Northern Colorado’s growing town of Berthoud is nicknamed the “Garden Spot of Colorado.” Boasting an agricultural history, a blend of both graceful Victorian homes and new housing developments, charming tree-lined streets, beautiful parks and a beloved historic business district, it’s easy to fall in love with this little NoCo town.
Whether you’re looking for a day trip, an agritourism expedition or a new place to call home, this characteristically family-friendly and hyper-local community can suit every need — from perfectly handmade breads and craft beers to world-class golf and unique annual events. To help you find your way around and act like a local, we rounded up the town’s must-see and can’t-miss places, attractions and events. Enjoy!
Where to Eat + Drink
Coffee
Da Bean Coffee
Get directions: 434 Mountain Ave | Facebook
This locally owned cafe serves specialty coffees, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, a full breakfast menu and lunch every day. From the homemade scones to the Penny the Pig breakfast skillet, you should taste it all at some point, but we recommend starting with a coffee or espresso beverage. With festive flavors like the Chocolate Covered Cherry Latte and the Caramel Sea Salt Latte, there’s something for every season and every taste.
Jo to Go
Get directions: 429 Meadowlark Dr | Facebook
For on-the-go coffees, Jo to Go is every local’s favorite spot. They’ve been serving drive-thru espresso drinks since 1997 and you can also get soft serve ice cream cones, sundaes and milkshakes. They’re also one of our favorite local businesses to follow on Facebook because they show off all the pups that come through for a coffee and a puppicino. We certainly love the #dogsofjotogo!
Breakfast
Rise Artisan Bread
Get directions: 403 5th St | Facebook
Photo courtesy of Rise Artisan Bread
Annie’s and Bob’s love for bread baking began when they were still working on their farm and feeding a family of seven. Originally sold at farmers’ markets, they opened their brick and mortar cafe in July 2016 and Berthoud has had a new favorite ever since. In addition to pastries, snacks and meal items, you can get their famous, handmade breads that are given 12 – 18 hours so they can rise to perfection.
Grandpa’s Cafe
Get directions: 903 Mountain Ave | Facebook
At Grandpa’s, you can get a homemade breakfast every day of the week. The team uses fresh, local and all-natural products as much as possible and makes most items in-house from scratch. That includes their famous cini-minis, cinnamon swirled mini pancakes topped with cream cheese icing!
Lunch + Dinner
Derby Grille
Get directions: 110 Bunyan Ave | Facebook
The Derby is the locals’ choice when it comes to finding the perfectly fun and family-friendly restaurant and bar. In addition to serving great late night food, offering a full bar with drink specials and weekly live entertainment, they offer breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. Come by for the famous Friday fish fry and you’ll see why the locals love it!
Berthoud Pizza Company
Get directions: 527 N 4th St | Facebook
Photo courtesy of Berthoud Pizza Company
This neighborhood pizza spot is open for lunch and dinner seven nights a week — and boy are we glad! Originally opened in 2015, brothers Tom and Greg Shope craft East Coast-style pies using fresh, natural ingredients for the best taste in Berthoud.
Whistle Stop Tavern
Get directions: 535 Third St | Facebook
This family-friendly tavern offers six taps of Berthoud Brewing beer, a pool table for fun-loving guests and a menu of American pub classics. From the fried pickle appetizer to the Berthoud Cheese Steak and countless gluten-free options, this will quickly become one of your favorite spots too.
Side Tracked
Get directions: 237 Welch Ave | Facebook
Big flavor, bang for your buck and a full bar — this family-friendly bar and restaurant is ideal for Friday night celebrations, lunch with family, patio dining in the summer, you name it! With a menu of mouth-watering burgers, pizza and fresh salads alongside an event calendar of Karaoke and live music shows, you can find something to love on every day and for every meal.
Dessert
Berthoud Candy Company
Get directions: 923 Mountain Ave | Facebook
When you get a craving for something sweet, we know just where to go. The charming Berthoud Candy Company offers kitchen gadgets and aprons, vintage candies and handmade chocolates. Order for Christmas, for birthdays or for regular Wednesdays; you won’t regret it!
