Northern Colorado is not often associated with a list of the most romantic places on Earth, but residents of Loveland, Colorado—which sits just above Denver and has a population of a little more than 76,000—know it’s all in the name.

The origin of the town’s name isn’t quite as romantic as the town itself, however. In 1877, Loveland was founded as an official city, bordering the newly built Colorado Central Railroad. It was decided that the town would share its namesake with the railroad's president, William A.H. Loveland.

Flash forward nearly 150 years, and the people of Loveland have transformed their town into an international destination of love, especially during the month of February. There is even an entire festival dedicated to all of the mushy, sentimental things people love about love.

• Send in Your Valentines
  Since 1947, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Loveland Post Office, and dozens of volunteers have been marking valentines from all over the world with a special Sweetheart City stamp. Loveland’s Valentine ReMailing Program invites people to submit loving messages of hope and well-wishes to those who need it, and, over the years, these messages have been delivered to people from all fifty states and over 110 countries around the world. The event is so popular that there is even a waiting list for volunteer stampers!
  
  To participate, all you have to do is send your valentines to the Loveland postmaster, placed in a large first-class envelope; volunteers will restamp the message with Loveland’s special seal and place back in the mail for delivery.



• See Love in Action
  As part of Loveland’s Valentine’s Day celebration, the town is hosting its inaugural Sweetheart Festival: Love, Locks, and Lights—a two-day event (February 8–9), featuring a number of attractions and activities for the whole family, including art installations, live music, a giant toboggan ride, and more.
  
  One of the most exciting parts of the event is a thirty-foot “love lock” sculpture—one of the largest in the country. Love locks are a popular concept across the globe, popping up on the Pont des Arts in Paris and the Ha’penny Bridge in Dublin. Couples can purchase locks at the festival and place them on the sculpture as a sign of their everlasting love. For festivalgoers looking to reconnect with past loves, “lost love balloons” are available to be released—and they’re environmentally friendly, too.



• After the Love Is Gone
  Well, the love is never really gone in Loveland. But if you’re looking for February activities outside the realm of Valentine’s Day celebrations, there is still plenty to see and do. Though it lies on the outer edge of the Rockies, Loveland has relatively mild winters compared to the state’s larger cities, like Denver and Boulder, making it easier to enjoy outdoor activities in the winter months.
  
  Loveland has been voted among the best art towns in America, and it has a number of galleries, arts festivals, and outdoor sculpture parks to choose from. And for adventure seekers, the nearby mountains provide ample opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and even skinning—a sport growing in popularity, where skiers skip the chairlift in favor of hiking up the mountain before careening back down. Whether you're drawn to arts and culture or a snowy adventure on your visit to Loveland, it's sure to be a memorable winter excursion.

Spread the magic of Loveland, Colorado, by sharing this feature on social media.

Up Next: