Overview Hotels Things to Do Restaurants Nightlife Itineraries Facts Explore Travel

Weekend in Boulder

Description:

Although Boulder is a popular town to start off a weekend ski trip in the Rockies, Boulder is also a wonderful town to visit during the summer. Boulderites love art fairs, hearing music outdoors, and enjoying Boulder’s beautiful summer weather in any other way they can. Although you could easily spend much longer in Boulder and always find something new to do, a weekend is a perfect introduction to The People’s Republic.

user rating

Author: Jess

Day 1 - Boulder

Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast is a lovely spot to spend your weekend if you’re looking for something cozy, romantic, or a little different. The Hotel Boulderado is another wonderful option, a beautiful historic building located right downtown. If you’re looking for something less pricey, try the Boulder Outlook, which has a nice pool and hot tub and is zero waste and locally-owned. To start off your first day in Boulder, head straight to the Boulder Farmer’s Market (which gets very busy by 10 a.m. or so, so get there early if you want to miss the crowds). Grab some breakfast from the food court area, and then wander through the market, taking the time to sample. Pick out some ingredients for a picnic—fresh fruits and vegetables, goat cheese, and a baguette—and take the slow drive up Flagstaff Mountain, where there are plenty of places to pull off and enjoy the aerial view of Boulder and its surrounding areas. Follow signs to the amphitheater, park, and take any trail, all of which will lead you to some relatively-secluded spots, most containing picnic tables. Be sure to hike around and explore this beautiful area. Or, if you’d prefer more structure, have your picnic down at Chautauqua Park and then take any one of the set hikes that will lead you up into the foothills of the Rockies. For dinner, try The Mediterranean just off of the Pearl Street Mall. “The Med” has a wonderful atmosphere, serves delicious Italian cuisine, and is famous for their tapas. Another delicious dinner option is the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, which serves an eclectic mix of American and international cuisine. The Teahouse is worth visiting, not only for its delicious fare, but also to see the unique hand-carvings and paintings that adorn the building, both inside and out. After dinner, step outside behind the Teahouse and you will find that one of the Farmer’s Market’s parking lots has been turned into an outdoor theater. People bring lawn chairs, blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, and even inflatable couches to snuggle up and watch cult classics such as The Princess Bride and Monty Python.

1

Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
2151 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

+1 303 442 3007 / +1 888 786 8440 (Toll Free)

Hotel Boulderado

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
2115 13th St
At Spruce St
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

+1 303 442 4344

Boulder Outlook Hotel & Suites

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
800 28th St.
Boulder, CO 80303

Phone:

+1 303 443-3322

Boulder Farmers' Market

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
13th Street
Between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

+1 303 910 2236

Flagstaff Mountain

user rating

Location:

view in google maps
Flagstaff Mountain Road
Flagstaff Mountain Road
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

+1 303 441 3408

Chautauqua Park

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
Ninth Street & Baseline Road
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

303 442 3282

Mediterranean (The)

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
1002 Walnut Street, Suite 101B
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

303 444 5335

Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse (The)

Location:

view in google maps
1770 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

303 442 4993

Boulder Outdoor Cinema

user rating

expert pick

Location:

view in google maps
1750 13th Street
Boulder, CO 80302

Phone:

303 447 9308

Day 2 - Boulder

Try Lucile’s for breakfast and get Louisiana-style breakfast, complete with beignets. Or, if you’d prefer a lighter fare, go to Foolish Craig’s and try their delicious fresh fruit crepe with yogurt and granola. Next, prepare to spend the day exploring Pearl Street, a pedestrian mall filled with art galleries, boutiques, and quirky Boulder stores such as the Crystal Dragon head shop. The street performers are surprisingly entertaining and the musicians are surprisingly talented, so be sure to stop and enjoy some performances on The Mall. Pearl Street also has some of the best restaurants in town, many of which have lovely sidewalk patios that allow customers to people-watch and enjoy the Colorado sunshine while dining. The West End Tavern has one of the best rooftop views in town, and even has mist machines to keep you cool. The Kitchen, a trendy, upscale restaurant also on the west side of Pearl, is another popular choice for lunch. Every year in the middle of July, Boulder holds the Downtown Boulder Art Fair, a wonderful festival celebrating arts and crafts ranging from photography to jewelry and from impressionist paintings to 15-foot metal sculptures of cacti. Between the shops on Pearl Street and the Art Fair, there is so much to see that you will scarcely have enough time to explore it all in a day. For dinner, try one of two delicious restaurants that are unique to Boulder and are both just off the Pearl Street Mall. Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant offers modern international and American cuisine that is interesting and surprisingly delicious. A second option is Sherpa’s Adventurers, located in a charming old house and specializing in food from the Himalayas. At night, treat yourself to a performance at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. They perform shows in both an indoor and an outdoor venue, although the outdoor Mary Rippon Theater is quite a wonderful venue in which to see such a lovely performance.

1