Lafayette

Set between Boulder and Denver, Lafayette, Colorado, enjoys a vibrant small-town feel, rich history and easy access to big-city amenities. In 2022, Money magazine listed the city among their list of best places to live thanks to its fantastic quality of life, cost of living and education offerings. In 2023, Conde Nast Traveler raved about the area’s up-and-coming dining scene.

Lafayette was founded in 1888 by Mary E. Miller and named after her late husband, Lafayette Miller. The Miller family had acquired significant acreage in the area via the Homestead Act and land sold by coal speculators. The property was initially used for farming while Mary and Lafayette resided in Boulder, where he was a town trustee. After his death, Mary returned to the farm and set aside 126 acres for the town just as the region’s coal boom took hold. Today, 30,411 residents call Lafayette home. Peruse Lafayette’s real estate listings, and you’ll find an inviting array of new-construction single-family homes, nicely kept resales, handsome townhouses and condominiums. The neighborhood surrounding the downtown offers blocks of historic homes with charm and history.

• Waneka Lake Park: This 147-acre park surrounding a large man-made reservoir is a popular destination featuring playgrounds, picnic areas, fishing spots and a 1.3-mile multi-use trail. On this site, you’ll also find Lafayette’s oldest surviving structure, the Waneka Granary, built in the 1870s with hand-hewn logs and square iron nails.
• Festive Festivals: In Lafayette, you’ll enjoy a full calendar of family-friendly events to please all ages. The annual Peach Festival celebrates the region’s famed Palisade, Colorado, peaches. Art lovers will enjoy the Art & Wine Festival and Art Night Out gatherings, while the Lafayette Oatmeal Festival is a celebration of healthy living. It makes sense that Old Town’s gathering spot is known as Festival Square.
• Coal Creek/Rock Creek Regional Trail System: Enjoy 24 miles of trails that travel along Coal and Rock creeks from Erie through Lafayette to Erie.
• Summer Concerts In The Park: Hosted by the Louisville Cultural Advisory Board, this beloved Louisville tradition invites residents of all ages to enjoy a free concert almost every Thursday evening in June and July.