Lakewood (Colorado)

Lakewood is a city of about 160,000 in the Denver Metropolitan Area of the western U.S. state of Colorado. The city lies in Jefferson County, immediately west of Denver and east of the Front Range foothills. == Understand == Lakewood is the most populous city in Jefferson County and the third most populous city in the Denver Metropolitan Area. Lakewood municipal website == Get in == See this Colorado travel map. Colorado is on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-07) in the winter and on Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-06) in the summer. === By air === 1 Denver International Airport (DEN IATA), 8500 Peña Boulevard, Denver CO, ☏ +1 720-730-4359. One of the ten busiest airports in the world. The airport connects to Lakewood via the RTD commuter rail A line connecting to the RTD light rail W line. 2 Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC IATA), 11755 Airport Way, Broomfield CO, ☏ +1 720-730-4359. General aviation. About 16 miles and 29 minutes by car from Lakewood City Hall 3 Centennial Airport (APA IATA), 7565 South Peoria Street, ☏ +1 303-790-0598. General aviation and flights to Grand Junction. About 21 miles and 26 minutes by car from Lakewood City Hall === By car === Lakewood is served eight major highways: The colder weather months (Nov-Feb) often bring snow and ice to area roads. Visitors who park their cars should be prepared in case their car is "snowed in" by snow removal trucks. Also, pay strict attention to parking rules and snow emergencies to avoid being towed away at the car owner's expense. During the winter months, a snow brush, ice scraper, and plenty of windshield washer fluid is essential, and many natives opt to carry a shovel, some sand, and a bag of ice melt or road salt in the trunk just in case. ==== Renting ==== With Aurora's considerable sprawl, car rentals are the most convenient form of transportation for visitors. Local companies tend to offer better prices, but national chains might be more convenient as far as return policies and hours. Rental companies include most major car rental chains. == Get around == === Public transit === Lakewood is served by the RTD light rail W line which connects to Denver and Golden. 4 Sheridan Station, 1198 Sheridan Boulevard. RTD light rail W line and the RTD 51 bus line. 5 Lamar Station, 6363 West 13th Avenue. RTD light rail W line and the RTD 9 bus line. 6 Lakewood-Wadsworth Station, 1298 Wadsworth Boulevard. RTD light rail W line and the RTD 9 and 76 bus lines. 7 Garrison Station, 9091 West 13th Avenue. RTD light rail W line. 8 Oak Station, 1311 Oak Street. RTD light rail W line and the RTD 16 and 17 bus lines. 9 Federal Center Station, 11601 West 2nd Place. RTD light rail W line, the RTD 3, 9, 16, 17, 51, 76, 99, 100, 116X, CV, EV, and GS bus lines, and the RTD GDFX FlexRide bus service. 10 Red Rocks College Station, 13400 West 6th Avenue. RTD light rail W line. == See == 1 Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys (DMMDT), 830 Kipling Street (6th ave to Kipling - located by Kipling & 8th), ☏ +1 303-322-1053, education@dmmdt.org. Friday & Saturday 10AM-4PM, Sunday 1PM-4PM. The Museum staff utilizes the collection of over 20,000 objects to stage four major exhibit changes each year. The exhibits range from vintage Star Wars toys to artisan dollhouses and exquisite antique dolls to well-loved toy soldiers. $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 children (children under age 5 free). == Do == 1 Heritage Lakewood at Belmar Park, 801 South Yarrow Street, ☏ +1 303-987-7850. Local history museum and park. 2 Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 West Morrison Road, ☏ +1 303-697-6159. Offers sailing, camping and fishing with other recreational activities with 15 miles of dirt trails encompassing 2,600 acres. 3 Kendrick Lake Park, 9351 West Jewell Avenue. A park with a lake in the middle of it. Over a mile loop of paved trails around the park. Has playgrounds and also fishing. 4 William Frederick Hayden Park on Green Mountain, 1000 South Rooney Road. 5 Bear Creek Greenbelt, 2800 South Estes Street, ☏ +1 303-987-7800. === Reservoir === Lakewood has 3 reservoirs to visit. The largest one is Main then Smith then East. == Buy == 1 Belmar Shopping Center, 464 S Teller St. Urban-styled outdoor shopping area with over 70 stores/businesses including Whole Foods, Target, DWS, Victoria's Secret, Coldwater Creek, etc. Dining options include Ted's Montana Grill, P.F. Chang's, & Jamba Juice. Entertainment options include a movie theater and a bowling alley. In the winter, there's an outside ice skating rink. 2 Colorado Mills Mall, 14500 W Colfax Ave (I-70 and Colfax Ave), ☏ +1 303 384-3000. Large outlet mall. == Eat == 1 African Grill and Bar, 955 South Kipling Parkway, ☏ +1 303-985-4497. Restaurant offers a wide variety of cuisine from across Africa. 2 Carmine Lonardo's Specialty Meats & Deli, 7585 West Florida Avenue, ☏ +1 303-985-3555. A cozy Italian deli. 3 Casa Bonita, 6715 West Colfax Avenue, ☏ +1 303-232-5115. A 52,000-sq-ft Mexican restaurant known more for the entertainment than for the food (it's famous enough that South Park devoted an entire episode to the place). It's an inexpensive option for families; the kids will love the cliff divers, trained "gorilla", video arcade and other entertainment. 4 Danny Ray's, 11353 West Colfax Avenue, ☏ +1 303-238-3045. A crowd-pleasing local diner. 5 Star Thai, 8048 West Jewell Avenue, ☏ +1 303-989-3909. Restaurant serving authentic Thai cuisine. 6 White Fence Farm, 6263 West Jewell Avenue, ☏ +1 303-935-5945. Family-style chicken restaurant with petting zoo and live entertainment. == Drink == == Sleep == == Connect == 1 Colorado Christian University, 8787 West Alameda Avenue, ☏ +1 303-963-3000. 2 Lakewood City hall, 480 South Allison Parkway, ☏ +1 303-987-7000. 3 Red Rocks Community College, 13300 West 6th Avenue, ☏ +1 303-914-6600. == Go next ==