A residential community in central Maryland, near Baltimore. Home to McDaniel College and the annual Maryland Wine Festival at the Carroll County Farm Museum.
Westminster, with separate cities in California and Colorado, invites you to explore distinct attractions. In California, walk through Little Saigon’s Vietnamese markets on Bolsa Avenue, visit the Vietnam War Memorial’s black granite wall at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park, and watch dragon dances during the February Tet Parade. Colorado’s Westminster includes the 12-mile Big Dry Creek Trail for biking and The Orchard Town Center with its ice-skating rink. California’s city grew from a 19th-century settlement to a hub for Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s, while Colorado’s developed from 1860s homesteads into a Denver suburb with modern tech initiatives. Coastal California and Rocky Mountain Colorado create contrasting backdrops for these cities.
Westminster, California: Markets, Memorials, and Events
Little Saigon, centered on Bolsa Avenue between Magnolia and Brookhurst Streets, is a central hub for Vietnamese American culture. The Asian Garden Mall here spans 150,000 square feet with shops selling traditional herbs, jewelry, and street food like banh mi. Nearby, the Vietnam War Memorial at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park displays a black granite wall etched with over 58,000 names of fallen soldiers. A replica of the Liberty Bell and a shallow reflecting pool surround the memorial, which opened in 2003.
Head south of the 405 freeway to the Westminster Mall, where over 180 stores include national brands and smaller retailers selling clothing and electronics. The Westminster Rose Center, a theater with 411 seats, stages plays, dance performances, and free workshops on weekends. Next door, Coastline Community College’s satellite campus holds public lectures on topics like local history and career development.
In February, the Tet Parade fills Bushard Street with floats, firecrackers, and performers in dragon costumes. The 2025 event will celebrate the Year of the Snake, attracting over 50,000 visitors.
Westminster, Colorado: Trails, Tech, and Shopping
Colorado’s Westminster connects outdoor spaces with urban projects. The Big Dry Creek Trail runs 12 miles through the city, passing Standley Lake and neighborhoods lined with cottonwood trees. Cyclists use the paved path year-round, and benches along the route let you rest near small streams.
Downtown Westminster, a 105-acre area between Denver and Boulder, uses solar-powered streetlights and drought-resistant landscaping. The Orchard Town Center at I-25 and 144th Avenue has a movie theater, stores like Target and HomeGoods, and an outdoor ice rink open from November to January.
The city’s Municipal Center features a 14-story bell tower modeled after London’s Big Ben, visible from miles away. Public buses run every 20 minutes to Denver’s Capitol building, 9 miles south. Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport handles private flights, while Denver International Airport offers global connections 25 miles east.
History and Local Communities
California’s Westminster started in 1870 as a Presbyterian farming community banning alcohol. By the 1970s, Vietnamese refugees transformed it into Little Saigon, now home to 43.8% of the city’s 93,000 residents. Colorado’s Westminster began with homesteaders in 1863 who built irrigation canals for crops like wheat and sugar beets. Today, its population of 116,317 includes workers at Ball Corporation’s aerospace division and St. Anthony’s North Hospital.
California’s city recently added three new fire stations and a community center with free fitness classes. Colorado’s focuses on traffic sensors and solar-powered public buildings. Both host job fairs, like the March hiring event at Westminster City Park recruiting lifeguards and camp counselors.
Planning Your Visit
Fly into John Wayne Airport, 10 miles from California’s Westminster, to visit Disneyland or Huntington Beach’s surf spots. Colorado’s city is 30 minutes by car from Denver International Airport, with easy access to hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Accommodations in both cities include budget chains like Motel 6 and extended-stay suites with kitchenettes. Check city websites for updates on events such as library author talks or charity runs at City Park.