Conehead Ice Cream
Get directions: 927 Mountain Ave | Facebook
Photo courtesy of Conehead Ice Cream
Did you know dairy isn’t considered ice cream unless it contains at least 10% butterfat? Conehead does so they only serve real soft serve ice cream! Located right next door to Hays Market, they offer vanilla and chocolate soft serve alongside 16 flavors of hard ice cream the whole family will love. You can come by for a scoop or order an ice cream cake for special occasions!
Drinks
City Star Brewing
Get directions: 321 Mountain Ave | Facebook
Photo courtesy of City Star Brewing and Emily Sierra Photography
This small town spot produces award-winning, small-batch ales, all handcrafted in the heart of downtown Berthoud. In 2017, City Star brewed 693 barrels of beer on their mighty 3.5 barrel system — all of which are worth a taste. Stop by the taproom for food trucks, special events and live music!
Berthoud Brewing Company
Get directions: 450 8th St | Facebook
Powered by local beer lovers and grains from Fort Collins’ Troubadour Maltings, Berthoud Brewing Company offers a menu of ten original beers on tap every day. Inside the comfortable taproom, you can hear live music multiple times a week, so check out the calendar and head over!
Blue Mountain Vineyards
Get directions: 4480 Hoot Owl Dr | Facebook
Located just west of Berthoud, Blue Mountain Vineyards is nestled against the foothills of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Rocky Mountain National Park. They take pride in their small town and have created blooming gardens, wildlife havens and outstanding wines to complement it. Check the calendar for upcoming open tastings or contact the family to arrange a tasting and tour through the spring gardens.
What to Do
Annual Events
Berthoud Day
June
The most-anticipated annual celebration in town, Berthoud Day celebrates the local talent, businesses, people and character of our favorite little city. In 2018, they’re celebrating the 64th annual event and it will include all the fun we’ve come to love: the lively parade, the live music and activities all day in Town Park and the Old Time Vintage Baseball game which involves players dressed in 1860s vintage uniforms swinging bats and trying to abide by rules dating back to the Civil War.
Berthoud Oktoberfest
October
Featuring all the German-themed fun you can handle, this annual fall celebration is an event for the whole family. The annual event lineup includes live German music, dance performances, a parade of scarecrows, kids’ pretzel eating contests, the Mayor’s annual “Tapping of the Keg” and a Bavarian strength contest!
Berthoud Open Charity Golf Tournament
August
For more than five years, Berthoud has been celebrating and aiding our community with a charity golf tournament. In 2018, the event gets an upgrade thanks to the brand new TPC Colorado right here in Berthoud!
Berthoud SNOWFEST
December
SNOWFEST is the picturesque, family-friendly, holiday-themed celebration we all dream of. Including a lighted parade, a tree lighting, Christmas carols by candlelight, an artisan market and the only sanctioned Colorado State Snow Sculpting Competition, it’s become one of our favorite holiday celebrations in NoCo!
Berthoud SUNFEST
June
The complement to SNOWFEST, this summer celebration is host to the Outdoor Quilt Show every year. Quilters display their creations in the park and win awards for their work!
Attractions
Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum
Get directions: 224 Mountain Ave
Photo courtesy of Berthoud Historical Society
Berthoud Historical Society celebrates the rich, rural heritage of our small town through the development of Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum and McCarty-Fickel Home Museum. Little Thompson is housed in A.G. Bimson’s historic blacksmith shop and Elmer Carlson’s garage building. Originally built in 1893, the building now exhibits the town and its surrounding rural districts as Colorado’s bustling agricultural center dating back to the 1880s. And they host community events and concerts in the courtyard!
Little Thompson Observatory
Get directions: 850 Spartan Ave
This small town observatory makes our galaxies, night sky, sun and stars visible for everyone, young and old alike. Start your starry expedition with Public Star Night held on the third Friday of each month. Each event features a different speaker and an ever-changing array of planets, stars and celestial objects to observe.
Pioneer Park Community Garden
Get directions: 115 E Indiana Ave
This seasonal community garden is a beloved piece of earth in Berthoud. Planted, grown and harvested entirely by local volunteers, everyone is invited to come for hands-on education and celebration of this small town’s hyper-local, agricultural heritage.
