Sunday Afternoon Drive – Berthoud, Colorado

Spring has sprung in HeidiTown. The birds are singing, the fields outside of town are greening up and there’s a feeling of warmth in the air. This time of year puts me in the mood for road trips and Sunday afternoon drives.

Metromix Denver recently released an article naming the 25 small Colorado towns to visit under $100. There was some misinformation in this article – Windsor was not “destroyed” by a tornado in 2008 – but overall it had some good tips on small towns to visit around the state.

It got me wondering what towns I’d put on such a list. There are so many great communities around Colorado and each has it’s own unique flavor. If I were to get in my car and take a Sunday afternoon drive there are lots of fun towns I’d could visit, so I thought I’d highlight them in a new reoccurring Friday post called Sunday Afternoon Drive. The post won’t run every Friday, but at least a couple per month.

Berthoud, Colorado

This town of 5,000 is approximately 45 minutes north of Denver. It has a rich agricultural history, and that story is told in the town’s comprehensive and delightful Pioneer Museum. The Berthoud Historical Society is one of the most active historical societies in Northern Colorado, and their work to preserve the history of the area is outstanding and commendable.

The museum won’t be open on a Sunday, and not much else in town will be either, but that’s the case in many small towns across America.

I am very familiar with Berthoud, Colorado because for the past five and a half years I’ve written for the town’s newspaper, the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor. I’ve met hundreds of people during my years working for the paper, some very young, some business owners, and many “old timers,” but every one of them was interesting and unique. I’ve really grown to cherish the community.

Berthoud is the kind of place where if a kid decides to play hooky someone will surely see them and tell their mother. It’s a true slice of Americana. There are no big chain stores, just one small grocer, an Ace, and a handful of restaurants and gift shops. The grocery store is Hay’s Market and I love shopping there. You won’t run into nicer deli staff anywhere, and I actually look forward to stopping in and doing a little shopping at Hay’s.

Berthoud’s nickname is “The Garden Spot” and many residents’ landscaping lives up to the name. The homes around Fickel Park are truly beautiful and in late spring and early summer I’d encourage you to ditch your car and stroll through down these charming streets.

Nothing beats an authentic root beer float on a warm afternoon, so when you drive through Berthoud, be sure to stop at the historic A&W, located at 802 Mountain Ave. This place is a HeidiTown favorite, but the biggest fan of all might be my husband, who is always asking to meet me for lunch there. Locally owned since 1971, people drive for miles just to experience a bit of old fashion Americana at Berthoud’s A&W.

So there you have it – my first Sunday Afternoon Drive post. I look forward to introducing you to many more communities along the Front Range in the months to come.

For my subscribers, you are probably getting this on Saturday morning and for that I apologize. In the future I will try to get this posted on Thursday night so the email will land in your inbox on Friday morning.