Boulder – a small town nestled near the mountains, with outdoor outfitter shops with all the well-known brands, Patagonia, REI, Backcountry, Northface – in every shop, such as JAX, Black Diamond, and on and on…a balance between urban landscapes and the sheer, rugged beauty of snow covered pines, rushing river gorges running alongside ridges, and faces of gray stone rock for miles and miles on end.
In short, Boulder really does have it all, as many locals will likely tell you who are naturally, proud to live in Boulder.
What was fun about Boulder –
Go to Nederland, a small scenic town that is pretty in the evening across the waters. Looking at the lake under the stars, which come out after dark and shine, is a beautiful experience.
Any of the hikes in Boulder are worth doing, and many are short and near scenic places, such as the Flatirons trails in Chataqua Park, the Wonderland Lake loop, the Boulder Canyon trail.
Drive a scenic drive — the Lariat Loop in Golden that takes one past Lookout Mountain, with a nice short hike to the top, or the road to Estes, or the Peak to Peak highway – it is all beautiful.
Climb the Flatirons — or hike to the top, for stunning views.
The hot springs in Idaho Springs are worth seeing, especially the caves.
Dinosaur Ridge, with fossils, is a fun hike around the side of a mountain, and of course Red Rocks with its white blooming flowers along the red rock hiking trails is peaceful.
Bear Lake and Indian Hills are two of the cool, small, artistic and quaint mountain towns worth visiting — there are more places to explore, and Pearl Street is a boulevard not to be missed, either, when there.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Outside of Boulder:
The countryside is particularly beautiful, one or two hours into the country, where yellow rushes and fields turn to pine forests and snow-capped mountains.
Don’t miss Estes Park!
