Colorado is such an adventure packed state, you may find you don’t have time to hit all the spots you want to hit for as long as you want. That was the case for us on our short 5 day trip to the Denver area. We knew we wanted to visit Boulder, Colorado but we had less than 24 hours! I feel like we got a good feel of the city in that amount of time. If you’re able, definitely stay longer. However, if you are just passing through like us– here are the top things to hit!
Staying overnight? It’s probably easier to stay in a hotel near the center of Boulder. You can walk virtually anywhere from here.
Boulder Hotel – Call me basic, but I love a good Hyatt. It’s affordable and this one is right on Pearl Street (aka the heart of downtown!).
Boulder Adventure Lodge – Located about 3 miles from downtown, my favorite perk of this cute country lodge is that you can borrow bikes to explore! Choose a budget conscious hostel, 3 bedroom cabin, or anything in between.
Niwot 2 Bed Beauty – A beautiful Airbnb that looks perfect for a cozy, luxurious stay.
Retreat on Maxwell Pond – Grab a couples’ friend of yours or make it a gal’s weekend in this cute Airbnb.
Spacious Apartment in Lower Level of Luxury Home – When I saw how upscale this Airbnb is, I couldn’t believe how affordable it is!
Explore the Pearl Street mall
This street in the heart of downtown really IS Boulder’s downtown! You can walk along and explore local shops and eateries.
Hike the Flat Irons – You can’t even get into Boulder without seeing these beautiful, very iconic mountains. There are TONS of hiking trails around and up to the Flat Irons in the Chatauqua area. There were quite a few people outside hiking even in the dead of winter!
Meander the campus – CU at Boulder is part of what makes this such a lively town! We love visiting college campuses when we are nearby. This one might take the cake for one of the most beautiful. Mountain views everywhere?! We even saw some foxes roaming around.
Bike on the Boulder Creek Path – This path meanders through downtown and all along boulder. Grab your bike or even your rollerblades and see the city on wheels.
Boulder Farmer’s Market – I mean who doesn’t love a good farmer’s market?!!? The market is open Wednesdays 4pm–8pm, May–October and Saturdays 8 am–2pm, April through November
Zoe Ma Ma — we ate here and RAVED about it for days after. We’re not super familiar with “real” Chinese food so this was our first foray into that. DELICIOUS. I can’t wait to try more! This is a stop you can’t miss if you’re in Boulder.
Flagstaff House Restaurant – beautiful views, truffle topped dishes, and a Chopped champion chef… need I say more?
Dushanbe Teahouse – Okay, okay… I added this one because the exterior is AMAZING. The exterior was shipped in from Tajikstan. Here, you’ll find Mediterranean lunch and dinner on the menu and of course afternoon tea.
River and Woods – This restaurant just looks so cozy and cute! The chef features recipes that the community provided which makes this place extra special. I’d go for the challah French toast at brunch.
Avery Brewing – Opened in 1993, Avery Brewing boasts of “eccentric” ales, like their Blueberry Lemon Glacier-spiked ale. Sign me up!
Kettle and Spoke – Great views, live music, and good beer.
Oskar Blues – This somewhat famous craft brewery has a restaurant right on Pearl Street. However, it’s often busy, especially when the weather is nice!
Have you been to Boulder, Colorado?! What are some of your other favorite towns in Colorado?
Missed my last post? Make sure you check out the top things to do when visiting South Carolina.
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