Here are ten spots all over Lakewood that we love visiting to enjoy a wide variety of accessible recreational opportunities, unique community hotspots and places to celebrate the rich history and culture of Colorado.
A Touch of Colorado
7278 West Alaska Drive
This iconic gift store has been a staple of Belmar Mall ever since the shopping center first opened in 2004, and it’s not hard to see why. A Touch of Colorado’s third owner, Peggy Jewett, is proud to represent local talent by exclusively featuring goods, pieces of art, gourmet foodstuffs, candles and other gifts and souvenirs that were made in-state. Representing over 350 Colorado artists and artisans, repeat visits to the store will always present you with new, one-of-a-kind pieces, so prepare to be surprised by new artwork every time you come back for more gifts and goodies!
Bear Creek Lake Park
15600 West Morrison Road
Considering that Lakewood currently has 114 public parks that collectively offer over 7,400 acres of open space, it would be a crime not to highlight at least a few of the best. And where better to start than the eternally popular Bear Creek Lake Park? The iconic park is located in the southwest corner of Lakewood. Whether you’re camping, hiking, fishing, windsurfing, biking or even looking for some archery practice, you’ll find what you need here, just a half-hour drive away from central Denver. The campground is open from April 1 until October 31, but we would advise reserving a spot sooner rather than later. The city of Lakewood is also already offering annual passes to the park for $80 online.
Just recently celebrating the coffee tavern’s four-year anniversary, Brock Coffman is still working hard to produce fresh pretzels and pretzel buns in-house every day.
Tim Weighart
6340 West Mississippi Avenue
Just recently celebrating the coffee tavern’s four-year anniversary, Brock Coffman is still working hard to produce fresh pretzels and pretzel buns in-house every day. The pretzels, made unique by Coffman’s style of bathing them in lye instead of baking soda, are warm, soft and perfect to either eat plain or as the bread for a classic breakfast sandwich. And nowadays, you won’t be eating alone; originally set up for Halloween a couple of years ago, roughly thirty skeletons can be spotted grinning down at you from the rafters and walls while you enjoy your meal, seemingly craving a bite of the one-of-a-kind pretzels from their various perches. Brockmeyer’s is also located within one of only ten remaining Big Top Auto Mart buildings in the Denver metro, so enjoy the strange architecture of the historical 16-sided structure while you eat!
Danny The Comic Shop
1580 Teller Street
Inspired by Doom Patrol character Danny The Street’s mission to provide a safe space for queer communities and other outcasts, Cliff Thompson tells us that he “is happy to have created a space that successfully represents the ethos and morals of the character.” Danny The Comic Shop provides a wide variety of both indie and mainstream comics for customers of all ages to enjoy, with new issues coming in every week. Thompson is also one of the many business owners within the 40 West Arts District to display paintings and other pieces by local artists throughout the store, which adds that much more charm to the welcoming space. Starting this year, the store is also on the Comic Hub website, where customers can look through the store’s current inventory and upcoming releases. Having just opened in the summer of 2023, we hope to see Danny The Comic Shop continue to foster community in Lakewood for many years to come.
Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys
830 Kipling Street
Originally founded in 1981, the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys rented from one building after another before finally settling at a place off of Kipling in Lakewood roughly five years ago. However, the museum has collected so many objects over the years — over 20,000 — that it is still making continuous efforts to expand its space so it can showcase more than 10 to 15 percent of the full collection at any given time. A lot of the magic of coming in to look at the painstakingly crafted miniatures comes from understanding how much work must have gone into every little piece of furniture, china and clothing within the extravagant dollhouses, and then recognizing the stories that each set tells when put together. The museum is great for kids too, and you can contact the staff to set up a time for a bigger group to come for birthday parties, field trips or other events. The museum also provides a variety of workshops, meetups and shows throughout the year, all with the goal of cultivating new passions for crafting miniatures and appreciating this wonderful art.
Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park
801 South Yarrow Street
While Belmar Park does provide several miles of paved and dirt trails for both hikers and horses, in addition to a beautiful lake, a boardwalk and stunning views of the mountains, it is also worth visiting for its history. The park was initially the property of wealthy heiress May Bonfils in the 20th century, and fifteen historic buildings stand on the east side of the park now, including Bonfils’ hobby farm and 20th-century businesses that have since been transported to the property. Visitors can learn more by taking a guided tour of the buildings, or by checking out the ongoing historical art exhibitions at the park’s visitor center. And in the summer, don’t miss weekly concerts and other local events at the pavilion!
Lakewood Arts Gallery
6501 West Colfax Avenue
The Lakewood Arts Gallery, one of the seven galleries and creative businesses located in “The Hub at 40 West Arts” building, is the oldest art gallery in Lakewood, having initially opened in 1988. The nonprofit gallery offers space for Co-Op Artists, students and other creative members of the community to feature and sell their artwork. It also rotates the exhibition part of the gallery every few weeks to make room for new themes, ideas and artists. With that being said, one wall is always open to teachers who want to feature their students’ work, and the space is consistently used for recitals, poetry readings and plenty of affordable art classes led by the gallery’s Co-Op Artists. The funds raised from artwork are donated to local schools to provide classes with art supplies and other helpful materials. And the 40 West Arts district has so much to offer beyond just one gallery; the other galleries in The Hub are also a sight to behold, and cooperating businesses across the district all participate in First Friday, where artists may use the shop’s spaces to showcase their work. Don’t miss out on all the amazing events coming up through 40 West Arts!
Lakewood Cultural Center
470 South Allison Parkway
The Lakewood Cultural Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and its team is showing no signs of slowing down. Bringing in thousands of people every year for their educational art programs, live performances and art exhibitions, the Lakewood Cultural Center stands as an incredible representation of the local community’s creativity and passion. Local artists are invited to display their work throughout the center’s varied galleries, and local musicians, theater groups and dancers perform in the theater every month. LCC’s galleries currently feature abstracts, watercolors, the talent of apprentices and more, and the spring season of Lakewood Cultural Center Presents has just begun. Buy tickets for upcoming shows online and consider registering for an artistic workshop or class at the center to learn new skills and hobbies. And families won’t want to miss A Bee Story, the environmental show coming to LCC at 2 p.m. on February 22.
Based in the Colorado Mills Mall since 2020, Whale’s Tale is a nonprofit used book store that uses all of their earnings to support the public libraries of Jefferson County.
Tim Weighart
14500 West Colfax Avenue Unit 527
Based in the Colorado Mills Mall since 2020, Whale’s Tale is a nonprofit used book store that uses all of its earnings to support the public libraries of Jefferson County. Store manager Kirstin Kraig works closely with the Jefferson County Library Foundation to sort through book donations each week, promote libraries’ summer reading programs and host the “Whale of A Used Book Sale” each spring and fall, where books are sold at discounted prices at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. The store itself has a wide variety of used books that often only cost $5-$10, including current favorites, beautiful classics and a selection of banned books. The store also features charming gift items purchased from or donated by local artists, such as handcrafted bags, candles and sweets, as well as used CDs, DVDs and vinyls.
William F. Hayden Park
1000 South Rooney Road
While easily dwarfed by the Rocky Mountain Range just to the west of it, the views offered at the top of Green Mountain are nothing to sneeze at. Miles of intricate trail systems surround and cross over the mesa, giving hikers and runners access to gorgeous views of the Denver skyline and mountains stretching endlessly north and south. Especially ambitious hikers can hike farther out to other trail systems, including a path that leads to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
