Colorado's City Between Denver & Boulder Is A Historic Rocky Mountain Gem

Louisville is a little jewel at the foot of the Rockies, known for its charming historic downtown and sweeping mountain views. Perfectly positioned between Denver and Boulder, this attractive small city is an easy and rewarding addition to your next Colorado itinerary. Beneath its postcard-pretty streets lies a fascinating past. Louisville began as a coal-mining town, with the Welch Mine opening in 1877. Within a few years, it became Colorado's largest coal mine, sparking a boom that led to the development of more than 20 additional mines in the area.

The town (pronounced Lewis-ville, not Louie-ville) was established in 1882 for all of the miners moving to the area. Louisville grew quickly along Main, Front, and Pine streets, and its wooden buildings are part of Historic Downtown Louisville, now home to over 20,000 residents. They have been turned into galleries, restaurants, and shops in the easily walkable center. Add its stunning surroundings and easy access to the nearby Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, and it is not surprising that magazines have named Louisville one of the best places to live numerous times.

Though the coal miners probably didn't anticipate it when they established Louisville, they picked an ideal spot for their new home. Denver, a popular Western winter destination to add to your fall bucket list, is just 22 miles south. Denver International Airport (DEN) receives nonstop flights from cities all over the world, and Boulder, one of America's best college towns, is only 10 miles northwest.

Though only five square blocks, there's always something happening in the historic downtown center. The free Louisville Historical Museum is a good place to start. Spread over three buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places, its main building, the Jacoe Store, was a grocery store at the beginning of the 20th century. You can see how families lived during this time in the Tomeo House. Plus the Jordinelli House features a small-scale replica of turn-of-the-century Louisville. More historic buildings, including the Austin-Niehoff House (Louisville's oldest building) and the State Mercantile Building (once the National Fuel Company Store) are just a short walk from the museum.

Among these buildings, you'll find a vibrant art scene. The Louisville Center for the Arts, in an 1894 two-room schoolhouse, is now home to the 55-seat Coal Creek Theater. The CenterStage Theatre Company encourages kids to get involved in the arts through classes and workshops. Its CenterStage Tapestry Theatre then offers them parts in inclusive stage performances. Then the Steinbaugh Pavilion, an open-air venue, hosts Street Faire concerts in the summer, the Louisville Farmers Market from spring into the fall, and Old Town Skate in the winter.

As you continue to roam around Louisville, you'll discover art galleries, breweries, and coffee shops, as well. Stop into Bittersweet Cafe for homemade baked goods and coffee from the Coffee Roasting Company, and in the afternoon swing by 12Degree Brewing or Crystal Springs Brewing Co. for great local craft beers. 

You're unlikely to spend too much time inside during your trip, since Louisville has more than 30 miles of trails. The Leon A. Wurl Wildlife Sanctuary's Harper Lake is a popular boating, fishing, and kayaking spot. It is also surrounded by a 1-mile loop trail. The lake is right next to the Davidson Mesa Open Space, a park with 5.5 miles of dog-friendly trails.

Louisville has two other great trails that are much longer. The Coal Creek Trail follows the Coal Creek bed between the towns of Superior and Erie. At 14 miles long, it's perfect for walking or cycling. The Broomfield and Louisville Loop Trail is also long but fairly easy. This 14.7-mile trail begins in Heritage Park, curves around Stearns Lake, crosses a wooden bridge, and passes Rock Creek Farm, where you can pick your own pumpkin in the fall. You can expect beautiful mountain views along all of these trails.

Then, if you feel like getting even closer to the Rockies, you can head west to drive the Peak to Peak Scenic and Historic Byway. Colorado's oldest scenic byway is a 55-mile road that extends from Estes Park to Black Hawk/Central City. The scenic byway offers a road trip of Rocky Mountain views and quirky attractions, and you can complete the return journey in about three hours. But, like in Louisville, the mountain views along the way might encourage you to slow down and enjoy the ride.