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TOP 10 OUTDOOR ACTIVITES

Want to explore Loveland like a local and see what makes it such a special place? Here’s your top 10 bucket list to Loveland.

1. SEE THE SCULPTURES

With four free sculpture gardens and working bronze foundries, no one embraces and showcases sculpture art like Loveland. The annual Sculpture in the Park, the largest outdoor juried sculpture show/sale in the U.S., returns to Benson Sculpture Garden Aug. 12-14. Stroll through the 10-acres to see the 172 permanent sculptures (valued at $5 million) situated on the park grounds, as well as the works for show and sale. Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra showcases 82 stone sculptures from Zimbabwe on 26 acres of natural and landscaped gardens.

2. ATTEND AN EVENT

The Loveland Sweetheart Festival celebrates Valentine’s Day with a two-day festival each February. Starting in mid-November and running through January 1, Winter Wonderlights is a free nightly light show you cannot miss! The 126th annual Corn Roast Festival features an ‘80s Rock & Roll theme and plenty of fresh-roasted corn. The Budweiser Event Center hosts big names, comedians and concerts. See our calendar of events for other fun, can’t miss events!

Love-Locks

3. LOVE THAT KITSCH

With a name like LOVEland, a visit would be incomplete without locking your love on one of the two love lock sculptures. The LOVE sign, located at the Visitors Center, is the largest of its kind in the U.S. Buy a lock and engrave it for free inside the Visitors Center. The second sculpture, shaped like a heart, lives at Lake Loveland with the majestic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Be sure to grab your lock at the Visitors Center before heading out to the lake. When you post your photos on social media, tag us for a chance to be featured! #Visitloveland #lovelandlovelocks

4. LOVE LAKE LIFE

Stay cool this summer at Loveland’s three lakes and three reservoirs: Boyd Lake, Carter Lake, Lake Loveland, Boedecker Reservoir, Lon Hagler Reservoir and Pinewood Reservoir. Swim, splash and sunbathe the day away on a sandy beach, or get your heart pumping while stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), boating, jet skiing or fishing.

Foote Lagoon Free Concerts

5. FIND THE KEYHOLE

Enjoy a hike adjacent to the two-mile strip of Dakota sandstone known as the Devil’s Backbone. Find the keyhole formation for amazing views of the Rocky Mountains. The 17.25 miles of scenic trails are perfect for hiking, biking and horseback riding and also connect to Rimrock Open Space and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space in Fort Collins.

6. ALL AGE PLAY

The whole family will enjoy playing Pacman at the Flipside in downtown, trying to master an escape room, or climbing ropes, playing laser tag, or enjoying the arcade at Loveland Laser Tag. Game on!

Foote Lagoon Free Concerts

7. SEE LIVE MUSIC

Two new music venues have elevated Loveland’s already rollicking live music scene to new heights. Head to Loveland’s first Honky-Tonk, the Tom Davis Saloon, for live concerts, line dancing, karaoke and more. Catch an intimate show at The Gressiwick, the Sweetheart City’s newest event and concert space set in a charming circa-1905 historical building. Check our event calendar for upcoming shows at these new spots as well as at The Budweiser Events Center, the historic Rialto Theater, the fun One Sweet Summer free concert series or the Sounds of Centerra.

8. NOSH ON NEW EATS

Downtown Loveland has exploded with a resurgence of new restaurants and bars. At Comet Chicken, nosh on hand-breaded chicken sandwiches, fresh cut fries, “power slaw” and homemade churros. Experience a fun fusion of cultures at Mex O’Malley’s, an Irish pub with Mexican grub. For New York-style ‘za by the slice delivered piping hot via e-bike, check out Slice N’ Roll. At Meat Revolution, dine on slow-cooked, locally-sourced shawarma (lamb, chicken or beef). Sip coffee or tea while cuddling adoptable cats at The NoCo Cat Café (coming soon), the first cat café in the region.

9. EMBRACE THE COWBOY LIFESTYLE

Don your boots and saddle up for fun western adventures. Take a horseback ride at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, the lowest elevation dude ranch in Colorado. Whether you choose to spend a few days at their cabins or make it a one-day horseback riding excursion, this true western experience will leave you feeling renewed. After, head to the new Tom Davis Saloon for line dancing and more.

10. SHOPPING THERAPY

From charming downtown boutiques to name-brand stores you adore; Loveland offers all the retail therapy you could want.

Shoppers walk through the Promenade Shops at Centerra in Loveland on a sunny morning.