A very Boulder day
If you’re lucky enough to have a day to play in Boulder, here’s Janet’s recommended itinerary.
1. Find the Flatirons.
Step outside, take a deep breath of Boulder’s fresh air, and look to the west. Those five iconic slanted rock formations (dubbed the Flatirons by pioneers because they resembled their tool for ironing clothing) might glow in the morning sun or be laced with mist.
2. Grab breakfast.
Boulderites are fortunate to have a feast of excellent restaurants to choose from. For breakfast, I’d head to The Buff. A local landmark and family-owned and -operated for over a quarter-century, it features hearty American fare. Or try Foolish Craig’s Café—recently featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.”
3. Check out Chautauqua.
Tucked against the foothills, Chautaqua Park is Boulder’s most beloved natural space and a National Historic Landmark. Start at the Ranger Cottage, which serves as the park’s visitor’s center and is chockfull of preserved local critters on display. Grab a park map, then head out for a walk on the park’s flatter base terrain or hike up a trail. (You might spot rock climbers dangling from the Flatirons’ many faces!) Children love Chatauqua’s playground, which has a mini-Flatiron to climb. If you’ve stayed a while and all that activity has restoked your hunger, try the Chautauqua Dining Hall, housed in a lovely vintage building oozing with Boulder history. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily year-round. Sit on the wraparound porch, which overlooks the park. Makes you want to stay forever!
4. Drive up Flagstaff Mountain.
For a bird’s-eye view of Boulder, take a 20-minute drive from Chautauqua up Flagstaff Mountain. There are lots of pullouts along the way where you can stop and take in the panoramic views. Near the top, park at Realization Point and see what you can see. You can also explore several short hiking trails in this area.
5. Head to Pearl Street Mall.
To soak up the downtown Boulder vibe, stroll down Pearl Street Mall—a brick-paved, four-block pedestrian mall in the heart of the Boulder. There’s something for everyone—local shops, art galleries, play spaces, historic plaques, street performers, coffee shops, restaurants, and much more. If you’re ready for lunch now, pick something you’re craving. I really like Bar Taco, with its unusual tacos and best gazpacho I’ve ever tasted, and locally owned Pasta Jay’s (just follow the garlic scent). To grab-and-go, try Pizza Colóre—New York-style, available by-the-slice pizza with truly fantastic crust and off-the-charts-tasty sauce.
6. Tickle your fancy.
If you’ve still got energy to spare and aren’t ready for dinner yet, you might want to take a walk down Boulder Creek Path and meander through the lovely campus of CU Boulder, my alma mater and founded in 1886 just before Colorado became a state. Stop at Fiske Planetarium and/or Folsom Field to see the home of the CU Buffs. Or check out the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), which has a free-admission climate museum. If you’re a beer person, you can pop in for a pint at one of the area’s excellent local breweries—maybe VisionQuest, Sanitas, or Avery (a few minutes’ drive north). For later tonight, you might see what’s playing at Boulder Theater—a venue for live theater and concerts.
7. Savor the fine dining.
Boulder has so many exquisite restaurants it can be hard to choose. Consider Corrida, a sophisticated, Spanish-inspired steakhouse (their aged beef is legendary) with a second-floor deck overlooking the town to the east and the mountains to the west. There’s no better place for a photo op, plus their gin-and-tonic cart—wow. Or try Frasca Food and Wine, another locally owned treasure known for its exquisite cuisine, service, and wine list.
8. Squeeze in a nightcap.
Before turning in for the night, stop by the Hotel Boulderado for a nightcap. The historic hotel’s License No. 1 classic cocktail bar is named thus because it was granted one of the first liquor licenses in town after the town’s prohibition laws were repealed in 1967.