Tucked into a picturesque valley below the iconic Flatirons, Boulder hosts thriving tech and natural foods industries, supports a renowned entrepreneurial community, has some of the region's best restaurants, and is home to many federal research labs and a world-class university. No wonder this Rocky Mountain town of approximately 107,000 people is a world-class destination. 

BOULDER:

  • Downtown Boulder/Pearl Street Mall – recommended restaurants to get started
    • The Mediterranean - For more than 20 years, the locally owned 'Med' has been offering a menu that brims with Italian, Spanish, French, and Greek cuisine. The extensive menu boasts tapas, fresh salads and seafood, paella, pastas, grilled and organic specialties, wood oven pizzas and house made desserts. Over forty wines by the glass and lively Tapas Hour everyday from 3:00 to 6:30.
    • Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse -The beautiful and unique Dushanbe is an authentic Persian teahouse and the only one in the Western Hemisphere. They serve international cuisine for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Traditional afternoon tea features over 80 premium teas. In addition, they offer a full bar and a lovely creek-side patio.
      • Good Chai, Brunch is delicious; one of the most beautiful buildings in Boulder
    • Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery - At the Mountain Sun  our mission is to offer five-star service, fresh, high quality pub fare and finely crafted brews for affordable prices in an environment that’s comfortable like your living room. There will never be televisions at our pubs because we want our guests to meet and discuss the world in which we live or simply to play Scrabble.
      • February is Stout Month
    • Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant -  The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant is famous for its flavorful grilled specialties and award-winning margaritas. The lively atmosphere is the perfect place for a friendly gathering for lunch or dinner,  Specializing in accommodating large parties. Large roof top patio overlooking the Flat Irons.
    • T/ACO - An urban taqueria with a menu that is at once simple, fresh, and utterly addictive. Our selection of  tacos,  fresh ceviche and salad are designed to surprise the palate by combining simple flavors in deliciously inventive ways. Everything at T|ACO is freshly house-made daily, including the tortillas, chips,  salsas and guacamole. Happy Hour 2-6PM Daily.
      • Tacos are amazing, highly suggest the Mango and the Classico
    • Eureka! - Eureka! brings an elevated collection of the best locally sourced ingredients, craft beers, small batch whiskeys, classic cocktails and rock n’ roll. Eureka! offers an authentic community-centered culinary experience through a wide selection of scratch kitchen menu items in an exciting atmosphere with handpicked music, televised sports and weekly events like “Steal the Glass”. The restaurant’s exceptional hospitality and unique environment create a value-driven experience defined as “eatertainment!”
      • Fantastic burgers
  • Chautauqua Park - Chautauqua Park is a portion of an iconic historic landmark dating back to when the City of Boulder began preserving wild lands over 100 years ago. In 1898, Boulder citizens approved a bond issue to purchase 80 acres to be used as a “Chautauqua”. The park land owned by Boulder Parks and Recreation is located adjacent to OSMP trails, Chautauqua Dining Hall and Auditorium, and Chautauqua Ranger Cottage and provides a playground, tennis courts, and open turf.
    • Trail Head: On the west end of Baseline Road
  • Valmont Bike Park -Valmont Bike Park is a 42-acre, natural surface cycling terrain park offering diverse amenities for several riding styles and abilities. The park is free and open daily from dawn to dusk.
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) - Founded in 1972 by a group of local artists, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) is one of Colorado’s premier venues for the exploration of contemporary art. In 1976 the organization moved to its current location in downtown Boulder, a 1906 historic landmark building that once served as a warehouse. Throughout its history, BMoCA has been a vibrant cultural cornerstone in its community. Each year, the museum presents an ambitious exhibition schedule and an innovative series of educational programs for audiences of all ages and interests.
  • The Boulder Creek Path - The Boulder Creek path is about 5.5 miles long and runs to Boulder Canyon on the west end and Stazio Ballfields on the east end (just past 55th Street). This is a great place for running and biking. During the summer the creek is a great place to go tubing.
    • Look for tube to work day where Boulder Proffessionals ride down the creek in the business clothes
    • Boulder creek fest – Great way to experience the Boulder community in the summer with art food and music performers
    • Boulder Farmer’s Market: 8am to 2pm on 13th street between Canyon and Arapahoe April 1 2017- November 18 2017

