2018-12-14 04:31:51
Playfully referred to as the People’s Republic of Boulder, this foothills city was recently named “Happiest City in the U.S.” by National Geographic and is known for progressive attitudes stemming from its hippie heyday. Today it’s characterized by scientific research centers, the University of Colorado, artsy folks and hyper-athletic citizens. MORNING The pedestrian Pearl Street Mall (1) is the city’s hub. Fuel up at any of a dozen coffee shops alongside students and freelancers clicking away on their laptops. Then, spend time strolling the thoroughfare, lined with historic buildings that now house boutiques and longtime-favorite shops and populated by talented open-air performers. For more shopping, head to Twenty Ninth Street, an outdoor mall headlined by H&M, The North Face and Apple that also has a new outdoor beer garden called The Barrel. Or hook up with Boulder Walking Tours to see Boulder through its neighborhoods, historic areas and open spaces. Saturdays and Wednesdays April–mid-November, stroll Boulder Farmers’ Market (2), with a strict sell-what-you-grow policy and a lovely setting next to Boulder Creek. Chefs are often spotted shopping here, so you may taste market veggies during dinner. If you dig the market, you might also appreciate the Boulder County Farm Trail (3) — 20 farms and other places where you can pick berries, pet animals, take a tour, check out a farm stand, picnic in a barn or take a class. AFTERNOON Head next door to the Dushanbe Teahouse (4) to admire the intricate paintings and carvings adorning this building, shipped piece by piece from Boulder’s sister city in Tajikistan. Have a bite to eat and order a pot of tea from the exhaustive menu. Then, discover the hiking trails in National Historic Landmark Chautauqua Park (7), with options to suit every level of hiker and up-close views of the Flatirons — the slanting slabs of red sandstone that are Boulder’s most recognizable landmark (see tip for visiting on previous page). Stop into Chautauqua Dining Hall, which has been serving Boulderites since 1898. There’s also the new Museum of Boulder, which hosts big-name traveling exhibitions from the Smithsonian and other nationally recognized museums. The Google Garage lets visitors tinker, experiment and get handson with technology tools, do-it-yourself projects and ever-changing opportunities to innovate and create. The museum’s rooftop deck offers some of the best views of the Flatirons in town. EVENING Boulder is one of the reasons Bravo’s “Top Chef” filmed a recent season in Colorado, so dinner at one of the city’s restaurants is a must. Wander around Pearl Street for plenty of award-winning options, including Provençal-inspired Mateo; Pizzeria Locale’s Neapolitan pies (brought to you by the chefs at another Pearl Street favorite, Frasca Food & Wine (6)); or The Kitchen, an eco-friendly bistro that pairs food with decadent brews. Additionally, Audrey Jane’s Pizza Garage and Zoe Ma Ma are two stop-worthy gems that have been featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” For more secret places to eat and explore, visit bouldercoloradousa.com. After, visit a brewery to taste the local suds and take a tour — there are more than 20 now, pretty serious for a town of 100,000 people! In fact, Boulder has more breweries per capita than any other city in the U.S. Pick up a Boulder Beer Trail brochure at area visitor centers, take a walking tour from Boulder Brew Tours or catch a ride on the Colorado Brewery Bus. Another thing brewing in Boulder is kombucha. Taste this fermented tea that’s full of probiotics, beneficial yeast and enzymes at Upstart in north Boulder or Rowdy Mermaid inside Rayback Collective (5) — a food-truck park/beer garden/live-music venue that’s drawing those in the know east of downtown. WINTER FUN While not a traditional ski town, Boulder’s proximity to skiing at nearby Eldora Mountain Resort, affordable winter lodging prices and hip downtown vibe makes it a primo cold-season destination. Downhillers can schuss down Eldora’s slopes in the morning and head back down to town for a hike or bike ride in the afternoon — and dinner and local brews in the evening, naturally. Non-downhill skiers love Eldora’s Nordic Center, which offers lessons and trails designed specifically for cross-country skiing, skate skiing and snowshoeing. SIDETRIPS Boulder is also close to Rocky Mountain National Park (1 hour), Eldorado Canyon State Park (15 minutes) and Golden Gate Canyon State Park (45 minutes). You can confidently claim that Nederland, just a half hour outside of Boulder, will be unlike any other town in your vacation repertoire. Case in point: Each March Frozen Dead Guy Days celebrates the remains of a man who died of a heart attack in 1989. His family keeps his body preserved in dry ice in the hopes that future science can revive him. Celebrate Ned’s nutty culture with craft brews, art and live music, and soak in the ambiance by browsing around local shops and restaurants. STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Boulder (page 192), Eldorado Springs, Louisville (page 201), Lyons (page 201), Superior, Westminster (page 206) QUICK TIP Hikers can ride the free Park-to-Park shuttle to designated areas in and around the Chautauqua Park area. The dog-friendly bus runs on Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day; just park your car downtown or at a free lot on the University of Colorado campus and hitch a ride.
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