Fall in Love with Longmont

(5-DAY ITINERARY)

Cover Photo: Stephen A. Solomon

CHECK OUT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST LONGMONT EVENTS!

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DAY 1:

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Start your day at The Garden Gate Cafea friendly neighborhood restaurant specializing in cooking up fresh and delicious breakfasts.

Get your fill of all things apple at Ya-Ya Farm & Orchard, a historic, century-old farm that specializes in heirloom apples. You can visit the farm stand which has apples, apple cider donuts, apple pies and more! There are also farm animals including Percheron Draft Horses, chickens, turkeys and peacocks! Take a tractor-drawn hayride or self-guided tour and breathe in the crisp, fall air. There is also a U-Pick section for apples, cherries, pumpkins, veggies and flowers. Reservations are required for fruit picking only.

Another great option for picking apples is Rogers Grove Park off of 220 S. Hover St. Apples are free to pick and are first come first serve.

For lunch, try CYCLHOPS Bike CANtina. CYCLHOPS is committed to using locally-grown and thoughtfully sourced ingredients. The creative taqueria-inspired menu features unique flavor combinations, authentic taco-makin’ techniques, and delicious takes on traditional Mexican food along with local beer and tequila offerings.

Take a sweet tooth pitstop at Robin Chocolates to sample artisan chocolates and confections plus beautiful cakes and pastries.

 

Spend the afternoon taking in a seasonal hike at Hall Ranch Open Space in Lyons, Colorado, just outside of Longmont. With amazing vista and mountain views, an afternoon hike is sure to not disappoint! There are many trail options to choose from that are all hiking and biking friendly. You may even spot some wildlife!

After hiking, head back into town to fuel up with dinner at Mike O’ Shays Restaurant and Alehouse for some traditional pub favorites. The restaurant has been open since 1981 and it is the longest running, independently-owned restaurant in Longmont. After dinner, take some time to browse the Downtown Creative District to get a jump on some holiday shopping!

Longmont offers a variety of options for your stay. Discover accommodations to meet your every need from pricing and amenities to convenience and location. Hospitality shines through at our many hotels, vacation rentals and campgrounds.

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DAY 2:

Start the day at Ziggi’s Coffee Shop. Choose from a wide variety of coffee and tea beverages along with local pastries and breakfast items. The 1904 building was the old Longmont National Bank and is a historic landmark.

About an hour drive east of town in Keenesburg, is where you can visit the Wild Animal Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is not a zoo and offers a completely different visitor experience. Their rescued animals live in large open habitats that encompass 789 acres. They have an elevated walkway that is more than 1.5 miles long and spans across numerous natural habitats, with plenty of opportunities for guests to get a closer view of the animals. Recommended time spent at the sanctuary is 2-4 hours.

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After touring the Sanctuary, head back to Longmont for a late lunch at Proto's Pizza.  Proto's has been proudly serving East Coast-style pizza to the good folks of Colorado since 1999.

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Next head to the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center.  Here, you can explore regional history, internationally-known artists, and explorations of culture. Permanent exhibits document the 14,000 years of human history in Longmont, and the people who helped to create this community. Special exhibits in their Main Gallery and in their Portal Gallery change frequently, so there is always something new to see.

Longmont also hosts the largest Day of the Dead celebration in Colorado, historically attracting more than 6,000 people to the exhibit, Catrina Ball, family event, and related programming. The celebration demonstrates how a diverse community can come together to share a common desire – to honor ancestors and keep their memories alive.  Enjoy the street festival, including music and dance performances, arts and craft activities, cultural education, delicious food, downtown business altars, and the Gigantes Procession.

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After visiting the museum, head back to downtown for a rooftop patio dinner at The Roost. Whipping up delicious food with a modern twist, The Roost has something for everyone. Our recommendation: try out their Bangin' Cauliflower! Fun fact: The Roost was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!

 

 

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DAY 3:

Savor more of the fall harvest at the Longmont Farmers Market. Running every Saturday from April through November, this growers-only market features the longest farmers market season in the state! Enjoy local food trucks, farm stands, and artisan booths for gifts and goodies to take with you!

If you haven’t filled up on goodies at the Farmers Market, a stop at Rosalee’s Pizzeria for lunch is in order. Grab a pie and a beer and snag a seat to people watch downtown. Their cheese is shredded and grated by hand, they make their sauce from the highest quality tomatoes. Their fresh ground pork sausage is a treat you don’t want to miss!

 

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With a thriving craft beverage scene, Longmont is home to a large selection of breweries, distilleries, and a cidery. We are sure you will find something that caters to your palate.  Sample the flavors of fall with the seasonal rotations like Double Dunkel at Wibby or enjoy an Oktoberfest at Left Hand Brewing's new Beer Garden. Take advantage of the local food trucks that rotate around for a bite to eat.  TIP: on Saturdays the Brewhop Trolley has the Longmont Loop which runs a continuous loop, that stops off at 14 venues, 9 breweries, 3 distilleries, 1 cidery and 1 wine bar each hour.

DAY 4:

Start your day at Tangerine in Downtown Longmont.  Tangerine creates innovative takes on traditional morning fare. The menu is rich with natural quality and focused on fresh products, with many vegetarian and gluten free options.

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On weekends throughout the month of October, the Rocky Mountain Pumpkin Ranch hosts the Fall Festival that features carnival fun and the original Pick-a-Pumpkin Pumpkin Patch. There is no entry fee to the grounds and parking is free. The festival caters to young children and adults who still want to play and enjoy the beautiful autumn days.

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A stop at Cheese Importers is a must-do! A true destination for any “foodie,” Cheese Importers is a Colorado family-owned business founded in 1976. They offer natural, organic and imported cheeses, cured meats, specialty oils, spices, olives, chocolate, and other unique specialty foods.  Their old world retail store features the largest walk-in refrigerated cheese and cured meat market in Colorado and a broad selection of European housewares and linens.

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Next, test your climbing skills at the Longmont Climbing Collective, Longmont’s only indoor bouldering gym. The gym also offers fitness equipment, yoga and training in the 15,000 square foot climbing facility. There is over 7,000 square feet of indoor bouldering space, perfect for an afternoon of climbing and activity!

For dinner, refuel at Gondlier's Italian Eatery for a memorable dining experience featuring house-made, seasonal Italian cuisine, pasta and pizza. This cozy atmosphere is the perfect setting for a fall-inspired meal!

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Day 5:

Day 5 begins with take-out from  Babettes Artisan Bakery. They produce an array of fresh-baked bread and artisan pastries daily. Known for their dark crusts and flaky dough, pair your pastry with a hot drink from around the corner at Cavegirl Coffee to start your day off right!  Then take a walk through the area and enjoy the colorful new, urbanist neighborhood of Prospect.

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Another great fall adventure is Rocky Mountain National Park. Less than an hour from Longmont, take a drive up Hwy 36 through the town of Lyons and enjoy the views and changing colors. As you head through Estes Park and into the Park, the colors get even more incredible with the climb in elevation! The Park offers 415 square miles of outdoor activities like hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, sledding and wildlife viewing. You can drive your car throughout the park and pull off at many scenic overlooks for spectacular pictures. Be on the lookout for elk, deer, moose, marmots and more! *Timed-entry reservations are necessary until October 22 if going between 9 am-2 pm.  More information here.

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After your fall color adventure, head back down to Longmont for a nice, cozy dinner at Roots at the Dickens. The building was built in 1881 by William H. Dickens and has been a local landmark for just as long.   Ask about the haunted happenings in the restaurant and Opera House while you’re there…if you dare!

This rounds out your fall adventure in Longmont! We hope you enjoy your time here in town!

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