Friendly Hills - Lakewood, CO Area Guide

Established in the foothills in the middle of the 1800s, Morrison quickly became an important stop for miners traveling from Denver to the mining camps in the Rocky Mountains. Before European settlers arrived, ancient civilizations lived in the area for approximately 7,500 years. The LoDaisKa Site, an important archaeological site, holds the key to the area's ancient history. Eons before natives arrived, however, dinosaurs roamed the area, and you can see their footprints in the rocky mountainside east of Morrison called Dinosaur Ridge. To learn more about the area's history, locals visit the Morrison Natural History Museum, and for music, they head to the nearby Red Rocks Amphitheatre. This iconic outdoor theater has hosted a range of musical artists, including U2, who recorded a live album there in 1983, and it hosts annual events such as the pagan gathering Drumming in the Sun on the winter solstice.

For a fun place to dine, Friendly Hills locals head to Bear Creek Avenue. The main thoroughfare of Morrison, this street features old mansions and antique storefronts converted into restaurants and boutiques. At Red Rocks Grill, enjoy Mexican and American fare in a rustic dining room with taxidermied Rocky Mountain wildlife on the walls. Locals rave about the Monte Cristo sandwich and the spicy bowls of green chili. Nearby Beso de Arte has a beautiful dining room, a cozy bar and a patio with a soothing waterfall. It serves up classic Latin American fare from shrimp and paella to chicken enchiladas and pumpkin soup. At Cafe Prague, diners discover the comforting and gourmet nature of eastern European cuisine. Try dishes such as sauerkraut soup, roast duck or Hungarian goulash. Locals in search of fun frequent the Morrison Holiday Bar. Featuring large screen TVs, huge windows with great views and cathedral ceilings, this spacious bar hosts live music, tabletop fireplaces and a $2 shot shelf. Bartenders serve Moscow mules in authentic copper mugs, and the bar draws locals, tourists and bikers. For a more elegant evening out, locals head to Flights Wine & Coffee. This wine bar features a cozy indoor space filled with leather furniture arranged around a fireplace, or patrons can enjoy light snacks or tapas on the patio. For nightclubs, Friendly Hills residents must drive to Denver to find danceterias such as Milk or Beta Nightclub.

Friendly Hills locals have access to Colorado Highway 470. This road links to I-70 which leads to downtown Denver or the mountains. Alternatively, you can use Highways 391 and 6 to reach downtown. Free parking spots abound in the area. While Friendly Hills offers safety and beauty to walkers and bicyclists, most walkers and cyclists have to augment their own power with buses or cabs. Cab companies and Uber drivers serve the area if called by riders but cannot be easily hailed in the streets. Those who prefer to take public transit can ride RTD buses through the area, or they can drive to the park-and-ride lot at Federal Center Station, which has light rail trains into the city. Locals living near Morrison's adorable downtown area may be able to survive without a car as this area has a range of services, and pedestrians can safely get around.

Mount Falcon Park in Morrison draws locals who want a workout in a gorgeous mountain setting. At Mount Falcon, well maintained trails perfect for running, hiking or mountain biking lead uphill to the ruins of an old brick "castle" from the early 1900s. Families enjoy Dinosaur Ridge. Although you need tickets for the tour bus, hiking through the fossil tracks, browsing in the gift store and playing on the playground equipment costs nothing. Families also enjoy Tiny Town where they can ride on a 15-gauge miniature train through a 1/6-scale Old West village. Dog lovers take their furry friends to Forsberg Iron Spring Dog Park in Denver where dogs can play in a fenced-in off-leash area, or they head to Elk Meadow Park, a large natural area that allows dogs to hike off-leash with their owners.

Living in Friendly Hills costs less on average than living in other parts of the metro area. In Friendly Hills, the average one-bedroom apartment costs only $833. In contrast, the average renter in the metro area pays $1,041 for a one-bedroom apartment. Accessing the city via public transit costs $4 for a one-way ticket, but riders should plan to spend just over an hour and a half on transit from Morrison to downtown Denver. Luckily, drivers in this area pay gas prices that are 11 percent lower than the national average, making commuting relatively affordable. When thirst strikes, locals continue to save as a pint of craft beer in Friendly Hills costs only $4 to $5. Many bars also offer $3 pints of domestic lager.

Morrison houses fun boutiques shopped at by locals as well as by concertgoers on the way to Red Rocks. If you need a free-flowing skirt or a tie-dyed shirt to wear to a drumming circle, check out Sundance Sensations. Shoppers also love the jewelry, trinkets, hats and memorabilia found in this hippie haven. Nearby, La Boutique Des Boudreaux hosts an amazing array of inventory ranging from vintage hats to lace tops, to crystal chandeliers. While many upscale items carry expensive price tags, bargains can be found throughout this shop as well. Housed in a converted old home, this boutique features multiple rooms, tiny alcoves and an almost endless inventory. For beautiful veggies and a range of other groceries, Friendly Hills residents head to Bert's All American Market in Morrison. Otherwise, they must drive to grocery stores in the nearby suburbs such as King Soopers in Littleton or Whole Foods Market in Golden. Morrison Farmers Market is held in the center of town, while Evergreen Farmers Market takes place within 10 miles of Morrison during summer.