A southern suburb of the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, Littleton is home to more than 40,000 people. A family-friendly community, Littleton enjoys green spaces, safe neighborhoods, and excellent schools. Wallethub ranks it as the eighth-best small city in America. And Livability.com recommends Littleton as one of the best places to retire.

Just a short drive from downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains, this town has the perks of the big city while keeping its small-town vibe. Littleton has something for everyone.

Families looking to stay cool in the summer can enjoy Pirates Cove Water Park. They've got water slides, lazy rivers, swimming pools, and a sand play area. Visitors remark on the clean facilities, friendly staff, and reasonably priced food.

Wine lovers come from throughout the metro area to visit Carboy Winery. Here you'll get to sample a selection of Colorado and west coast wines, including chardonnays, malbecs, and merlots. The winery also features a mouth-watering selection of nibbles. Their boards feature specialty cheeses, meats, pickles, and preserves.

History buffs will have a great time at the Littleton Museum. A 40-acre campus next to Ketring Lake, the museum documents the city's history. Here you'll find three exhibition galleries and a restored historic farm. Volunteers dress in period costumes to educate visitors on how 19th-century settlers lived.

Nature lovers have their choice of parks and trails to visit. South Platte Park and Carson Nature Center offer five lakes and many well-maintained trails. The park is excellent for cyclists, anglers, dog-walkers, and anyone looking for an outdoor stroll. Chatfield State Park surrounds the serene Chatfield Reservoir, a 1,400-acre lake fed by the South Platte River. Finally, fly-fishers will love Bear Creek, a hot spot for brown trout.

Home to nine golf courses, more than a dozen parks and a botanic garden, there's plenty for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.

Littleton has a rich and fascinating history. The region was once home to the Apache, Arapaho, and Cheyenne. U.S. settlement began with the 1859 Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Over 100,000 gold prospectors flocked west from 1858-61 in one of the largest gold booms in our nation's history. On the heels of these prospectors came merchants who set up shops to outfit and supply the prospectors. It's also the final resting place of Alfred Packer, the only man in the U.S. convicted of cannibalism. The gold prospector's story became a legend in Colorado.

Littleton was truly a little town when it was incorporated in 1890 with a population of 245. The introduction of Martin Marietta Aerospace and Stillwater Mining boosted the local economy in the 20th century and Littleton has been thriving ever since.

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