Boulder Colorado - Introduction
Boulder, Colorado is a charming and vibrant city of about 100,000
people located 25 miles northwest of the Denver. It is situated at
the base of the Rocky Mountains in what is known as the "Front Range"
of Colorado. Boulder is home to the University of Colorado, and with
students making up nearly a quarter of the city's population, exhibits
a fun and youthful feel. In 2008, Forbes Magazine listed Boulder as
the "Most Educated City in America," and the town regularly makes top
10 lists for "healthy places to retire" and "greener" cities. There
are many things to do in the area, with a myriad of restaurants,
galleries, and shops in town. In particular, the Pearl Street
Mall is worth a stop. One of the few areas in Colorado that does
not require registration from outdoor vendors, you are likely to
encounter any type of street performance, from magic tricks to a
silent "angel." Boulder is also home to an historic Chautauqua,
one of only three Chautauquas in the US with its original structures
intact. Throughout the 19th and 20th century, chautaquas were
the premier centers for adult education and culture. Theodore
Roosevelt called them the "most American thing in America."
Operating since 1898, Boulder's Chautaqua still hosts numerous
cultural events
throughout the year, including the 6 week Colorado Music
Festival. Summer also brings the Shakespeare Festival, the
Boulder International Film Festival, the Shoot Out 24 Hour Film
Festival, and concerts for a lover of any type of music.
The Flatirons, monolithic sedimentary stones to the west, provide
the distinctive backdrop to the town. There are a plethora of
trails in the surrounding foothills of the Rocky Mountain for hiking
and mountain biking. Many trails begin in the city limits, and
there are even more within a short drive. Boulder is a
particularly dog-friendly city, and several parks merely require pets
to be under voice control. The Flatirons are
popular with rock climbers, offering beginner and technical climbs,
and nearby Eldorado Canyon hosts world-renowned rock climbing routes.
Boulder is an extraordinarily healthy city, so it should come as no
surprise that it hosts several athletic events throughout the year,
such as the Bolder Boulder. If you visit mid-week, keep a
lookout for the Happy Thursday Cruiser Ride. Every Thursday a group of
bikers - often costumed - take
to the paths and streets. You'll often hear them shouting,
"Happy Thursday!" During the summer months, the numbers have
approached 500 riders. There is, however, a group of dedicated riders
throughout the
winter also. Several ski resorts are within a few hours' drive,
including Eldora at a mere half-hour away through the older town of
Nederland. Popular
Rocky Mountain National Park is also nearby. Boulder is located
just 25 miles northwest of Denver on the Colorado front range.
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