13 Most Charming Town Squares In The Rockies

The Rocky Mountains, the longest mountain range within the United States, span a total of 3,000 miles. They stretch from northern British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado, and end at the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico. Numerous small towns can be found among the ridges, valleys, and slopes of these majestic mountains. While a majority of these towns possess some phenomenal natural attractions, some of them have amiable downtowns and pleasing town squares as well. Here are some of the more charming town squares among the slopes and valleys of the Rocky Mountains.

Breckenridge, Colorado

Eighty miles west of Denver, the picturesque town of Breckenridge is home to a beautiful town square. From Mountain Top Explorium to delectable restaurants like the Hearthstone, the town square of Breckenridge is beyond imagination. Mountain Top Explorium is possibly the most fantastic children’s museum in Colorado, offering summer day camps and astronomy classes, as well as several other activities. Meanwhile, Hearthstone serves farm-to-table cuisine in a 125-year-old Victorian home.

Downtown Breckenridge is also home to some great annual festivals. Breck Agave Festival takes place every summer along Main Street, showcasing Tacos, Tequila, and all things Mexican. And, during the fall season, Brecktoberfest, Breckenridge’s own version of the popular German holiday, returns for three whole days. This is also celebrated along Main Street.

Livingston, Montana

Along the banks of the Yellowstone River and 25 miles east of Bozeman, the quaint town of Livingston, home to Yellowstone Gateway Museum and the Blue Slipper Theater, has a thriving town square. Between the museum, situated in a former schoolhouse, and the theater, open since 1964, an abundance of fantastic shops and restaurants awaits.

These shops, including Alpine Peaks, and restaurants like Montana’s Rib & Chop House, are both situated along Park Street, within blocks of some other great attractions, like the Brick House, which offers comfortable, cozy rooms for the evening. Several annual festivals also take place in downtown Livingston, like the Livingston Roundup Parade, which features horseback riders, floats, and marching bands.

Aspen, Colorado

The popular Rocky Mountain town of Aspen is home to a charming, amiable town square, complete with fantastic eateries, including White House Tavern, situated on Hopkins Avenue, and the Aspen Public House, located on Hymen Avenue. Downtown Aspen is also home to the John Denver Sanctuary, a natural attraction that garners a great deal of attention year-round.

There are also several fabulous annual festivals that claim Aspen as home, including the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, which takes place in downtown Aspen during the month of June with celebrities like Bobby Flay. Plus, if you happen to be visiting Aspen on the 4th of July, the Independence Day Celebration hosts a drone show, a circus, and a parade that travels throughout the downtown streets of Aspen.

Jasper, Alberta Province

Along the banks of the Athabasca River, the picturesque Canadian town of Jasper, within the province of Alberta, is home to a phenomenal yet quaint town square. Home to several fantastic establishments, including Fiddler River Restaurant and Whistler’s Inn, downtown Jasper is the place to visit. It is also home to some awesome cultural attractions, like Jasper Dark Sky Festival, which takes place in October, offering guests nine nights of awe-inspiring stargazing.

Another stunning annual event in downtown Jasper, the Jasper in January Festival celebrates much more than the Aurora Borealis. While the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is truly phenomenal in any aspect, this spectacular downtown event also offers some great culinary attractions, including a Poutine Showdown and some awesome outdoor activities, like snowshoeing and sleigh rides.

Vail, Colorado

Home to the Vail Chophouse, which is situated in Lionshead Village, and Manor Vail Lodge, the downtown area of Vail has a plethora of spectacular attractions worthy of staying for an entire weekend at a time. And, quite close to the Vail Chophouse, guests in downtown Vail can experience Red Sandstone Park, which features some magnificent hiking and rock-climbing opportunities.

Some other great downtown attractions that contribute to a charming downtown and an even more charming town square, the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Vail Farmers’ Market & Art Show are well worth checking out. While the Alpine Gardens feature a Holiday Pop-Up Market for most of December, the farmers’ market offers several farm-to-table events during the 16 consecutive Sundays from June to October.

Jackson, Wyoming

Situated close to the eastern border of Idaho, the picturesque town of Jackson is home to a charming town square that encourages visitors to return over and over, whether it is during the summer or the winter season. From Liberty Burger on Cache Street to the Blue Lion on Millward, fine dining opportunities in downtown Jackson are beyond phenomenal.

There is an abundance of awesome stores situated downtown, including Lee’s Tees and Altitude. Both of these small-town shops are right next to Jackson Town Square, which hosts several annual festivals. The Annual Town Square Lighting Ceremony is held the day after Thanksgiving, and the Old West Days Festival occurs in May. Old West Days offers stagecoach rides, a parade, and even a Town Square shootout re-enactment.

Manitou Springs, Colorado

The charming town of Manitou Springs, just outside the much larger city of Colorado Springs, is home to several natural attractions, including the Manitou Cliff Dwellings to the north of town. Yet the town square of this quaint Colorado town is also worth visiting. Home to several great restaurants, like Toasted, and an abundance of small-town shops, like Manitou Outpost, downtown Manitou Springs is truly phenomenal.

