Boulder Attractions

By Amanda May
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

Boulder is an outdoor sports haven located west of Colorado’s capital city, Denver, at the foot of Flagstaff Mountain and The Flatiorns rock formations. Because its residents are so interested in nature, Boulder activities center around hiking, biking, climbing, skiing and generally just enjoying Mother Nature’s gifts.

Yoga beside a waterfall near Boulder. (Colorado Tourism Office)

Boulder lodging varies from elegant historical inns to modern hotels that cater to visitors who love shopping along the quirky Pearl Street Mall area and the popular 29th Street Mall.

While in Boulder, dine at one of their delicious restaurants, several of which are vegetarian, and don’t forget to try one of their tasty local microbrews!

Read below for more on what to do in Boulder, Colorado.

OUTDOOR SPORTS
This is by far the biggest draw in the area. A multitude of outdoorsmen (and women) flock to the area each year to take advantage of famous rock climbing routes and its beautiful hikes.

The Boulder Area has over 30,000 open space acres available for outdoor recreation, including routes in the Flatiorns themselves, which overlook the city. Hiking trails and rock climbing is popular in Boulder’s Chautauqua Park, as well as in nearby Eldorado Canyon, six miles south of Boulder. Eldorado literally has hundreds of routes, which vary in difficulty, making it perfect for novices or even professional climbers.

Running, mountain biking and kayaking are other popular activities that helped to make it Outdoors Magazine’s number one city for outdoor sports. Just stop by one of the local Boulder retailers for a free map of trails around the area.

Ski Boulder and be one of the many who are catching on to this affordable ski vacation. Eldora Mountain Resort lies just a half an hour outside of Boulder and is very family and first-timer friendly.

THE ARTS
The Boulder International Film Festival (BIFF) is just one of many cultural events that take place each year in Boulder. BIFF, presented by the Colorado Film Society, shows cutting-edge films that cater to the area’s large, urban audience, drawing visitors from Devner as well as world-famous directors, producers and actors.

From classical to jazz, Boulder has as many concerts as it has climbing routes. The historic Macky Auditorim is home to many of these concerts, and the streets of Boulder are a good place to catch impromptu performances by local musicians. The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra is a critically acclaimed professional orchestra and Boulder is home to the Colorado MahlerFest, a yearly celebration honoring the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. Another yearly event is The Colorado Music Festival, a six-week classical music festival that draws professional musicians from around the world.

FESTIVALS
Boulder Creek Festival
Memorial Day weekend brings this festival each year, a three-day party that takes place along Canyon Boulevard. Local vendors set up tents to sell their wares, food tents are also there to entertain the taste buds, and live music plays throughout. Children’s activities such as art shows, activities and a rubber ducky race make this annual event very family friendly.
Colorado Chautauqua
The Colorado Chautauqua Park presents programs such as lectures, music, cinema, adult education classes and nondenominational sermons each summer. Its grounds are one mile southwest of downtown Boulder and include the historic Chautauqua Auditorium.
Bolder Boulder
This 10 km road race has taken place every Memorial Day weekend since 1979. Over 50,000 runners, joggers, and walkers participate each year, making it one of the biggest road races in the world. It has one of the largest non-marathon prize purses and culminates at the University of Colorado’s Folsom Field.