We got back from Colorado a few weeks ago and wanted to share some our favorite spots that we visited in Boulder! We were staying in Broomfield with family, about 15 minutes from Boulder and 20 from Denver. I loved that we were able to get a taste of both cities while there for about a week. I know we will be back soon as we visit pretty frequently! Next time we are there, I’ll update this guide and share a few more places we enjoyed! Let’s jump in to my Boulder, Colorado travel guide!
Hiking Chautauqua Trail
Hiking Chautauqua Trail was the highlight of our trip! We were lucky to have a gorgeous day when we decided to take the hike. This hike was a great one as it offered different trails with varying levels of difficulty. We saw lots of people with kids and dogs so it is definitely friendly for both! In my opinion, the toughest part was the very beginning, so don’t get discouraged if you’re a beginner to hiking like me (I’m from Florida – there’s no hills haha!). I struggled a bit due to the altitude but the views were so worth it – just make sure you’re stocked with cold water, good shoes, and pause for breaks to catch your breath and enjoy the scenery.
Pearl Street
Pearl Street is the center of the Boulder area. We absolutely loved eating, drinking, shopping, and walking around here. There is so much to see and do!
Shopping on Pearl Street
- Free People
- FP Movement
- Patagonia
- Billabong
- Lush
- Urban Outfitters
- Peppercorn – awesome home and cooking goods!
- Lots of awesome local shops – see a full list here
Eating & Drinking on Pearl Street
Avanti
Avanti was a super cool food hall with three stories and incredible views! This food hall is a great place to go with a group as there is truly something on the menu for everyone, with multiple food stalls and vendors. We grabbed food on the first floor and brought it up to the rooftop bar where we enjoyed some nice cold beverages after our hike with a 360 view of the mountains! I ordered an avocado toast special and the wild arugula salad (one of the best salads I’ve had in awhile) from Rooted Craft Kitchen. Some other great options were Boychik, New Yorkese, Pig and Tiger, Quiero Arepas, Rye Society, and Method Roasters. A full list of food and drink is available here.
bartaco
I know bartaco is a chain but it is one of my faves! We grabbed a bunch of tacos and apps and enjoyed a family-style dinner. Some of our fave tacos were the baja fish, portobello, pork belly, and chicken verde. We grabbed chips and guac, queso, and salsa which was also delicious. I will warn you – I ordered the Pineapple Express drink and it was NOT for me. I’m a margarita lover so I expected to enjoy it but it had a bit of bitterness to it. I went for the spicy marg instead for my next drink and loved it!
Snooze
Snooze was so good! There are few locations around the Boulder area, but there is one on Pearl Street if you are interested. Some of our faves were the pancake flight, breakfast tacos, vanilla almond matcha latte, and the spuds deluxe. Check out the menu here!
Oskar Blues Brewery
We stopped into Oskar Blues for a cold beer after a few hours of shopping on Pearl Street in Boulder. The beers were tasty and the spot was right off of Pearl Street so it was convenient. It was at Oskar Blues that I made the spontaneous decision to get my nose pierced 😉 I had been wanting to get it done for a couple years now, but with a little liquid courage the decision was much easier. I went to Tribal Rites down the road and they were awesome and so professional!
Broomfield Spots
Thought I’d share a spot we enjoyed in Broomfield since it is so close to Boulder! Check it out:
4 Noses Brewery
4 Noses was a great spot to grab a drink and hang out for a few hours. It was super dog-friendly which is always a bonus in my book. We loved that they had food trucks (see schedule here) – the night we were there they had a yummy chicken food truck with all different variations of tenders. I got a beer flight and loved all the beers I tried, but especially enjoyed their slushie beer!
Bonus: A Fun Day Trip – Estes Park
If you’re looking for a fun day trip a close to Boulder, try visiting Estes Park! It was a quick 45 minute drive – prepare yourself for winding mountain roads. While we were there, we visited the Stanley Hotel. The Stanley is a historic hotel that inspired The Shining. The hotel is absolutely stunning and it is fun to experience the “spooky” vibe. We had an incredible meal at the hotel’s restaurant, Cascades. Cascades is an upscale restaurant with gorgeous views! We loved the margarita queso, the truffle and tagliatelle pasta, sesame encrusted trout, and truffle fries.
We also enjoyed walking around the cute little downtown in Estes Park. There are lots of gift shops if that is your thing and yummy candy stores. I had a delicious caramel apple!
That’s a wrap! Hope you enjoy your trip to Boulder, Colorado! Let me know what your favorite spots in Boulder are in the comments below. Headed to Denver while in Colorado? Check out my Denver Travel Guide!
