Westminster

 

 

Living in Westminster provides a primarily suburban feel in a town with a little more than 116,000 residents. Downtown Westminster, near west 88th street, is a walkable area and has a handful of coffee shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Throughout the year, the city is alive with festivals, like the summer festival and the Father-Daughter Ball, that give residents the opportunity to mingle and create unforgettable memories.

 

For breakfast and lunch in Westminster, choose Snooze, an “A.M. eatery” with a rotating seasonal menu of delicious early-bird bites and cocktails. Hideaway Steakhouse is an upscale restaurant with a piano lounge, a full bar, and a peaceful outdoor patio. For the best sushi, there’s Matsumotto Sushi & Grill on 120th Street. 

Live music abounds in Westminster, at places like Hoffbrau and Elevate Bar & Grill. For a night out at the movies, the AMC at the Westminster Promenade can’t be beaten. When it comes to shopping, check out The Orchard Town Center, where you can find dozens of brands (including Lululemon, Sephora, Macy’s, Sunglass Hut) and upgrade your phone while you’re at it.

 

For those who love to get outside, Westminster has more than 150 miles of trails to enjoy, including the Farmers’ High Line Canal Trail and the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail. The Butterfly Pavilion and Insect Center is a great place to take the kids, too.

Westminster has a series of annual festivals and events that bring the community together in both traditional and unexpected ways. For example, each year, the city hosts a Historic Westminster Summer Festival, a two-day event that provides movies in the park, a beer garden, food vendors, as well as live music, and activities for the kids.

The Westy Craft Brew Fest happens each July and invites locals to sample beer from more than 35 breweries in the region. Food trucks and live music are also part of the epic one-night event. 

As mentioned above, Westminster also hosts an annual Father Daughter Ball at the City Park Recreation Center with tickets that include a carriage ride, professional photo, dancing, and a full dessert bar. Finally, there’s the Vintage Baseball Game, an event put on by the Westminster Historical Society where the game is played according to the rules from the 1870s. 

Apart from its many festivals, Westminster has the Westminster Castle, the “pillar of fire” located at the corner of Federal and 83rd Street. Though tours aren’t available, Westminster Castle is a must-see. The beautiful landmark was built in 1892 with the hopes of becoming a university. Now, it provides a home to the Belleview Christian Schools and holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Westminster Public Schools district serves the Westminster community. Students can attend:

• Colorado Stem Academy, grades Pre-K–8
• Woodrow Wilson Charter Academy, grades K–8
• Ryan Elementary School, grades K–5
• Hidden Lake High School, grades 9–12
• Westminster High School, grades 9–12