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A university town known for its open-air lifestyle and outdoor recreation opportunities, Boulder, Colorado, is a year-round destination for travelers, as well as providing a jumping-off point for exploring the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. A Gold-Level Walk-Friendly Community with over 300 miles of dedicated bikeways and many multi-use trails, Boulder is a place to explore on foot or by bike in the summer and with skis or snowshoes in the winter. The pedestrian and bike-friendly downtown offers shoppers and culture aficionados a wide range of galleries, craft shops, sporting goods stores, eateries and watering holes.

Key facts

Located 28 miles northwest of Denver, Boulder is easily accessible by car, bus or limousine from Denver International Airport (DEN), a major hub with daily direct flights from most major United States cities and several international destinations. At an elevation of 5,400 feet above sea level, Boulder has 300 sunny days a year with average highs in the 40s in winter and the low 80s in summer. Because of the high altitude and dry air, nights are pleasantly cool even on the warmest summer days. Boulder also averages 88 inches of snow a year spread over 35 snowy winter days. Alpine skiers searching for deeper snow can travel 35 miles to nearby Eldora or 1.5 hours to the larger Summit County resorts.

Hints and tips

While sports fans can enjoy games at the University of Colorado's Folsom Field, the spiritually inclined can take short non-credit classes or attend lectures at Naropa University, a leading center for the study of Tibetan Buddhism. After a long day of rock-climbing, skiing, hiking, white-water kayaking, biking or shopping, visitors can relax with locally brewed craft beers or regional wine. Famed for its organic, vegan and vegetarian cuisines, Boulder also has a range of ethnic restaurants, tea and coffee shops, and even traditional steakhouses, mostly individually owned rather than large chains and featuring fresh local produce.