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Boulder County Visitor's Guide Welcome to Boulder!
Boulder County doesn’t slow down for winter snows or spring showers—and that’s good news for visitors. Whether you’re walking, biking, busing or driving, here are some of our favorite winter and springtime activities. Strolling Pearl Street Mall through the twinkling holiday season is a treat on a winter’s eve. Bundle up for window shopping, and top off your evening at one of the plentiful establishments that offer meals and drinks. Bring your skates for a few turns around the small but charming Ice Rink at One Boulder Plaza, or just stop by to watch.
Another option is to take in a show at the Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder’s Dinner Theatre or the Boulder Theater, with supper and drinks at George’s next door or at the nearby Hotel Boulderado, which also offers music three nights a week. Watch the calendar for First Fridays every month, when downtown galleries host free receptions to kick off new shows. During the academic year, the University of Colorado (www.colorado.edu/eventscalendar) offers a dazzling array of music, dance, theater, film, visual arts and planetarium shows, as well as sports. Any day of the year, a walk, jog or bike ride on the Boulder Creek Path is a fun way to watch not only the creek and its wildlife, but also people. Sawhill Ponds, at 75th Street and Valmont Road, are accessible from the city’s path system, and when the sunset or sunrise is glorious, this is the place to be. In the early morning, rising sun rays reflect off the water and snow to mingle with the mist. It makes even the Canada geese look magical. Open through May, the Boulder History Museum’s “Only in Boulder” exhibit is packed with the artifacts of smart, wild, athletic, natural and quirky Boulder. In an elegant, historic stone house by a park at 1206 Euclid Ave. (near CU), the museum is open every day but Monday. Also running through May is “Navajo Weaving: Diamonds, Dreams, Landscapes,” at the CU Museum of Natural History. If it snows, make tracks to North Boulder Park. Just after a snowstorm, Boulder Nordic Club sets tracks around the park for cross-country skiers. You can watch skiers who skate on short skis using long poles for graceful and powerful strides, or skiers who use the classic method of kick and glide. Want to get out and play in the snow yourself? Head to Eldora Mountain Resort, 23 miles west of Boulder, for downhill and Nordic skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Or hang out at the lodge and watch downhill skiers on the slopes above. Stop in Nederland on your way back to check out the rock shop, or enjoy barbecue at the smokehouse and brewpub. Ever wondered what it would be like to bike in a velodrome? Watch all the action from the mezzanine (no charge) at Boulder Indoor Cycling, 3550 Frontier Ave. In addition to velodrome cycling the facility offers mountain bike circuits with log bridges, rockpiles, jumps and banked trails. Try it yourself—BIC has 50 bikes to try out for free. There’s no reason to stay inside if the weather is cold or rainy—Boulder has tons of options for every visitor. Get out and enjoy them! WHERE TO STAY IN BOULDER COUNTY From relaxing mountain getaways to the latest in luxury guest suites, Boulder lodging provides something for everyone. Use the links below for a complete alphabetical listing to find your perfect accomodation and to book hotels on-line. Go to: Loads of things to do in and around Boulder County, from festivals and farmers’ markets to races, lectures, and activities for kids. Visit our daily calendar of events for complete listings. ARTS FOR ALL Boulder County is a national arts hot spot. Study our listings to find music and dance concerts, film series, and gallery and museum exhibits to suit every taste. Snowsports Guides Our special cold-weather guide to ski and snowboard areas (page 108) and cross-country and snowshoeing trails. Online soon! THE SPORTING LIFE Find out about local walking and bike trails, skating rinks, recreation centers and much more. FUN WITH FOOD: THE BOULDER MAGAZINE DINING GUIDE Nothing works up an appetite like a day of high-altitude activity and sunshine. Our comprehensive list of Boulder County’s restaurants, coffee shops, brewpubs and bakeries leaves no preference out. Warning: The descriptions of dishes in this section may cause hunger pains. HIKING AND TOURING: THE MOUNTAIN GUIDE Colorado is home to some of the most gorgeous scenery in the country, and Boulderites are lucky to be steps away from trails of immense beauty, variety and character. Our guides offer suggestions for trails in and around Boulder that range from flat and painless to uphill and vigorous. Take a scenic drive to a trail high into the mountains, try a winter wonderland hike in Eldorado Springs or check out some easily accessible trailheads in winter and spring. The views won’t fail you no matter where you end up—you can’t go wrong in Colorado’s mountains. Our updated Transportation / Transit Guide connects to where you need to go. From interviews with local politicians, to business, restaurant and music profiles, learn about Boulder past, present and plans for the future. If you don’t know what you want to do today, but you do know today’s date, then you can find your Boulder adventure in the Calendar listings. The Boulder Daily Events Calendar could lead you to a memorable experience that’s ready to begin right now. Photo by BML
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