BOULDER, CO

The Denver Post once described Boulder as "the little town nestled between the mountains and reality." Shadowed by the towering Flatirons and surrounded by more than 31,000 acres of recreational open space and nature preserves, Boulder is 28 square miles of outdoor heaven. Named after the mammoth rocks scattered across the terrain, Boulder brims with big city sophistication, college town intelligence, and environmental sensibilities.

Downtown

Boulder's historic civic center serves as a gathering place for the entire city. Anchored by Pearl Street, a vibrant thoroughfare boasting a magnificent four-block pedestrian mall, the Pearl Street Mall, the downtown area brims with tourists, but is also a lively haven for the eclectic locals. The tree-lined promenade, long ago a refuge for the wildest of the wild westerners, is alive with cafes, galleries, brewpubs, restaurants and every type of shopping imaginable.

If high culture is on the agenda, then browse around at one of the galleries brightening downtown, including the popular Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. You can also... more