Aptly-named Lakewood abounds with ponds, lakes, and quaint, tree-lined country lanes bordered by gravel paths. Long before "open space" became the marketer's catch-phrase, Lakewood featured rural enclaves and native parks in spades.

The largest tracts lie along the Lakewood's southwest margin at Bear Creek Lake, Bear Creek Canyon, Red Rocks, William Fredrick Hayden Park, Matthews-Winters Park and a series of parks that follow the soaring spires of the Dakota Hogback.

North Dinosaur Hogback Park is a favorite of both amateur and professional paleontologists, while hikers and bicyclists flock to the Bear Creek Valley Greenbelt trail which connects the historic town of Morrison to the South Platte River Valley.

With the onset of World War II, Lakewood's isolated turkey farms, ranches, and tuberculosis treatment centers were joined by the Denver Ordinance Plant on Hayden Ranch. As government agency offices replaced munitions manufacturing after the war, the facility became known as the Denver Federal Center, where roughly 10,000 now work.

Lakewood was platted in 1889 by Rocky Mountain News owner William Loveland, an energetic pioneer who built railroads and promoted the adjacent town of Golden, home of Coors Brewing Company. Although Lakewood didn't incorporate until 1969, an aggressive annexation policy soon made it the fourth most populous city in the state.

The pristine, rural ideal of Lakewood takes wing at White Fence Farm, a Colonial-Revival farmhouse restaurant, model farm, petting zoo, and favored destination for family outings and reunions.

Meanwhile, the new Lakewood Cultural Center offers theater, dance, vocal, and instrumental performances by nationally and internationally recognized artists in addition to art classes, exhibits, and community events. Nearby, in scenic Belmar Park, the Heritage Center and Belmar Pioneer Museum boast nearly a dozen historic structures, 30,000 historic artifacts, a festival grounds, and amphitheater.

Belmar, Lakewood's traditional style town center features a vibrant mix of residences - apartments, condos, townhomes, and single-family homes - amidst a dazzling array of offices, shops, galleries, restaurants, outdoor cafes, movie theaters, parks, and public plazas.

At Belmar, residents shop for everything from the latest fashions to home furnishings and accessories to fitness gear. Anchor tenants include a sparkling new Whole Foods Market, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Bally Total Fitness.

Among the more than 200 premier retailers at Colorado Mills, on Lakewood's west side, are Last Call, the Neiman Marcus outlet and Off Fifth, the outlet store for Saks.