Beautiful Littleton, Colorado is a town that had its beginnings in the “Pikes Peak” gold rush of 1859. Among the gold-seekers, farmers and merchants, Engineer Richard Sullivan Little was hired from New Hampshire to help in laying out a series of ditches that would aid in carrying water to homes, farms and businesses all over town since there was no ready access to rivers or creeks. He fell in love with the area and soon brought his family to live there. Richard’s vision and generosity played a huge part in making Littleton a wonderful and successful town that continued to thrive even through World War II. Today, Littleton remains to be a thriving community with many charming spots to visit.
Downtown Littleton
Historic Downtown Littleton is a quaint area with tree-lined streets and several distinctive historic buildings. This a great place to take a drive or stroll especially along the Littles Creek path. For a glimpse of what it was like for the pioneer settlers, visit the Hilderbrand Ranch. Living history can be explored through a 19th-century schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, and a granary. The Littleton museum is also a great place to learn more about the town’s history and culture. The story of this museum dates all the way back to prehistoric times and showcases the past, present and future. SeaQueast Littleton is a great spot for curious minds of all ages with 12,000 species of animals in habitats made as close as possible to their original homes. Travel off the beaten path and visit the final resting place of a 19th century gold prospector and convicted cannibal, Alfred Packer and the Bradford House II, a prehistoric rock shelter that's literally in someone's backyard. Visit the Danny Dietz Memorial that honors fallen US Navy Seal heroes, Danny Dietz’s unit inspired the film Lone Survivor starring Mark Wahlberg and Emile Hirsch. For more fun time with the kids, visit JungleQuest on of Denver region's top family-friendly entertainment destinations since 1994. The facility has offered a wide variety of challenging and fun indoor adventure center activities, including ziplines, safari swings, rope bridges, and rock climbing areas. For more culture and entertainment, the Town Hall Arts Center offers a wide variety of live theatrical and music performances each year between September and June. The Littleton Depot Art Gallery is the official public art gallery of the Littleton Fine Arts Guild, which was originally founded in 1962 by 10 area female painters and has grown to encompass more than 60 members today. They showcase the works of member artists working in a wide variety of media, including watercolor, oil painting, sculpture, photography, woodwork, glass, jewelry, and mixed media. If you love antiques, the Colorado Antique Gallery is Denver's largest antique mall, operated along South Broadway Street in Littleton's historic downtown since 1992, offering more than 50,000 square feet of retail space showcasing more than 285 of the state's top antique retailers, open to the public seven days a week during the morning and afternoon hours.
Beautiful Scenery
Littleton is surrounded by beautiful scenery, lush nature and is perfect for those who love the outdoors. A great place to explore is the beautiful 3,300 acres, Roxborough State Park. Its prominent features are the 300-million year old red sandstone formations that pepper the lush landscape. For more nature and wildlife, South Platte Park and the Carson Nature Center is another amazing site to see. Not only is there an abundance of wildlife, but there are a ton of activities such as kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding. For more outdoorsy fun, Chatfield state park has something for everyone from hiking and bike trails, water sports and even ice-fishing in the winter or get a quick 18-hole round of golf or a few games of tennis in at the beautiful Littleton Golf and Tennis center. The Hudson Gardens and Event Center has a park that is to the public year-round and is another great place for scenic walks. Robert Clement Park is a charming park that was constructed in 1987. It is a great place for sports such as skating, volleyball and even has a few batting cages. There are 2 playgrounds perfect for a day with the kids and a splash park as well. Deer Canyon Park within the Deer Creek Canyon is another lovely place for bikers, hikers and even horse lovers as there are several equestrian trails. Take a moment to stop and smell the flowers at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms. It is a 700 acre working historic farm and wildlife refuge located on the banks of beautiful Deer Creek in Littleton. There are a wide variety of landscaped gardens showcased throughout the property, including Community-Supported Agriculture program gardens, a sensory garden, an iris garden, an herb garden, and the Janice Ford memorial garden to name a few.
Places to Eat
For some exciting eats, Café Terracota is an upscale but laidback restaurant whose layout allows diners to interact with the people preparing their meals. For a cold brewskie, head over to St. Patrick’s Brewing Co. for Colorado inspired lagers. All are made with fresh, premium ingredients. If you like to have some munchies with your beer, food trucks are parked outside the brewery on weekends. Try the Pierre Michel French Bakery for some delectable French pastries and desserts. If you want some good old burgers or other American fare, head over to Merles, a garage turned automobile themed restaurant. If it's Mexican food you want then Los Dos Portillos is where you need to go. Hailed as one of Denver’s favorite Mexican restaurant chains, the food and ambience at Los Dos Portillos is a must-experience. Breckinridge Brewery is Colorado’s third oldest craft brewery and has been housed in Littleton since 2015. Year-round and seasonal brews are distributed to more than 35 states, but you can get them fresh-off-the-tap here. Finally, if you want a charming, healthy serving of New Orlean’s influenced fare, then Nono’s Cafe is the place to be. The restaurant, which is operated by owners Sonda and Brian Brewster, strives to craft unique dishes with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients at reasonable prices in a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.
Littleton Colorado is a culturally rich area that is surrounded by lush nature and scenery, truly a place that should be on your bucketlist.
