir is surrounded by grassy parks, sandy beaches, playgrounds, and shaded picnic areas – making it a favorite outdoor spot among locals.
Paddle boarding, boating, and waterskiing are popular activities on the reservoir waters. You can also go fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and trout. Miles of scenic hiking and biking trails wind around the lake area too. Don’t miss the chance to take in panoramic Rocky Mountain views from this beautiful outdoor locale.
Tour the Celebrated Breweries
With over a dozen breweries and taprooms, it’s no surprise that Longmont is considered northern Colorado’s craft beer capital. Beer enthusiasts can indulge in behind-the-scenes brewery tours, sample award-winning ales and lagers, and meet expert brewmasters passionate about their craft.
Left Hand Brewing Company is Longmont’s pioneer craft brewer, best known globally for their unique nitro milk stout. Other celebrated names like Wibby Brewing, Oskar Blues, and Pumphouse Brewery call Longmont home too. Most breweries have spacious taprooms, beer gardens, and schedules filled with live music and events.
Appreciate Art at Longmont Museum
Longmont Museum features intriguing galleries that give visitors insight into the city’s diverse culture and heritage. Interactive exhibits detail Longmont’s native tribes, early homesteaders, founding fathers, and pioneer industries spanning over past centuries.
You can admire the fine collection of vintage automobiles, including a Ford Quadricycle and iconic hot rods. Rotating art displays include contemporary pieces, Latino artworks, sculptures, textile arts, and other media by regional talents. The Museum also hosts events like ArtWalks, brown bag lectures, and summer children’s programs.
Peruse the St. Vrain Greenway
One of Longmont’s crown jewels is the picturesque St. Vrain Greenway – a 7-mile recreational corridor for cyclists, walkers, and runners. This greenway follows the meandering path of the St. Vrain Creek through many parks and natural areas within the city.
You can traverse the greenway from Golden Ponds Park to Airport Road while enjoying creek views, abundant wildlife, and landscapes that change with the seasons. Interpretive signs detail the St. Vrain valley’s ecology and heritage along the way too. Parts of the greenway are also illuminated at night.
See Exotic Species at Jim Hamm Nature Area
Sprawling over 220 acres of grasslands, wetlands, and riverfront, Jim Hamm Nature Area protects sensitive wildlife habitats native to Colorado’s Front Range. A 2.2-mile loop trail lets you explore the entire nature area on foot to admire its biodiversity.
Prairie dog towns with underground burrows, cattail-fringed ponds, and a managed floodplain forest are natural highlights here. You may spot endangered Preble’s meadow jumping mice, red-tailed hawk, great horned owls, coyote, mule deer, and over 50 butterfly species thriving in this urban refuge as well!
Catch a Show at Longmont Theatre Company
Longmont Theatre Company stages high-quality musicals, comedies, and thought-provoking dramas year-round much to the delight of culture vultures. This intimate 93-seat theater located downtown invests heavily in set design, costumes, sound and lighting to treat you to phenomenal performances.
Some upcoming productions to watch out for are the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Doubt”, fun-filled musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and Dickens’ all-time holiday favorite “A Christmas Carol.” You’ll also enjoy the free summer concert series featuring Broadway stars at nearby Roosevelt Park.
Learn at The Wild Plum Center
The Wild Plum Center at Longmont strives to connect people with nature through hands-on, ecology-based programs and events. Daily public programs let you join naturalist-led wildlife walks to spot native animals and learn about local habitats.
You can also sign up for workshops teaching nature journaling, wilderness survival basics, tracking skills, nature writing, wildflower identification and more unique topics to deepen your nature awareness. The Center encompasses classrooms, an outdoor trail, garden plots, and natural playscape too – making it an enriching visit for all ages.
Shop Local Wares on Main Street
Downtown Longmont’s Main Street is lined with indie boutiques, antique stores, artisan galleries, cafes, and eateries for visitors to explore. Many establishments occupy carefully restored historic buildings, retaining the downtown area’s original architectural charm.
Check out fair-trade goods and global crafts at the non-profit Gondwana International Fair Trade Market or handmade gifts at Letterheads Stationery & Gift Shop. You can also browse the gigantic Boot Barn’s western apparel selection or find rare first editions at Barbed Wire Books. Stop at the century-old, family-owned Cheese Importers for their droolworthy international cheese selection too!
Catch a Film at Historic Fox Theatre
First opened in 1931 during the golden age of cinema, the historic Fox Theatre is one of Longmont’s beloved cultural venues. With over 300 seats across three theaters, this non-profit organization screens everything from recently released Hollywood films to niche indie productions, cult classics, documentaries and foreign language movies.
Beyond screenings, the Fox Theatre also hosts concerts by emerging musicians, stand-up comedy nights, magic shows, film discussion panels and more. Its art gallery and concession stand add to the vintage movie-going experience! True cinema fans shouldn’t miss visiting Longmont’s spectacular silver screen landmark.
Brave Cliff Diving at Rourke Art Museum
Believe it or not, cliff diving into a 12-foot plunge pool was once a celebrated event in 1930s Longmont! The Rourke Art Museum brings back this unique slice of Longmont history with their thrilling, competitive Cliff Diving Invitational event held every July.
Dozens of daring divers leap acrobatically from an artificial diving platform built over the concrete plunge pool on the Museum premises. Live music, food trucks, antique car parade and other family-friendly activities round off the festival vibe at this summertime favorite attended by thousands annually.
Admire Vintage Cars at Boulder County Fair
Every August, the sprawling Boulder County Fairgrounds located in Longmont hosts the exciting Boulder County Fair. From demo derbies and rodeo events to lip-smacking carnival food, live concerts and kiddie activities – this weeklong county fair has entertainment for all ages.
One consistent highlight at the fair is the display of over 150 exquisitely restored classic cars entered into competition by motoring enthusiasts. Marvel at vintage beauties like 1920’s Model T trucks, 1950’s Corvette roadsters, 1970’s station wagons and other rare vehicles during the fair’s run.
Appreciate Art at Longmont Museum
Beyond its main building exhibits, Longmont Museum encompasses an authentic 1940s farmhouse displaying antique household tools and machinery telling unique stories about rural life for pioneers settling in northern Colorado. Visitors can attend free History Comes Alive performances at the farmhouse in summer to witness costumed reenactors vividly highlight significant chapters from Longmont’s past.
The Museum also hosts cultural events like Dia de los Muertos family celebrations connected with its prominent Latino collections and space for local artists to give live art demonstration workshops as well which are free to attend with museum entry.
Conclusion
From adventurous outdoor pursuits and one-of-a-kind museums to historic attractions, delectable food scene and showstopping events – Longmont serves up ample things to see and experience. Its lively small-town vibe, beautiful natural setting, and thriving cultural landscape guarantee an unforgettable trip filled with pleasant surprises.
So pack your itinerary and start checking items off this list of top 12 things to do for an amazing time in Longmont, Colorado!