Golden Ponds

Where: 2651 3rd Ave

If you follow our Instagram account, you may have noticed that we spend a fair amount of time at Golden Ponds. Located at the western end of Third Avenue (and just off of the St Vrain Greenway), Golden Ponds are just a stone's throw from the middle of town.

A railroad track runs along the north side of the ponds, and large electric towers cut right across them, so you will not be fooled into thinking you have escaped into the wilderness. Still you can't beat the sweeping views of the mountains, and this is a great spot for viewing some of Longmont's wildlife. Over the years we have regularly spotted bald eagles, great blue herons, osprey, white pelicans, and once we even saw a mink. Of course, there are also geese and ducks aplenty. 

A pedestrian bridge crosses over the St Vrain Creek, revealing a small waterfall. In the spring, the waterfall rages wildly (as seen above) with all of the snow melt. This is always a favorite kids' destination, perfect for throwing rocks and cooling off in the spray. 

Golden Ponds also has many shelters making it a great picnicking spot, and it also allows fishing.

Longmont Bike Night - 2015

When: Wednesdays, 6:30pm, May-September  (Bike Night launches on May 13th!)

Where: Rides start at Roosevelt Park, under the flags on the east side of the park. 

Web: www.bicyclelongmont.org

Blog: www.longmontbikenight.org

Wednesday evenings in the summer are filled with the cheerful sound of ringing bike bells, as hundreds of cyclists young and old cruise through the shady streets of Old Town Longmont. Bike Night is a very popular summer activity — and every week seems to draw bigger crowds. Routes generally stick to the Old Town area and they're usually pretty easy, not to mention safe, thanks to the presence of police escorts (riding along on bikes, of course). Kids will love the whimsical weekly themes, which encourage dressing up. This year has included rides devoted to the totally rad 1980s, Prom Night and, entertainingly, the holiday season. Nothing stranger and more charming than a flock of cyclists in Santa hats rolling into a hot summer night.

Field Notes: Devil's Backbone Open Space, Loveland

Devil's Backbone Open Space, Plaster Mill Rd, Loveland, 20 miles from Longmont 

12 miles of trails which connect to Rimrock Open Space and then Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. About 1.5 miles from the parking lot to the keyhole. This is a really nice easy hike that is only 20 miles from Longmont. Located in Loveland, it is surrounded by communities of homes so it does not feel like you are escaping into nature. Still, the rock formation is stunning and feels quintessentially western. The keyhole - an impressive rock arch - is only about 1.5 miles from the parking lot making it a great destination for kids while the adults will appreciate the view of Longs Peek, Meeker, the Twin Sisters and more.

(As I write this post it is cold and snowy, but these photos were taken only a few weeks ago on a warm and sunny day in January. )

For more local hikes see here and here. 

Apple Picking at Roger's Grove

Where: Roger's Grove Park, 220 S Hover Street

This was a great year for apples, and the orchard at Roger's Grove Park is overflowing with fruit. Even better, the apples are free for the picking, so grab your tote bags and start harvesting. Be prepared: many of the best specimens can be found on the highest limbs, and a step stool will come in handy. (Bug spray is a good idea, too.) Kids will love climbing the trees and unlimited apples.

Sledding in Longmont

A few days of snowfall has left Longmont looking quite picturesque. If you are wondering where to take the kids, there are three spots around town that are the go-to sledding locations.

In Old Town, there are a few rolling hills in Sunset Golf Course (where all these photos were taken). Head to the area right behind the pool. 1900 Longs Peaks Avenue.

Our friends rave about the sledding hill in the new Dry Creek Community Park, near the corner of Clover Basin Drive and Grandview Meadows Drive.

In the southern part of the town, check out the big hill at Sunset Middle School, 1300 S Sunset St.

In the eastern part of town, go to Skyline High School, 600 E. Mountain View Ave.

Any other suggestions? Please share!

ArtWalk

When: Select Fridays in the Summer, 6:30-9 p.m.

Where: Main Street, between 3^rd and 6^th Aves.

Web: www.artlinklongmont.org

Always a fun way to say goodbye to the work week during the summer, ArtWalk sees Downtown Longmont turn into a family friendly street party. Art is the focus, obviously, with galleries staying open late, local artists displaying their work and opportunities to create your very own masterpiece. But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg – expect live music, performing arts, feats of acrobatic daring, martial arts demonstrations, food carts and much more. Traffic is diverted around Main Street during the event, which means you can stroll up and down the busiest strip of asphalt in town for a few hours without worrying about being run over. Which is nice. 

