Highlands Ranch, CO

 

Colorado's Highlands Ranch is a master-planned community in the suburb of Denver spreading across the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Since it was established in the 1980s, this area has flourished, growing into an ideal place for those who wish to live in a friendly community where they can enjoy easy access to all that Denver has to offer. In fact, the beautiful neighborhoods of Highlands Ranch draw many who wish to relocate from Denver’s urban center.

 

Highlands Ranch is known for its beautiful parks and trails, as well as its excellent schools. The community was designed with family-friendly amenities in mind. The homes of the Highlands Ranch neighborhoods reflect the diversity of architecture typical of the decades in which they were developed in the 1980s. Home buyers enjoy a strong variety of real estate offerings from luxurious single-family homes to townhomes and condominiums.

 

As part of the greater Denver metropolitan area, Highlands Ranch is an incredibly desirable place to live. Residents enjoy both the vast open spaces of their neighborhoods as well as the city’s urban amenities just a short distance away. Residents clearly value an outdoor lifestyle and take full advantage of the golf courses and open space parks for hiking and biking. The many recreational centers provide easy access to a variety of indoor recreation as well for friends and family of every age and interest.

 

Highlands Ranch offers an array of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. The city’s restaurants offer something for every taste, from high-end dining to casual fare.

Lansdowne Arms is in the heart of historic downtown Highlands Ranch. This bar and grill is a local favorite and a great place for a date night or to celebrate a special occasion with family. It offers a variety of beers on tap as well as traditional pub fare like burgers, wings, and nachos.

For Mexican fare, Los Dos Portrillos is a family-owned establishment with great authentic recipes and a full bar mixing fantastic margaritas. Located just outside of Highlands Ranch, Smokin Fins is a popular grill, sushi, and seafood restaurant with fun happy hour. Over at Old Blinking Light, friends and family gather for cocktails and tacos.

When you are preparing to host a dinner party, the Highlands Ranch Farmers' Market is the place to shop for the freshest farm produce and inventive ingredients. It’s also one of the most popular community gatherings each week. Rocky Mountain farmers, merchants, and local vendors display a bounty of artisan-made goods and farm-fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, along with specialty-made sauces, breads, and more. It’s not just a place to shop, it’s a destination to enjoy.

 

Highlands Ranch is known as an active and vibrant community with plenty of recreational opportunities for families and individuals both in town and in the surrounding mountain countryside. No matter where you go for fun, you are sure to find yourself surrounded by nature and beauty.

 

Highlands Ranch is home to four Highlands Ranch Recreation Centers, Eastridge, Northridge, Southridge, and Westridge. All are operated by The Highlands Ranch Community Association, which plays a large role in the operations of the city. These incredible facilities provide residents with every recreational activity you could dream of, from basketball courts and tennis courts to ping pong, hot yoga, and even an 18-hole award-winning golf course. Residents also take advantage of the fitness and weight-training equipment, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness classes, and more.

If you are looking for outdoor excitement, look no further than the Backcountry Wilderness Area, where residents of all ages can hike through 1,000 acres of preserved natural land and enjoy organized activities such as archery, horseback riding, and hunting, not to mention great summer camps for kids.

Back in town, you will find your neighbors outside enjoying the town’s Summer Concert Series. Folks and friends get together on blankets and lawn chairs to sing and dance along to a fantastic lineup of bands in the Highlands Heritage Regional Park. Bring your own picnic food or take advantage of the several food trucks that join the crowd while you enjoy the view of the sun setting behind the Rockies.

The Highlands Ranch Community Association is also the sponsor of many other events and celebrations that bring the whole community together including the Fourth of July fireworks and Easter egg hunt. Epic Brewing hosts the annual Highlands Ranch Beer Festival. 

Another point of pride for the Highlands Ranch community is the Highlands Ranch Mansion, a historic home that features an extensive garden area with seasonal flowers, fruits, and vegetables along with walking paths through the property. You will want to enjoy one of their interesting tours that occur throughout the year. This is also a beautiful venue to host a special event or reception. The mansion also hosts holiday events such as their Halloween Haunting, when ghosts and goblins come out of hiding, and a community-centered winter holiday celebration.

 

Highlands Ranch families enjoy the excellent schools and signature arts, literacy, and STEM programs found in the Douglas County School District along with charter and private school options.