Lakewood

The arts are the focus in vibrant Lakewood, where you can gallery hop on First Fridays, take in a show at the 320-seat Lakewood Cultural Center, or sign up for a painting, drawing, pottery, or papermaking class at the Washington Heights Arts Center. If sports are more your thing, Lakewood’s Belmar Park has baseball fields, playgrounds, equestrian trails, tennis courts, and barbecue grills. The city’s artsy vibe, highly ranked schools, and lower median home price lures young families, who can choose from a mix of older and newer homes and townhomes. Proximity to Denver is easy via Colfax Avenue and the RTD Rail.