Centennial and GV - where to spend time on a relocation trip to get to know locals? (Denver: homes)

[Redfish07]

We are doing a relocation trip and would like to know where we might spend time in both Centennial and Greenwood Village areas chatting with locals when we visit - are there any coffee shops, shopping districts / malls, parks, breweries, eating establishments you’d recommend where people would be chatty and where we could talk w people about the area?
Thanks much

[davebarnes]

A somewhat snarky answer.
1. Both Centennial and Greenwood Village are white bread suburban America.
2. Both are heavily car-dependent. WalkScores in the 20s or lower.
3. The only interaction people have with their fellow citizens is via the school system—if they have kids.

[bluescreen73]

As Dave was saying, neither of those burbs really has a centralized gathering place. The closest things are the Landmark area west of I-25 between Belleview and Orchard, and the Arapahoe Station area just west of I-25 off Arapahoe Road. There are restaurants in both areas. Landmark is a little more organized like a TOD, but Arapahoe is strip malls and mid-rise towers with a concert venue (Fiddler's Green) in the middle.

Downtown Littleton to the west and Southlands Mall to the east are the only areas I can think of where you'll find people milling about outdoors in this part of the metro.

[Gorges]

-Top Golf, Centennial
-The Streets at SouthGlenn, Centennial. Pleasant little shopping area. Coffee shops. A couple of miles north from there on University in the Trader Joe shopping center in GV, there are a few eating places and a coffee shop.
- Family Sports Center, Peoria St, Centennial. Has an ice rink. Maybe parents hang out while the little kids have lessons.
- The big mall and shopping area is Park Meadows in Lone Tree and it’s basically where where Highlands Ranch, Centennial, and Littleton come together.

[ShampooBanana]

Originally Posted by Gorges

-Top Golf, Centennial
-The Streets at SouthGlenn, Centennial. Pleasant little shopping area. Coffee shops. A couple of miles north from there on University in the Trader Joe shopping center in GV, there are a few eating places and a coffee shop.
- Family Sports Center, Peoria St, Centennial. Has an ice rink. Maybe parents hang out while the little kids have lessons.
- The big mall and shopping area is Park Meadows in Lone Tree and it’s basically where where Highlands Ranch, Centennial, and Littleton come together.

I'd second those suggestions.

Also, maybe check out of the the great libraries? There is a nice one off Orchard in GV (Orchard and Holly) called Koelbel Library, or you could go to the branch at SouthGlenn, or the one in Centennial off Arapahoe (Castlewood Library). Those will have people who more likely actually LIVE in one of the two communities you mentioned. Or try a local park. I'd recommend DeKoevend Park, Cherry Knolls Park, or Westlands Park. The first two are in Centennial and the latter in GV.

P.S. I live in the west part of Centennial and love it. Yes it's very white bread suburbia but it's nice, safe, white bread suburbia with nice homes and excellent schools with easy access to employers (DTC is right there), and close enough to the big city amenities (Denver proper boundaries are 15 minutes and downtown is usually around 30 minutes except at rush hour). One of my very favorite things about living here, too, is the trail system. Such excellent interconnected trails to walk or bike in nature and barely know you're even in a metro area (Big Dry Creek Trail, Highland Canal Trail, etc).