Don’t miss the last ArtWalk of the season this Friday, September 21! 

Sandstone Ranch Visitor Center

Where: 990 State Highway 119
Web: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/parks/park_list/overview/SSR_District_Park.htm
Visitor Center Hours: Tuesdays – May 17-Oct. 25, 2016: 9am-12noon; 2^nd and 4^th Saturdays – May 14-Oct. 22, 2016: 10am-2pm

It's hard to imagine what Longmont was like all the way back in 1860, but you can catch a glimpse of those bygone days at Sandstone Ranch, one of the earliest homesteading sites in the area. The intensely named Morse Coffin came to Colorado during the Gold Rush in the late 1850s, and instead of heading to the mountains like most of those seized with gold fever, stuck it out on the banks of the St. Vrain. And it seems as though he thrived there, establishing a sandstone quarry that supplied stone to cities all over Colorado and beyond. In the early 1880s, Coffin built the Second Empire-style house that still stands -- it's been added to and modified over the years, but retains a definite pioneer flavor.

There's also an ancient barn and walking trails that wrap around the old quarry. We like Sandstone as a biking destination; you can roll right up to it from the St. Vrain Greenway and relax on the lawn in front of the house. The Visitors Center, featuring information on local history and wildlife, is open seasonally (see dates and times above).

McIntosh Lake

Where: South of State Highway 66, north of Hygiene Road, west of North 75th Street and east of Hover Road

Web: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/parks/park_list/overview/mcintosh.htm

At first glance, you might not think there’s much happening on the northwest end of Longmont. But one glimpse of the spectacular, 265-acre McIntosh Lake will set you straight. Boasting one of the greatest views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range in Colorado, the manmade lake attracts cyclists, boaters, fishers, birdwatchers and joggers to its sunny shores. 

A flat trail (half paved, half gravel) wraps itself around the water – it’s a great walk, jog or bike ride. Along the way, you’ll find two playgrounds, a tennis court, wetlands, boat ramps and plenty of photo ops. Keep an eye out for a wide array of wildlife, including blue herons, red foxes, and bald eagles. You might even see that rarest of Colorado sights – a windsurfer.

LoBo Trail

People are serious about bikes in Colorado, and Longmont is no exception. This year, the League of American Bicyclists rated the city at the silver level in terms of bike-friendliness. After a few years of living here, we're finally getting into the cycling scene -- and loving every minute of it. Our current favorite ride follows the LoBo Trail about seven miles to nearby Niwot. Hook up with the trail on Sunset Ave. (just south of Pike Rd.) and follow it out to where it runs parallel with the Diagonal Highway. About a mile in, the trail turns from concrete to crushed gravel, and the ride gets slightly less smooth. But don't worry, you'll have plenty of excuses for breaks -- the magnificent views of the mighty Flatirons pretty much command you to stop and soak in the sights. 

You can ride the LoBo Trail all the way to Boulder  -- a 12-mile adventure we've yet to undertake. Hey, we're just getting into this biking thing, remember? So far, our final destination of choice has been the Winot Coffee Co. (7960 Niwot Road), located in the Cottonwood Plaza. Coffee, pastries, sandwiches and a sunny patio. What more could sweaty cyclists wish for?

Tip: For maps and other two-wheel resources, look no further than www.BicycleLongmont.org.

Longmont Memorial Rose Garden

Where: Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave.

Web: http://www.ci.longmont.co.us/parks/park_list/overview/roosevelt.htm

To paraphrase the old George Jones number, It's been a good -- no, a great -- year for the roses. This spring was one of the warmest on record, meaning that we never got one of those nasty, garden-destroying cold snaps in April or May. The result? Roses running riot all over town. The absolute best place to literally stop and smell the roses in Longmont is without a doubt the Longmont Memorial Rose Garden, located on the west side of Roosevelt Park, just a short walk from downtown.

The garden's history stretches back to 1945, when the first roses were planted by the Lions Club as a war memorial. It's well-known today amongst rose aficionados, even garnering coverage in USA Today. Lovingly tended to by community members, you'll find a dazzling array of rose varieties here -- 190 in all -- ranging from classic reds to exotic hybrids.