Greater Thornton - Thornton, CO

Until the early 1950s, Thornton was primarily farmland. Then, a man named Sam Hoffman purchased land in the area and built the first planned community. In 1954, the Thornton Community Association was founded, the true beginning of the development of the area.

While there are no major museums in Thornton, there are quite a few annual events for residents to attend. Some of these events include Thorntonfest, Easter Egg Scramble, Fourth of July fireworks, Trunk or Treat, Winterfest, Twist and Shout Summer Concert Series and Paws for a Dip, during which a local pool is open for dogs to swim.

When it comes to restaurant options, Thornton will surely not disappoint due to its many options.

One of these great options includes Aloha Hawaiian BBQ. Although Colorado is quite far from Hawaii, the food here tastes fresh from the islands. The Kalua pork is one of the most popular menu items along with the BBQ chicken.

Originally established in Thornton in 1999, the Vietnamese Cafe is another local favorite. Start off your meal with the garlic calamari appetizer. The serving size of the pho meal is impressive, and if you are still hungry top it off with some egg rolls. They also have a happy hour every day from 3 to 6 pm.

When it comes to nightlife in Thornton, there are fewer options than downtown Denver and Boulder, but smaller dive bars are scattered throughout the neighborhood.

For a fun night out, stop in The Village Pub. This local bar has great drink prices and serves usual bar food for when you are hungry. Pool tables, a patio and jukebox are all available to keep your group entertained.

Locals also love Lake Avenue Inn. This dive bar has half-price drinks during happy hour as well as $1 tacos on Tuesdays.

If you are looking for a truly Western experience, just a 10-minute drive into Denver along I-25 will take you to the Grizzly Rose. This country bar and music venue is one of the most popular in Denver with a huge bar, live performances most nights and a mechanical bull set-up every few months.

The most common way for residents to travel around Thornton is by car or public transportation. Most of the parking throughout Thornton is free to visitors and residents.

Since Thornton spreads out quite a bit, it touches on many of the highways throughout Colorado, including Interstates 25, 76 and State Highways 7, 44 and 224.

Denver's Regional Transportation District has bus lines that run in and out of Thornton. Uber, Lyft and other local taxi companies are available for residents to travel.

While there are many parks with open biking trails, there are also a few roads with biking lanes for anyone who prefers to get around on two wheels.

When it comes to outdoor recreation, Thornton has an impressive 81 parks with over 2,000 acres of open land. This gives residents a long list of things to do to enjoy the great outdoors of Colorado.

At Pecos Park off of 96th and Pecos you will find expansive areas of grass for the entire family to enjoy. If you have children, let them play on the playground while you enjoy some food at the picnic tables. Along with public parks, Thornton also has a disc golf course, skate parks, golf courses, hiking trails, horseback riding, picnic tables, dog parks, lakes and almost everything else you would can imagine doing in so much open space.

The city of Thornton also provides a handful of recreational arenas for residents to play, exercise and use their offered classes.

The cost of living in the Thornton area is lower than the average cost of living in the bigger Colorado cities such as Denver and Boulder.

The average cost of rent for a one-bedroom residence in Thornton is $1,049.11 per month. The average cost of a beer is $2, and the price of gas hovers at 1 percent below the national average. The cost from Thornton to downtown Denver is $2.25 one-way with transfers free.

Residents enjoy many shopping opportunities due to the suburban neighborhoods within the greater Thornton and Adams County area. Discover high-end and high-value stores along 120th Avenue, such as the Sheridan Crossing Shopping Center and Broomfield Town Center a few miles to the west at Sheridan Boulevard. Find several grocery stores and national chains at these prominent shopping centers, as well. Larkridge, an outdoor shopping plaza off Washington Street, contains a variety of shops, restaurants, and other businesses.

Anyone with an interest in beads should stop in Alley Cat Beads in Northglenn. Beads come from countries around the world, such as Czech glass, pearls, seeds, Bali silver, and Swarovski crystal. Discover all the stringing materials and tools you need to create your own jewelry.

The greater Thornton area has many grocery stores for residents to use. Big-brand grocery stores fill out the grocery selection, such as Walmart, Target, King Soopers, Whole Foods, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Safeway.

In Northglenn, try the local farmer's market every year between May and October with locally produced food, crafts, and vegetables. Larkridge Mall and the nearby city of Henderson both host farmer's markets during the summer months.