Brookside Gardens Spa and Salon
Get directions: 619 E Co Rd 8
This destination spa is a retreat for the body, mind and spirit. Offering everything from hair and nail services to full spa packages, you can come for an afternoon makeover or a full-day rejuvenation. Or, schedule a group party to enjoy it all with friends!
Farms
Long Shadow Farm
Get directions: 101 Bothun Rd | Facebook
Photo courtesy of Long Shadow Farm and Caleb Jordan
This small, family-owned farm is an educational passion-project for this little Berthoud family. They began in the summer of 2007 with the intent of learning to sustain themselves off the land and have since raised lamb, chickens, ducks and turkeys for both eggs and meat, gotten plenty of dirt under their fingernails, and created a CSA program to share their harvests with the community! You’re always invited to participate in regular Volunteer Work Days, schedule a tour or contact the family to purchase products. Get more info here.
Mountain Sky Ranch
Get directions: 901 S Co Rd 31 | Facebook
Deb and Wayne Dorband are farmers, ranchers and alpaca lovers. Through Mountain Sky Ranch, they share their love with the community through events and tours, education, animal encounters and agritourism. Schedule a tour or a trip to so you can meet earth-friendly alpacas, the world’s coolest goats, the Mountain Sky Retrievers and range-raised chickens!
Shopping
Berthoud Local Farmers’ Market
This seasonal market comes to Fickel Park every summer, June through September. Thanks to Berthoud Local, Saturday mornings in the summer have become the destination for locally-based artisan products and produce, live entertainment and community fun!
Bee Squared Apiaries
Berthoud local Beth Conrey began her beekeeping passion with just two hives 18 years ago. Today, she has 60 hives in various locations throughout Weld, Larimer and Boulder counties. Through the years, she has acquired a wealth of knowledge about this necessary, buzzing insect — and a wealth of local, healthy honeys! You can shop online for honey and soaps here.
Heritage Lavender
Heritage Lavender is a small, one-acre market garden home to 600 lavender plants and over 30 different varieties. Seasonally, you can get fresh lavender bouquets, dried lavender field bundles, lavender buds, products, plants, hanging baskets, container plants, fresh-cut floral bouquets and herbs. You can follow Bob and Trudy Perry’s journey and harvest on Facebook to get yours!
Hays Market
Family owned and operated since 1929, this neighborhood grocer offers local products alongside everything you need from a grocery: florals, deli meats, fruits and veggies, you name it!
Recreation
Carter Lake
Carter Lake is one of Northern Colorado’s best lakes for summer recreation endeavors. At three miles long and about one mile wide, the 1100-acre reservoir is surrounded by 1000 acres of public lands, making it the perfect place for fishing, sailing, water skiing, camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving and rock climbing!
Empowered Lotus Yoga
Empowered Lotus is Berthoud’s beloved yoga studio welcoming yogis at all experience and skill levels. Serving to empower, rejuvenate and revitalize the people of our community, it’s a great spot to get a workout, meet the locals and locate your own inner strength.
TPC Colorado
TPC Colorado is the state’s first ground-up golf course development in nearly 10 years, organized in part by the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network. Debuting in 2018, the 800-acre golf community will include a residential neighborhood, an 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse, a community center, pool, fitness facility and a dynamic lakefront gathering locale. We can’t wait!
Why You Should Live Here
If you live in Northern Colorado, you already know our beloved region is attracting residents from all over the state and all over the country. The area offers proximity to a bustling city, the majestic Rocky Mountains and communities of hyper-local and hyper-personalized businesses. Berthoud is perhaps, one of the best examples of NoCo’s local character and steady growth. Since we’ve already delved into the community’s love for local, it’s time to look into a few growth statistics.
From 2016 to year-end 2017, the town of Berthoud on its own saw a 107% increase in the number of homes sold which resulted in a 101% increase in the dollar value of those home sales. In the past, Berthoud’s statistics have been grouped together with Loveland, but the town’s development, growth and economic success have allowed it to now be considered independently. And because it’s a steadily developing town with the small town charm NoCo locals love, we expect it to continue to become one of the region’s favorite communities to move to from Denver, Loveland and Fort Collins.
If you need a little bit of home design and mountain views for further convincing, check out all of Berthoud’s home listings here.
What do you love about Berthoud?
Share your favorite places, events, characteristics and attractions in the comments below!
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