On the US map, the city of Boulder is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, at a distance of 40 km northwest of Denver. It is located at an altitude of 1,655 meters above sea level. Due to this location and dry climate, there is sunny weather here almost all year round (at least 300 days).
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| Pearl Street Mall, Boulder, Colorado image source: Ken Lund/Flickr |
The city of Boulder is considered one of the densely populated American municipalities and ranks 11th in the state in terms of population.
Boulder was named the happiest place in America in 2010 by USA Today. In total, 162 American cities took part in the rating. 🔗 Colorado
Boulder, Colorado - how to spend leisure time in the city
General information
In November 1861, a site for a state university was legally approved, and in September 1875, the first building was laid. The official opening of the educational institution took place on September 5, 1877.
Boulder is considered to be a student city. Here is one of the largest educational institutions in the state - the University of Colorado at Boulder. It is this university that is considered the main employer in the city. A third of Boulder's population is made up of students.
In January 2022, approximately 1,000 homes were affected by severe wildfires in Colorado. A state of emergency was immediately declared in the district, several thousand residents were evacuated from the territory. The fire was caused by hurricane-force winds that knocked down power lines.
Attractions
Boulder is one of the most visited cities in Colorado. There are many interesting places that attract tourists.
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| Boulder, Colorado's Flatirons in the spring image source: Cara Jo/Flickr |
One of the most popular for travelers and climbers are Flatirons (rock formations). The Flatirons Loop Trail passes through ponderosa pines and open areas around the irons south of town. Making this simple transition, you can meet wild animals (for example, deer, coyotes, black bear). In winter, bald eagles can be seen here.
The open-air pedestrian mall is an interesting place to visit. Here you can listen to talented street musicians and singers for free, make purchases (from fashionable clothes to household items), get positive emotions by visiting any of the many coffee shops.
The Boulder Farmers' Market is considered a must-have weekly ritual for many citizens and visitors to the city. There is a huge selection of fresh produce (meat, milk, cheese, wine, etc.). In the summer, local chefs come here to make purchases of fresh vegetables and fruits, corn and herbs.
In the afternoon, you can have a great time in one of the recreation areas, enjoying aromatic coffee and listening to live music.
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| Boulder Mountain Parks, Flatirons, Chautauqua image source: Peter Wayne/Flickr |
Chautauqua Park is a great place to relax with stunning city and mountain views. Here you can rent a cottage (the rental price ranges from budget to three-room with kitchens). In the Centenary Garden, you can admire the dance of flowers, learn a lot about the wild nature of this area, walk along the forest paths and even see a musical performance. In addition, the park houses a historic dining room (where you can taste delicious dishes) with a cozy courtyard.
The Art Deco Boulder Theatre, opened in 1906 as an opera house. It was subsequently converted into a cinema. This is one of the most visited places in the city where you can listen to live music, participate in various social events, watch good independent films. A feature of the theater is its cozy atmosphere and excellent view of the stage from any seat.
El Dorado Canyon State Park is a state park with good trails of varying difficulty levels. Climbers have the opportunity to climb the 850-foot-high sand wall, and anglers will enjoy catching rainbow trout in the park's pond.
You can also organize a picnic here. The central part of the park contains exhibits that tell about the geological formations of the canyon and the history of the park.
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| Fiske Planetarium at University of Colorado - Boulder. Reminded me of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT Center. Image source: Steven Miller/Flickr |
The Fiske Planetarium is one of the most popular attractions in the city, where astronomy lovers feel close to the stars. You can watch the stars from Zeiss (one of the world's famous machines), watch star laser shows, etc. The Sommers-Bausch Observatory hosts free telescope viewings on Friday evenings (16" and 18"). Classes are conducted under the guidance of graduate students and the teaching staff of the university.
Boulder's breweries are a great choice for beer connoisseurs. There are at least 20 of them in the city alone, not counting the number of breweries in the district. In any of them you can buy various types of home-made beer, brewed to strict standards.
Tour of Heavenly Seasonings. Celestial Seasonings is considered one of the largest tea manufacturers in North America. The company has existed since 1969 and during this time it has managed to maintain a reverent attitude towards the preparation of a drink loved by many - tea. During the tour there is an opportunity to taste some types of tea, the most recognized in the country.
This is a great option for relaxation, in addition, you can buy tea and other attributes related to Heavenly spices as a souvenir.
The Banjo Billy Bus Tour is an amazing one and a half hour trip around the city. Just imagine that a village hut is moving through the city. This is a fun and exciting journey in which you can learn a lot of interesting things about the history of Boulder (myths, legends, where truth and fiction are closely intertwined and complement each other).
The Natural History Museum of the University of Colorado is famous for its large natural history collections of the area, numbering over 4 million items. There is no fee to enter the campus at the Henderson Building.
The historic Harbeck-Bergheim House houses the Boulder History Museum, which houses an extensive collection of 45,000 objects of historical value.
