I-70 Corridor - Arvada, CO

When the I-70 extension from Denver to Cove Fort, Utah was approved in mid-1950s, many were skeptical and called it a "road to nowhere." Today, though, it is considered a crown jewel of the Interstate Highway System. Before the highway was built, traveling through the Rocky Mountains was difficult to impossible, with the high mountain passes quite formidable. As the highway gained importance, many settled along this corridor, forming an unlikely neighborhood stretching along miles of Interstate. Today, the I-70 Corridor is a mix of industrial, residential, and shopping districts. The area continues to develop, with pedestrian walkways, bike paths, and green space being created throughout the neighborhood. With new residents settling along the corridor, this unusual neighborhood is considered one of the Denver area's trendiest.

Locals have access to the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Annual festivals here include the Colorado Fear Fest and the Tennyson Street Artwalk.

Restaurants exist everywhere along the I-70 Corridor, serving pizza, pad thai, and everything in between. For the best pizza in Arvada, locals visit Goomba's Pizza. This locally-owned establishment makes homemade crusts and covers them with made-from-scratch sauce and fresh toppings. A particular favorite remains the Paulie, a Greek gyro turned into pizza toppings.

For something more sophisticated, check out the Arvada Tavern, where the menu features American bistro fare. Order a comforting plate of bison meatloaf or ribeye steak, and then spend the rest of the evening listening to live music while sipping a craft beer or a custom cocktail.

Locals love to sing karaoke and dance at clubs such as the Stardust Lounge in Arvada. Chat about books or listen to authors at BookBar, a wine bar and independent bookstore combined into a single business.

When you live along the I-70 Corridor, you can rest assured an entrance to I-70 lies somewhere very close to your home. Once on the freeway, you can reach downtown Denver in minutes, or take this road to the airport, the western suburbs, or the mountains.

If you prefer to travel at a slower pace, bike paths abound in the area, making it easy to cycle between home and work or school. Walking the neighborhoods along the I-70 Corridor proves safe for residents and provides convenient access to commercial areas.

Public transit is also available, with RTD buses serving the neighborhood and taking residents downtown. From there, light rail trains connect to the rest of the Denver area.

Disc golf lovers frequent Johnny Roberts Memorial Park, reputed to have the best disc golf course in the city. For something quieter, locals head to Berkeley Park. Located just south of I-70 in northwest Denver, this park has something for everyone. Dogs love its expansive off-leash play area, kids enjoy the playgrounds, and joggers like the winding paths around the lake.

Other great destinations include the Denver Zoo, the Downtown Aquarium, and the Denver Botanic Gardens. All three facilities charge admission, but they offer several days per year when residents may enter for free.

Annual outdoor festivals include the Colorado Renaissance Festival, the Juneteenth Music Festival, the Colorado Chocolate Festival, and the Denver Zoo Lights. Residents also enjoy many arts festivals that take place in Denver, such as the Denver Chalk Art Festival, where artists cover the sidewalks along the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver with chalk drawings.

The cost of living along the I-70 Corridor sits on par with living in other parts of the Denver metro area. Expect to pay on average $1,016 for a one-bedroom apartment. Because the area sits so close to downtown Denver, traveling there on public transit only costs a dollar or two, with express buses or rail tickets to the airport or into other suburbs costing $3 to $5. Drivers also save on gas, as a gallon of gas in this area costs nine percent less than the national average.

Quite a few shops and boutiques exist along the I-70 Corridor, but Olde Towne Arvada gives locals a particularly fun place to shop. There, Lovely Boutique features hand-picked fashions, perfect for shoppers who want to look stylish and original.

A high-end bridal shop in the area, D'Lola Couture Bridal Boutique, features couture wedding gowns, runway dresses, and custom-designed special occasion gowns. For bridal rings, locals love Ooh Aah Jewelry, a high-end jewelry shop. Nearby LoDo also features many shops, including the popular boutique Hailee Grace.

Chain grocery stores, including King Soopers, make their homes along the I-70 Corridor, but locals who want organic fare have several other options, including Natural Grocers and Whole Foods. Farmers markets in the area include the Arvada Farmers Market, which takes place in Olde Towne Square during the summer and winter.