Boulder local attractions:
visitor info: (city)
http://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/
http://www.normankoren.com/Boulder.html
Things to do in Boulder:
BEST OF BOULDER LIST
Open space hiking trailheads
both a short walk west of downtown - DON'T WORRY YOU CAN TAKE IT SLOW! :)
Mt. Sanitas
Red Rock
Mt. Sanitas/Red Rocks (trailhead on Mapleton Ave, west of 4th)— A steep ascent up Mt. Sanitas (north of Mapleton) is rewarded with spectacular views of Boulder and the continental divide. Gentler trails are also available and you can do a loop. The Red Rocks (south of Mapleton) is a short easy hike with a nice view of downtown. You can reach it from downtown via the Boulder Creek trail, using the Canyon Boulevard underpass.
Chataugua Park
Chautauqua Park (south of Baseline, just west of 9th)— Gateway to the Flatirons. You can hike an hour or all day on of the extensive network of trails (see topo map on the right). A nice trail map is available at the ranger station. The Chautauqua auditorium (venue of the Colorado Music Festival and other excellent events) and Dining Hall are worth checking out.
Boulder Creek Trail
Boulder Creek trail— Ten miles long from the prairie to the mountains. Passes two blocks south of downtown. Any part of this shaded walkway is delightful. From downtown, the stretch from the Dushanbe Teahouse (13th Street) to beyond Eban Fine Park (4th street) is particularly recommended. As good for people watching as for nature. The Canyon Boulevard underpass at the west end of Eban Fine Park provides access to the Red Rocks.
Rent bikes from University Bikes on Pearl St. and enjoy the Boulder Creek Trail or any of the wonderful bike trails in Boulder- a great way to spend a couple of hours seeing this beautiful city and enjoying the fresh air. A Favorite! be sure to drink lots of water while riding or hiking- or just walking around!
OUTSIDE OF BOULDER AREA: (BUT STILL CLOSE BY)
GO HORSEBACK RIDING IN ESTES PARK http://www.sombrero.com/
ESTES PARK - just a half an hour away! http://www.estes-park.com/
RMNP (ROCKY MTN NATIONAL PARK) http://www.nps.gov/romo/
NEW BELGIUM BREWERYFORT COLLINS
TAKE THE COORS BEER FACTORY TOUR IN GOLDEN
TAKE THE CELESTIAL SEASONINGS TOUR IN GUNBARREL
FOOD (ALSO CHECK THE "BEST OF" BOULDER LINK ABOVE)
Boulder has a wide variety of excellent restaurants. Prices are comparable to California coastal towns. Most are vegetarian-friendly. We may never get around to trying them all. Prices: $ = inexpensive; $$ = moderate; $$$ = expensive; $$$$ = Flagstaff House, reputed to be the reason the emperor of Japan visited Colorado.
Brasserie Ten Ten 1011 Walnut Street (across from the Med; same owners). Paris in Boulder. Excellent food and service. Upscale ambience and clientele. Popular, especially during peak hours. $$$.
The Kitchen 1039 Pearl St Bkfst, Lunch and dinner - Great food....local ingredients...and one of our favorite spots. Sophisticated. sometimes too loud... $$-$$$
Illegal Pete's Pearl Street Mall (east end) at 15th. Best fast food in town. Superb burritos. Not quite authentic Mexican, but goood. $.
Orchid Pavilion 1050 Walnut St. (next to the Med). Excellent Chinese food, pleasant quiet ambience. $$.
The Hungry Toad Broadway at North (1/2 mile north of Pearl). Neighborhood British pub with decent food. $-$$.
The Rio Grande 11th Street at Walnut (one block south of Pearl). Decent Mexican food (improved since we arrived here) and notoriously strong margaritas (limit of three per customer). Popular. (The singles bar is a madhouse.) $$.
Restaurant-breweries. BJ's Pearl Street Mall between 11th and Broadway Excellent salads, sandwiches, pizzas and, of course, brews. Not quite gourmet, but everything is fresh and well-prepared. $-$$. Very popular. The Walnut Brewery, Walnut near 11th has good food and excellent brews. Noisy. $$.
Mountain Sun brewerie is on Pearl Street in between 15th and 16th. They are kid friendly, short waits for tables, by far the best home brewed beer ever! The have great specials like burger and a beer night for under $10 on mondays. Can be noisy. $
Sunflower Pearl Street at 17th; two blocks east of the mall. Upscale natural foods dining. Hippie gone seriously yuppie. The tofu nori roll appetizer is particularly wonderful. $$$.
Gondolier Corner of Pearl Street and 16th Fine Italian food and gourmet pizzas. $$. Their all-you-can-eat spaghetti special ($) Tuesday and Wednesday nights is very popular.
Foolish Craig's Pearl Street between 16th and 17th. Crepes, omelettes, sandwiches, salads, and very respectible dinners in an atmosphere reminiscent of 1970's Santa Cruz (a veritable time warp). Excellent value; food quality usually exceeds expectations. $-$$.
Jax Fish House Pearl Street between 9th and 10th. Excellent seafood in a trendy, crowded, offensively noisy setting. The food is almost good enough to offset the noise. Long waits during peak hours; no reservations. $$-$$$.
Zolo Grill 2525 Arapahoe Ave., next to McGuckin's— 2/3 mile east of downtown, near Naropa. Excellent eclectic southwestern cuisine in a lively but noisy ambience. You can make a meal of their bowl of tortilla soup. Their fish & shrimp tacos exceed San Diego standards. Very crowded during peak hours. $$$.
Rincon del Sol 2350 Arapahoe Ave.— 1/2 mile east of downtown, near Naropa. 303-442-0541 Satisfies our craving for Mexican food. The original margarita is the best in Boulder. $$
Sherpa's 825 Walnut St., next to Di Napoli. Excellent Indian/Nepalese restaurant. Pleasant ambience in a charming Victorian house formerly occupied by a sequence of pretentious establishments. They even have some Tibetan entrées. Good venue for showing off Boulder's charms. $$. 303-440-7151.
Coffeehouses Pearl Street from West to East: Trident (10th): adjacent to new/used bookstore. Intellectuals of all ages. Bookends: (11th) Laughing Goat (17th). Several now have free wireless Internet hot spots.
Luciles for Breakfast 2124 14th Street Boulder, CO 80302 303-442-4743 creole Famous beinets and coffee! That's right...creole cuisine, and you will stand in line for it! Breakfast/Brunch only - closes at 2pm.
