Summit Ridge at West Meadows - Littleton, CO

Farms began popping up in the rural areas surrounding the city as people settled in Denver in the mid-1850s. The city summoned engineers to develop a series of ditches and canals to carry water to these farms, and one of those engineers, Richard Sullivan Little settled in the area now called Littleton.

By the end of the century, Littleton had a bustling downtown with shops and hotels. Many of those buildings still stand today, and the community works hard to keep its downtown thriving. However, the town has became part of the Denver metro area, and most residents work, shop and play in Denver.

To learn more about their history, locals visit the Littleton History Museum, where living-history farms transport visitors into the 1800s. Art and culture lovers frequent the Town Hall Music Center, home of Littleton's annual jazz fest, or the Colorado Gallery of Arts in historic downtown.

Restaurants sit scattered throughout Summit Ridge at West Meadows as well as the rest of the Littleton area, but locals in search of excellent food and wine pairings head to Angel's Share Kitchen and Pub. Tucked into a small strip mall, this intimate establishment offers a range of tasty upscale tapas alongside reinventions of classic fare. A local favorite "Not Your Mama's Grilled Cheese" features four different types of cheese, asparagus, and optional fig and bacon.

For something a bit spicier, check out NoNo's Cafe. This independently owned Cajun restaurant serves up blackened catfish, crawdads and other Cajun specialties. At NoNo's, platings include old school paper ramekins full of ketchup as well as simple lettuce garnishes, but if you want to dress up your meal, you can pair it with a craft beer or a glass of pinot noir.

For evening fun, locals love brew pubs for sampling the state's finest microbrews. At Jake's Brew Bar, choose from one of 38 rotating craft beer taps or sample one of over 40 bottled or canned craft beers. Jake's also hosts special events for tappings as well as days that food trucks dish up tasty fare in the beer garden.

Movies draw many locals, and after catching a flick on the silver screen at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, hop over to the Glass Half Full Taproom. Featuring a whole wall of Colorado craft brews, this pub offers something for everyone. Whether you enjoy drinking dark and creamy, hop-filled, crisp, seasonal or any other type of beer, you can likely find it at Glass Half Full. The menu also offers a range of snacks and burgers.

Because the area doesn't really offer any clubs for dancing, festive locals have to head to Denver. There, they kick up their heels at places such as Milk and the Beta Nightclub.

From Summit Ridge at West Meadows, drivers can take Colorado Highway-470 E around the city to Interstate-70. From there, you can drive east into downtown Denver or west to ski resorts in the mountains. While parking in downtown Denver carries a fee, parking around the neighborhoods and commercial areas at home in Summit Ridge costs nothing.

If you prefer to take public transit, RTD bus 59 runs through the area, and you can jump on the train into the city from the Littleton/Downtown Light Rail Station. Bike trails also run through the area, connecting it to trails running through the city.

While walking offers safety for residents, it remains primarily a recreational pursuit rather than a means to navigate the neighborhood. However, if you have your heart set on walking, you can augment your journey with cabs or Uber cars. Both serve the area, but users need to call them rather than hail them in the street.

Locals from Summit Ridge at West Meadows do not have to go into the mountains to experience Colorado's rugged beauty. Instead, they can experience it right outside their doors at Deer Creek Canyon Park. This natural area features trails for hikers and bikers as well as rolling hills, trees and grassy areas for elk, bears and mountain lions to call home.

Families enjoy Robert F. Clement Park. This picturesque parks features more than one playground, making it easy to find the playing equipment right for your child's skill level. Conveniently located next to a library, this park has views of the mountains, paths for hiking and wide green spaces for relaxation or recreation.

Wynetka Ponds Park hosts the largest grassy off-leash area for dogs in the metro area. Let your dog romp with furry friends for a while, and then, take a walk around the ponds or let your dog have a dip in them.

Beer lies at the heart of many local festivals, including the South Denver Beer Festival and the Morrison Biergarten Festival. Art also inspires locals, as evidenced by the Affordable Arts Festival. Held annually in Littleton, this festival showcases pieces priced at under $100.

Living in Summit Ridge at West Meadows costs a bit more than living in other parts of the Denver metro area. In Denver, an average one-bedroom apartment rents for $1061 per month, but in Summit Ridge, similar accommodations cost $1,187 per month.

From Summit Ridge, you can take the bus or light rail into Denver for $5 with reduced fares for seniors and students. Drivers pay 11 percent less for gas than the national average, and you can buy a pint of beer for between $4 and $7, and specials often bring the price of craft brews down as low as $3.

For shopping, locals have their choice of the Southwest Plaza Mall or historic downtown Littleton. The Southwest Plaza Mall features anchor shops such as Dillard's and Macy's as well as 150 speciality shops, including Lorenzo's Jewelers, an upscale jewelry store, and Torrid, a fashion boutique for plus-size women. In historic Littleton, The Pink Attic Cat offers antiques, vintage clothing and curiosities. Rather than just stocking items in a predictable way, the shop's owners display their inventory in an artful manner, which makes shopping at The Pink Attic Cat into an aesthetically invigorating and inspiring experience. Fear lovers shop at the Reinke Brothers Haunted Mansion. Housed in an old Victorian house in historic downtown Littleton, this iconic shop sells Halloween costumes and masks as well as the largest selection of magic tricks and tools in the city. The area hosts a range of chain grocery stores including King Soopers, Safeway and Trader Joe's. While the first two offer conventional groceries, Trader Joe's focuses on organic and world fare. During the warm months of the year, a farmers market takes place in the parking lot of the Southwest Plaza Mall.