Our home for July was Longmont, CO. Although Sam’s rotation was technically based in Greeley, CO, we were lucky enough to live in Lexie’s dad’s home in Longmont (shoutout to you, Ed). And while we’re doing shout-outs, major S/O to my bestie Lexie for giving me most of these recommendations!
The weather was nice but hot, with the occasional afternoon shower that can be expected in Colorado. I appreciated the many sunny days and usually “dry” air. After living in Phoenix for 2.5 years, I’m officially a dry weather snob.
We (especially Sam) did a lot of driving this month to get from place to place, which is a con to Denver. The city itself always feels extremely crowded, and even the outskirt cities feel busy as well.
We overall really enjoyed our time in Longmont and wish we had more time to explore! We were also fortunate enough to spend time with Sam’s sister and fiancé, as well as my cousin and her husband. Having family nearby is always such a nice bonus!
In addition to exploring Longmont, we also ventured outside of Longmont to nearby Boulder, Denver, and a bit-further Salida. Here are my recommendations!
Activities
McIntosh Lake (Longmont)
Such a cute little lake situated in a local neighborhood, perfect for paddle boarding and walking/running. They offer SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) rentals, or you can bring your own. I’d recommend packing a cooler with lunch and drinks for a relaxing afternoon out on the water!
There is also a trail that circles the lake, totaling 3.5 miles around. It’s a nice path for running and walking with views of the Flatirons in Boulder.
LoBo Trail (Longmont/Boulder)
A trail that runs between Longmont and Boulder and spanning 12 miles each way, this path is very enjoyable for biking, walking, and running. There’s a variety of shade and sun, which made it very pleasant for our Saturday morning bike ride. We even stopped at a small pop-up stand to buy some local honey!
St. Vrain Greenway (Longmont)
A wide, paved path that is a total of 17.5 miles, this trail is another great option for biking, walking, and running. The scenery isn’t anything special and it provides less shade than LOBO, but offers an uninterrupted path so you can go as far as you’d like. There are several entry points, but I hopped on and off at 119th Street.
Eldorado Canyon State Park (Boulder)
Eldorado State Park offers several different hikes, all of which I’m sure are beautiful! Since this is a State Park, an entrance fee of $10 per vehicle is required. We did the Eldorado Canyon Trail, and turned around after 2 miles in. You could do the entire out & back trail, which totals 6 miles. The trail is quite steep from the start and will get your heart pumping, but not too technical. I love Colorado hikes because they’re oftentimes shaded and surrounded by different scenery.
Mount Sanitas via Lion’s Lair Spur (~1.4 miles, Boulder)
There are multiple different trails you can take to reach Mount Sanitas (i.e. Mount Sanitas Peak Trail, Mount Sanitas via East Ridge Trail, Mount Sanitas via Goat Trail, and more), but I chose Lions Lair because it was recommended and was a good distance/difficulty for me to tackle on my own. Sam was busy with studying, so I set off on a Sunday solo adventure. I loved this trail for several reasons:
1. The out and back trail is a decent distance without being too long.
2. There is shade provided throughout since you’re in between trees the whole time.
3. It wasn’t too crowded — I passed a few different groups but never hit busy patches.
4. The view at the top is incredible and spans all of Boulder!
Parking at the trailhead is a little different because it’s right off the side of a winding road. There are only a few spots directly in front of the trailhead, but several spots on the side of the road in each direction. I ended up passing the trailhead and turning around to park.
Denver Botanic Garden (Denver)
This was my first experience at a Botanic Garden and it was actually much more interesting than I even expected. General admission tickets are $15 per adult, and must be purchased in advance here (York St location). We spent about 2 hours browsing through the different sections of the gardens and taking pictures. Everything was so beautiful and intriguing! Definitely a recommended activity as something different and outdoors. There were a few on-site cafes that we didn’t eat at, but looked absolutely delicious! We did get teas and flavored aguas frescas from Offshoots Cafe, which were lovely treats after a hot walk.
Eat & Drink
Happy Hour at The Roost (Longmont)
Sunday – Thursday 3pm – 6pm. The Roost is located on the adorable Main Street in Longmont with a rooftop patio. Unfortunately, it was raining when we went so we sat on the back enclosed patio. However, we got the Bangin’ Cauliflower plus some cocktails and had a great time!
Jefes Tacos & Tequila (Longmont)
Also on Main Street, come here for the NACHOS! Holy cow, they are massive and delicious. We couldn’t even finish them between the two of us, which is truly saying something because we pride ourselves on nacho eating ability.
Honestly, their margaritas only scored a 6/10 from me, which was disappointing since they’ve been voted Longmont’s best margarita 5 years in a row! I got the flight which was very cute, but the rocks marg and kombucharita were way too strong for my taste (again, this is really saying something). The strawberry & mango were delicious, although very sweet.