DENVER: The Mile High City

  • DAM -  Denver Art Museum

    • The Denver Art Museum is an educational, nonprofit resource that sparks creative thinking and expression through transformative experiences with art. Its holdings reflect the city and region—and provide invaluable ways for the community to learn about cultures from around the world. The mission of the Denver Art Museum is to enrich the lives of present and future generations through the acquisition, presentation, and preservation of works of art, supported by exemplary scholarship and public programs related to both its permanent collections and to temporary exhibitions presented by the museum.

  • 16th Street Mall - Designed by famed architect I.M. Pei, the pedestrian promenade is made of red, white and gray granite in a repeating pattern that, seen from above, resembles the skin of a diamondback rattlesnake. Free shuttle buses, dubbed the MallRide, travel up and down the 16th Street Mall, stopping on every corner. Hop on and hop off as the shuttles come and go every few minutes and make everything downtown easy to reach.
  • Sporting Events:
    • Denver Broncos: American Football – play in the Sports Authority Stadium in Denver.
    • Colorado Avalanche: Hockey team
    • Denver Nuggets : Basketball
    • Colorado Rockies: Baseball
    • Colorado Rapids: Soccer
       
  • National Western Stock Show and Rodeo - The National Western Stock Show, one of Colorado’s preeminent tourist destinations, held every January for 16 days.  A nationally recognized western heritage and entertainment event, the stock show hosts one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, one of the country’s largest horse shows and Colorado’s largest western trade show, attracting attendance numbers over 650,000 visitors each year. Throughout this historic event, the National Western strives to strengthen American agriculture through enrichment programs and youth education in livestock, equestrian, farming, ranching, animal awareness and appreciation.  We celebrate western lifestyles, our communities, provide life-long memories and family traditions.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS:

  • Rocky Mountain National Park - Rocky Mountain National Park’s 415 square miles encompass and protect spectacular mountain environments. Enjoy Trail Ridge Road – which crests at over 12,000 feet including many overlooks to experience the subalpine and alpine worlds – along with over 300 miles of hiking trails, wildflowers, wildlife, starry nights, and fun times.

  • Skiing/Snowboarding - Colorado boasts 300 days of sunshine and more than 300 inches of snow a year. Our mountains are our home, and we love it when people from across the country and across the ocean come and share the wealth of enjoyment that our Colorado ski resorts offer.
     
  • 14ers – Hiking is a big part of Colorado’s Wilderness and the state can boast over 50 peaks that are above 14,000ft. During the summer months they are a blast to hike and explore with friends and family.
     
  • Boating and Fishing: olorado is also home to more than 2,000 lakes and reservoirs, including the watery playgrounds of Grand Lake, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Lake Dillon, Lake Granby and the dozens of lakes and reservoirs in 42 Colorado State Parks. Fill a Colorado vacation boating, water skiing, canoeing and exploring the fingers, coves and wide-open water of Colorado lakes — from crystalline alpine lakes to the beautiful oases found on the eastern plains. Fishers are another group who eagerly await perfect Colorado river and lake conditions. With more than 35 species of warm- and cold-water fish, they’ve got plenty of variety to choose from, including trout, kokanee salmon, walleye and largemouth bass. Colorado is also home to 322 miles of Gold Medal streams, hotspots for flyfishers seeking large trout populations. Be sure to pick up a Colorado Fishing License before dropping your fishing line in any Colorado lakes, rivers or streams, and check out the articles below for more Colorado vacation ideas.

TRAVEL:

  • DIA – Denver International Airport located east of Denver. Flies out to most major international Airports. Access through RTD:
    • Bus
    • Light-rail
    • Car (Personal not RTD)
  • UNION STATION: Union station still supports commuter trains but is also a hub for bus and lightrail transit. Right in the center of downtown it is also surrounded by wonderful shops and restaurants.
  • I-25 – The main north-south corridor through Colorado with access to Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Denver and a large majority of the Front Range

For even more information visit www.colorado.com