Guide to Loveland, Colorado pt 1: the Visitor’s Center

Part 1 of our Guide to Loveland, Colorado.

Loveland, Colorado is located just off I-25, via exit 34. It is an hour’s drive south from Cheyenne, Wyoming (assuming there’s no construction or other traffic issues) or an hour and a half north from Denver. Loveland is also only about 50 minutes away from Estes Park, Colorado, via Highway 34.


Take Exit 34

As you take Exit 34, from either north or south, your first choice on your right will be an exit for the Outlets at Loveland – there’s a Nike, Ann Taylor, Dress Barn, and a Levis outlet to name just a few. There’s also a Rocky Mountain Chocolate store adjacent to the Dress Barn, and in the verge in front of the Dress Barn is one of the city’s iconic Heart Sculptures.

Loveland has a lot of lanes that turn into “Turn only” lanes, so be aware of that.

As you drive down 34 and keep in the right hand lane, you can take the Outlet Mall exit, or the lane will end as it directs you to the Loveland Visitor Center. I suggest making the Loveland Visitor Center your first stop, because even if you know what you want to see, the volunteers here are very helpful and can give you good advice, and behind the building is the McWhinrey-Hahn Sculpture Park.

Entrance to the Visitor Center

Up until a few months ago, as I write this (October 13, 2019), one of the city’s Heart Sculptures stood to the left of the entrance way to the Visitor Center. They have now moved that sculpture to the rear of the building with the other sculptures, so there’s nothing to distinguish the entrance of this Visitor Center from any other city’s Visitor Center. No longer photogenic!

The rear of the Visitor Center, which faces 34-West. Note the word-sculpture LOVE, and the Heart Sculpture reflected in the pond.

Restaurants and Roundabouts

An IHoP restaurant shares the same parking lot as the Visitor’s Center, and there’s also a McDonalds.

Note that to get to the Visitor’s Center or these restaurants, you’ll be driving along 1, 2, or even 3 “roundabouts.” Pay attention to how you got in so you can get out!

Traditions in Loveland

Before Valentine’s Day every year, people send their pre-stamped envelopes to the Post Office in Loveland where they are mailed with a special Loveland cancellation. Here at the Visitor Center, people can purchase locks and engrave them themselves, and then lock them onto struts behind the LOVE word sculpture.

Purchase locks inside the visitor’s center (open May to October), engrave them yourself, and then lock them to the LOVE sculpture

There are about ten sculptures in the McWhinrey-Hahn Sculpture Park (the number changes at any given time).

Even when the Visitor’s Center is closed (during the winter season starting Nov 1) people can walk around the garden.

Grandmother and grandchild

Angel

Gifts, Brochures and Information

Inside the Visitor’s Center is a gift shop which has books, clothing and knicknacks such as key rings and bumper stickers.

There are also several racks chock full of brochures of everything to see and do in Loveland.

The volunteers who woman the center are very knowledgeable and can give advice on where to park, things to see and do, and events that are happening on the very day you’re there

Racks of brochures

Gifts from Colorado

As you drive through Colorado, you’ll find that most towns and cities have their own Visitor’s Center or Info stop. These are always well worth visiting.

You may find a brochure to an event or a location you hadn’t heard of before, and if it’s tourist season and there’s a volunteer there, they love to talk about their city and share information with you.

Samples of brochures include:

  • artspace: Loveland Arts Campus
  • Loveland: A Work of Art (City of Loveland Art in Public Places)
  • Benson Sculpture Garden
  • Loveland Bikeways & Trails
  • Museum Directory (throughout Colorado)
  • Colorado Wilderness Rides and Guides
  • 2019-2020 Loveland Visitor’s Guide: Adventure Awaits
  • Golf Loveland: The Old Course at Loveland

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And then there’s the souvenirs! I always try to get a souvenir from every city I visit. Usually it’s just that city’s newspaper but if the city offers something with its name on it (as opposed to just the state) I will pick that up as well.

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