Brewery Hopping (Longmont)
I had no clue that Longmont was home to so many breweries! Not only are there the large name ones, but also several local ones. We didn’t make it around to each place, but did visit Left Hand, Oscar Blues, and Wibby.
- Left Hand – super friendly staff and lots of options on tap, including the famous milk stout.
- Oscar Blues – more of a sit down experience and restaurant, but has an expansive outdoor seating area.
- Wibby – a mostly outdoor venue with a tent & projector (we watched the Olympics!), plus several inflatable pools, which we found comical. Apparently you can buy $10 tickets to use the pools.
- Bootstrap
- 300 Suns
- Grossen Bart
- Pumphouse
Rio Grande (Boulder)
Incredible and strong margaritas! I usually prefer my margs on the rocks, but the frozen margs at the Rio make me think twice. They have a limit of three, if that tells you anything! They also have a pretty large rooftop that has nice views of the Flatirons.
Moe’s Broadway Bagel (Boulder)
With several locations in the Boulder area, this is worth checking out! They make their bagels fresh every morning and have a great variety of options. I didn’t get there until after my Lion’s Lair hike, so many of the bagels options were already out. However, I got both of us the Sunshine Daydream sandwich on Spinach Parmesan bagel, which was very tasty!
Avanti Food & Beverage (Boulder and Denver)
With two locations (one in Boulder & one in Denver), this is a food and beverage hall that is perfect for trying different foods. Since there are several food vendors, you can get an appetizer one place, entree at another, and dessert at a third! It is also perfect for a group since it provides a variety of options and allows everyone to get their choice.
We visited the Boulder location and their rooftop was bumpin’ on a Wednesday night! We were barely able to snag a table. All the food was delicious, especially the Forager Pizza from New Yorkese and the froze from the bar.
Linger (Denver)
An old mortuary turned restaurant located in the popular LoHi neighborhood, we came here for apps and drinks and sat on the roof. All of their cocktails looked appealing, but I settled on the Seasonal Margarita which was prickly pear! We also got several snacks to share, all of which were yummy, but the Devils on Horseback (bacon wrapped dates) stood out as the favorite.
Happy Camper (Denver)
Also located in LoHi, this pizzeria offers a massive patio with string lights and fun decor. We came here for drinks after dinner and got the Pink Flamingo cocktail. It honestly wasn’t my favorite spicy cocktail, but I would still go back to try others and the pizza! They have a few shareable drinks including a 65oz Jumbo Marg. Definitely recommend for the atmosphere!
Bacon Social House (Denver)
I have two words for you: Bacon. Tots. HOLY MOLY! This place is one of a kind (although there are a few locations). We ended up ordering to-go because the wait was too long, but even brunch to-go was incredible. I don’t think you can go wrong on the menu, but highly recommend the bacon flight, shrimp & grits, and sunshine pancakes.
Vital Root (Denver)
A yum vegan, gluten free restaurant located on the cute Tennyson street in Denver. We went for brunch, so split the DELISH ube sweet potato pancakes and cashew queso. I got the Med Bowl which was large and flavorful.
Waterloo (Louisville)
Louisville also has such an adorable Main Street! There are plenty of restaurants and bars to check out here (Pôr Wine House looks fun!), but I only visited Waterloo for apps & drinks. Their rooftop is small, but grab a seat up there if you can!
They made one of the best margaritas I’ve had at a restaurant – the blueberry habanero. I was surprised at how it wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet or spicy, but the perfect balance of both. Also surprisingly, it was pink in color! If you’re looking for an appetizer option, I’d recommend the grilled avocado.
Weekend Getaway (Salida)
We spent 4th of July weekend camping in Salida with Sam’s sister and her fiancé, plus a few of their friends. Salida is about a 2.5 hour drive from Denver and is a small town with gorgeous views. We camped off of County Road 250 and had a wonderful view of the mountains. We only stayed one night, but packed several activities into our getaway!
We didn’t have time to check out Downtown Salida, but ended our rafting trip here and thought it was such a cute spot! Would recommend walking around if you have the time.
Browns Creek Waterfall Trail (~6.2 miles)
A moderate trail that ends in a gushing waterfall. I loved this hike! It has its steep moments, but still 100% worth doing.
White Water Rafting on the Arkansas River
We were lucky enough for Mason’s friends to have their own rafts and take us on a rafting trip, so we didn’t have to go through a company. However, you could schedule a trip through Independent Whitewater.
We had so much fun on the water, and stopped at the Drift In river bar halfway through for lunch and Painkiller cocktails! I love spending time on the water, and rafting adds another element of needing to navigate the rapids while enjoying the surrounding beauty.
I’m officially craving a marg now … the blueberry habanero specifically! And a side of nachos please. Great entry!