Boulder Travel Tips
Packing for hiking
Camera
Backpack
Running shoes
Gloves
Hat
Hiking boots
Headlamp
Hiking pants
Rain jacket
Water bottle - Boulder is very dry and high altitude - you will want a way to hydrate
Transportation to and from Denver airport
Options Include
Bus
Can take the bus to Boulder terminal ($9) vs. Lyft ($70 one way)
Once you land follow the signs to ground transportation, and specifically, Transit Center/Denver Airport Station (below the Westin hotel at the airport)
https://www.flydenver.com/parking_transit/transportation_den
http://www.rtd-denver.com/airport.shtml
Lyft
Go to level 6 for a pickup
Costs around $70 one way which includes tolls / tip
Car Rental
Take the toll road if you are driving during rush hour
Lodging
The hotel pricing is very volatile. Check current pricing. Try using the Hotel Tonight mobile app to grab some last minute deals.
AirBNB is an excellent option in Boulder - lots of excellent places to stay
Unique places to stay:
Boulderado
Basecamp Boulder
St Julien Hotel & Spa
Alps Boulder Canyon Inn
Breakfast Places
Foolish Craig's Cafe
Lucile's Creole Cafe
Centro ($5 breakfast burrito)
Spruce Confectionary ($5 breakfast burrito)
Lolita’s Market - a variety of breakfast sandwiches
Places to Eat
Is there a bad place to eat in Boulder - I haven't found it. Explore the great local restaurant options.
Unique Places to Eat
Jax Fish House
The Kitchen
West End Tavern
Next Door
Sherpa
bartaco
Spruce Farm & Fish
Aloy Thai Cuisine
Coffee Shops
Ozo Coffee Shop
Wonder - I always say, "you haven't been to Boulder until you've visited Wonder"
The Laughing Goat
Boxcar
Things to Do
NIST Boulder Laboratories: Precision Measurements to Support Innovation
Diagram showing how NIST provides Internet time
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory
Fiske Planetarium and Sommers-Bausch Observatory
10 Things to Do at the University of Colorado Boulder
Skiing Near Boulder
https://rootsrated.com/stories/a-quick-and-dirty-guide-to-skiing-and-snowboarding-near-boulder
Eldora - 40 minutes from Boulder
Keystone - lessons and snow shoeing
Hiking
Some of my favorites
First and Second Flatiron Loop
Mount Sanitas and Sanitas Valley Loop Trail
Sugarloaf Mountain Trail and trailhead parking
Towhee and Homestead Trail and park here: South Mesa Trailhead
Walker Ranch - Ethel Harrold to Canyon Falls - driving up the mountain road is worth the trip. Stop by one or more of the amazing overlooks which are a short hike off the parking lot, e.g., Lost Gulch Overlook
Rocky Mountain National Park
A beautiful drive up the road from Boulder, CO of about an hour brings you to beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park - worth the trip if you can make it! Head to Estes Park and go from there.
Colorado Springs
A few hours drive you can hit up:
Garden of the Gods - a very unique - and very easy hikes - of some spectacular scenery
Pikes Peak - need to get to the entrance by around noon to give yourself enough to drive up and back down