Spend a Day in Louisville, Colorado

If you haven’t heard of Louisville, Colorado, you’re in for a treat. This incredible slice of western living is located about 10 miles southeast of Boulder and 22 miles northwest of Denver, giving residents the best of two of the most awesome cities in the country. Louisville has a population of just over 21,000 and enjoys a unique suburban Front Range vibe.

Louisville has appeared on Money magazine’s list of the country’s top cities to live in several times, based on factors such as being a great place to raise a family, offering an unmatched work-life balance, a strong economy in the tech corridor, and highly ranked schools. That’s even before factoring in being located right in the heart of one of the greatest natural outdoor playgrounds in the world.

The housing market in Louisville has been on the rebound since last fall, with the median price rising to about $932,000. It’s edging back into being a seller’s market, and hot homes can sell as fast as 31 days. The community is known for comfortable, attractive homes on large lots surrounded by lots of trees. Working with an experienced real estate agent will help you find a dream home with breathtaking mountain views, and you will soon be enjoying the special lifestyle and discovering fun things to do in Louisville, CO.

Louisville is the kind of community where you can begin your day with breakfast or coffee in the historic downtown area, head out to the hills for a refreshing hike or a whitewater rafting adventure, and then head back into town for a fun dinner at one of the many downtown restaurants or brew pubs, followed by an outdoor concert during the summer months. In the winter, you can swap out the hiking and rafting for a fun day of skiing or snowboarding on the slopes in some of the best snow conditions in the country.

Louisville got its beginning as a coal mining town in the late 1800s, and old town Louisville, CO still has reminders of its wild west days. There are modern touches, for sure, but there are also historic buildings and houses in the quaint downtown, as well as the Louisville Historical Museum, which includes three buildings where the area’s colorful past comes back to life through exhibits and an informal tour. The museum is near many shops and restaurants, so residents can easily make a day of it with the entire family.

There are major music events happening downtown during the summer months that are both free and family-friendly. These Louisville concerts in the park make for a great capper to a fun day of outdoor activities and sharing a great meal with family and friends.

The Summer Concerts in the Park is an ongoing series of concerts on Thursdays starting June 15 and running through July 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The concerts are held at Louisville Community Park, located at 955 Bella Vista Drive.

 

Here is the 2023 concert lineup:

 

June 15 — ZiMBiRA
June 22 — That Eighties Band
June 29 — Groove N Motion
July 13 — Quemando Salsa Band
July 20 — Selasee and the FaFa Family

 

Concert attendees can either bring their own picnic dinners or purchase meals from an assortment of food trucks on site. Alcohol is prohibited. Chairs and blankets are allowed. Pets are welcome, as long as they’re on a leash. There is limited on-site parking, so people should plan accordingly.

Another great way to enjoy the spirit and camaraderie found in Louisville is to attend Street Faire, which is a free event that combines live music with family fun and community activities. Street Faire is held on Friday evenings during the summer, running from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with live music starting at about 6 p.m. It is held at the Steinbaugh Pavilion, 824 Front Street. Besides the great music, there is plenty of food and drinks for sale, activities for the kids, and arts and crafts on display and for sale.

 

The Street Faire lineup for 2023 is:

 

June 16 — Hot Buttered Rum, bluegrass, soul, folk, jazz
June 23 — Dumpstaphunk, brassy instrumental
June 30 — Shakedown Street, Colorado’s best Grateful Dead tribute band
July 14 — The Petty Nicks Experience, blues-rock, alt-rock
July 21 — Gasoline Lollipops, country, rock, folk punk.
July 28 — SHEMEKIA COPELAND, blues, R&B, soul
Aug 4 — DJ Williams, rock, blues, funk
Aug. 11 — TBA

Louisville’s location makes it a perfect place for residents who love to get out and hike in the mountains and meadows in and around town. Many of these trails are also awesome for mountain biking and trail running, and all come with breathtaking mountain views that remind people why Louisville is such a special place to live. Trails range in difficulty from easy to moderate.

Some of the best hikes near Louisville, CO include trails within the city park system as well as in the surrounding area:

Hecla Lake to Waneka Lake Loop is a 2.9-mile urban trail that is a favorite of birders because of the many species that can be seen in Greenlee Nature Preserve.

Davidson Mesa Loop Trail is a 3.3-mile trail in the foothills and meadows that is rated easy.

Dirty Bismark Loop Trail is popular with mountain bikers and is considered moderately difficult as it stretches for 14 miles.

No day in Louisville is complete without a visit to Sweet Cow Ice Cream. Sweet Cow Ice Cream is a Colorado-based company that is known for its fresh, homemade ice cream that comes in a multitude of flavors. Sweet Cow Ice Cream’s first shop opened at 637 Front Street in the center of historic downtown Louisville. It offers 24 flavors daily, including ten that are available year-round and 14 that are regularly rotated, including three vegan options.

This is just a sampling of how you can spend a day in Louisville, Colorado. When you’re ready to start shopping for homes, let Sara Vaughn show you why so many buyers place their trust in her.