It was inevitable that Boulder would soon start calling to my heart again. I’m not even sure that I can put into words how much I love this area of Colorado, as every time I’m there I just feel like I’m “home.” The people from Boulder to Fort Collins to Denver and Colorado Springs all just seem to feel like kindred spirits. When we lived there for four years, my husband and I would just look at each other every week and say, “Can you believe that we LIVE here?” The mountains are calming and humbling, and while the weather can be freezing and snowy, the sunshine somehow still makes you feel warm.
While I could probably write several different series of posts about Colorado (and maybe I will!), I’ll focus here on my top five favorite places in Boulder, proper. I’m hoping to hop on a plane sometime soon to actually head back and see these places again in person!
The Boulder Farmers Market
Even though we lived southeast of Boulder and it took me twenty minutes longer to get there than the grocery store, I attended the Boulder Farmers Market nearly every Saturday morning that we lived there. Ranked as one of the best Farmers Markets in the country, it spans a full block of both Canyon Blvd. and 13th Street. Produce, baked goods, coffee, honey, hot sauce and pasta were just a few of the many booths that showed up each week. And every other weekend, they also held a small Craft Fair on the opposite side of 13th Street where you could shop for local artists’ treasures. I’m not sure why, but no other city’s Farmers Market has ever drawn me in like this one did. The people are friendly, their pets are well behaved and the prices are fair. Definitely check out this spot, even if it’s just for your morning coffee and a croissant on Saturday morning for breakfast.
Pearl Street Mall
Along Pearl Street, you’ll find an eclectic mix of stores, restaurants and artwork. From bigger stores like Patagonia to kitschy souvenir shops, there is much to be found along this outdoor mall’s path. I usually start at University Bicycles at the corner of 9th Street and make my way down to Snooze A.M. for Brunch on a weekend morning. (Best Brunch on the planet, IMHO).
Backcountry Pizza & Tap House
We first headed to this spot to check out their rightfully proclaimed “Colorado’s widest selection of draft microbrews.” But now we go back for the pizza. We dream of this pizza when we’re searching new cities for their best pies. Nothing else ever seems to come close. Whenever we head back to Colorado, this is number one on our list of places to eat, and we make sure to include it in our plans.
Hazel’s Beverage World
Forget BevMo or Total Wine or any other big box liquor store. When we wanted to browse the best selection of craft beers, wines and liquors, we went to Hazel’s. I think I still have points on a member card from them, that I should remember to redeem next time I’m in town! This might not always be an easy stop to make if you’re just visiting for a short period of time, but whenever we have a refrigerator available to us in our hotel or rental house, we head here to buy a few of our favorites that we can’t find anywhere else.
The Flatirons
Hiking trails cover the lower Flatirons mountains, and they are all worth exploring. Some trails are perfect for beginners, while others should only be traversed by experts. I’ve even seen people climbing the face of the Flatirons before! Bring your hiking shoes and water bottle and go explore the amazing outdoors that make Boulder so beautiful. You won’t regret the adventure and the views.
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