New to town and looking for things to do in Loveland, Colorado? Here’s a great place to start! Get out there and #liveloveland, and tell us where you go in the comments!
Since 1985, this public garden has provided a beautiful and unique outdoor setting for showcasing sculpture since 1985. Currently there are 148 pieces of beautiful bronze sculpture on permanent display, each telling a unique story.
Red-tailed hawks soaring above, grasslands carpeted with wildflowers, towering rock formations – these are just some of the natural features to be enjoyed at the 2,198-acre Devil’s Backbone Open Space. Its 12 miles of trail connect to Rimrock Open Space and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space for hiking, running, horseback riding, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, observing nature, as well as enjoying close-up inspection of the rock outcrop and long vistas.
Opened in 2007, Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra in Loveland, Colorado is a one-of-a-kind outdoor exhibit, displaying 82 monumental stone sculptures from Zimbabwean artisans traversing 26-acres of natural and landscaped gardens. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this outdoor cultural experience is a community gift for all ages to gather, explore, and experience individually or together.
Loveland’s downtown district is home to an eclectic selection of boutiques, shops restaurants, breweries and galleries. Enjoy fun events and specials during Night on the Town, the second Friday of every month. The Foundry project includes a new plaza that will play host to community events and even has a splash pad for kids.
Loveland Museum is an accredited art and history museum that was founded in 1937 by local author, collector, curator, and mountain guide Harold Dunning. Dunning began collecting pioneer artifacts and stories as early as 1919, and today, the Loveland Museum is home to a variety of history exhibits, hosts world-class art exhibitions, and provides family events; adult and youth classes; lectures; poetry readings; and other programming opportunities for the Loveland community and visitors from around the world.
The Recreation Trail System is a 22-mile paved loop trail nearly encircling Loveland. The trail runs through beautiful areas on the west side of town near Wilson Avenue, east along the Big Thompson River corridor, over and under city streets, along irrigation canals, through fields, and north along the west shore of Boyd Lake State Park, then back to the west through prairies and wetlands. The entire trail is open from 6:00 am to 10:30 pm daily.
The Rialto Theater Center opened as a silent movie theater in 1920 and is currently Loveland’s premier performing arts venues, welcoming nationally touring musicians, comedians, and performers as well as local performing arts groups. The mission of the Rialto Theater is to serve as a center for the cultural arts, enriching the community by offering the opportunity for all ages and backgrounds to experience high quality, diverse, affordable performing arts, films and educational activities.
8. Viestez-Smith Mountain Park
As the “Gateway to the Rockies” Lovelanders have access to great hiking opportunities near one of the most stunning mountain ranges in the world. We can also claim our own mountain park. Designed for resiliency after the 2013 Big Thompson Floods, this park is now open and gives stunning river accessibility. Park activities celebrate the natural surroundings and nature-based activities such as hiking, picnicking and fishing.
Loveland’s Civic Center includes Foote Lagoon, Chilson Recreation Center, the Senior Center, City Hall and the Library. It is a great place to start to get connected, and is beautiful, too!
Loveland, Colorado is known across the entire country as The Sweetheart City. The origin of that name goes back to the mid-1940s to postmaster Elmer Ivers and marketing extraordinaire Ted Thompson. Together, this duo made the annual Valentine re-mailing program a national sensation. To this day, the entire city transforms in celebration of Valentine’s Day. But on any day of the year, you can lock your love at the giant Love Locks sculpture located at the Loveland Visitors Center, right off Highway 34.