Downtown Manitou Springs and its town square are also home to a plethora of fabulous attractions and host an abundance of amazing festivities. From the Manitou Springs Wine Festival, which takes place in June with food trucks and live music, to Shoshone Spring, a historical downtown landmark that features an actual mineral hot spring, there is something for everyone in downtown Manitou Springs.

Park City, Utah

The town of Park City, situated only a 40-minute drive from Salt Lake City, has a truly remarkable town square. Surrounded by numerous trails, like the Pipeline Trail and the King Road Connect, the downtown area and Main Street Historic District of Park City is a haven of fabulous restaurants. This includes the Eating Establishment, alongside historic attractions, like Park City Museum, and hometown stores, like Flight Boutique.

Downtown Park City is also home to some spectacular annual festivals. Snow Globe Art Stroll takes place from the end of November until the beginning of January, with seven life-sized snow globes, each featuring a hidden silver snowflake. Ski Bum on the Run is another awesome winter wonderland event held on Main Street. A figurine named Rip appears inside one of the many shops downtown for ten days during December.

Crested Butte, Colorado

Home to some phenomenal attractions, including the Crested Butte Museum and the Trailhead Children’s Museum, which offers a stunning blend of natural, historic, and cultural attractions in downtown Crested Butte. There are also several phenomenal restaurants and shops downtown, like Secret Stash Restaurant and Pfister’s Handworks, the latter containing a little bit of everything.

Downtown Crested Butte and the town square therein are also home to several spectacular festivals, if you happen to be in town at the right time. The Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, ten consecutive days in July, honors wildflowers in a variety of media, including painting, food, and art deco. Avalanche Awareness Day, another informational event held in downtown Crested Butte, hosts mock avalanche rescue drills and first-aid courses.

Nelson, British Columbia

From the Nelson Polar Bear Swim, happening on January first of every year at Kootenay Lake, to the Kaslo May Days Festival, occurring at Vimy Park in May ever since 1892, to the Artwalk, taking place both at the end of June and the start of August, the downtown Main Street and the town square of Nelson, British Columbia brings a new sense of the importance to the community.

There is also a wide variety of attractions, eateries, and hometown shops in the town of Nelson. The Black Cauldron, situated along Herridge Lane, the Nelson City Campground on High Street, and Blue Violet Ceramics on Observatory Street, all have their own unique sense of style. Plus, just across the river, Pulpit Rock offers stunning views of downtown Nelson as a whole.

Telluride, Colorado

Home to several awesome festivals, including the Telluride Comedy Festival at the Sheridan Opera House and the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Town Park, downtown Telluride is a thriving place, no matter the season. They even have several fine dining establishments, like the Butcher and the Baker, and several overnight lodging choices, like the Victorian Inn, for those who wish to vacation for the entire weekend in downtown Telluride.

The Telluride Penny Bear and the Kid’s Fishing Pond are some other spectacular attractions in and near downtown Telluride. The Penny Bear, also called Ursa Ravus, was commissioned by Judy and Steven Gluckstern. It is a 15-foot-tall bear created from 187,000 pennies embedded in concrete. The Kid’s Fishing Pond, situated in Town Park on Colorado Avenue, is in close proximity to the Penny Bear, offering free fishing to children younger than thirteen years of age.

Canmore, Alberta

Downtown Canmore, Alberta, has several parks, including Centennial Park, Rotary Friendship Park, and Millennium Park. While Millennium Park and Centennial Park both offer an abundance of phenomenal outdoor activities throughout the year, including football and soccer during the summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during the winter, Rotary Friendship Park offers leisurely strolls and is quite near the town square of downtown Canmore.

Rotary Friendship Park is also home to several fabulous dining options, including the Wood Restaurant & Lounge and the Grizzly Paw Pub. There are also several annual festivals that take place downtown. Both the Canmore Folk Festival and the Canmore Highland Games are held in Centennial Park. The Festival of Trees, which is held every December, takes place just a few blocks away, at the Malcolm Hotel on Spring Creek Drive.

Ouray, Colorado

Home to the famous Ouray Historic District, with well over two hundred buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the downtown area of Ouray has some spectacular sights and attractions for everyone in the family. From the Wiesbaden Hot Springs Spa & Lodgings on 5th Street to the Outlaw Restaurant on Main Street, staying for a weekend in downtown Ouray is the choice to make.

There are even several annual festivals held in downtown Ouray throughout the year. The Ouray Ice Festival, held in January at Ouray Ice Park, and the Ouray International Film Festival, occurring at the Wright Opera House in June, are just two of the most popular. Plus, only a few blocks east of downtown, Cascade Falls Park offers a stunning 270-foot waterfall that is awe-inspiring, to say the least.

So, whether you wish to spend some time enjoying the Snow Globe Art Stroll in downtown Park City, Utah, wish to experience with the family for the first time the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, in Jasper, Alberta, or just want to relax at a fine dining establishment in the White House Tavern in Aspen, Colorado, the thirteen charming town squares mentioned above are only some of those found within the slopes and valleys of the Rocky Mountains.