Colorado Trip

S

Shann

Joined
Sep 2, 2004
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Well, my wife has to go to Colorado on business in August, so I thought I'd tag along. We will be flying into Denver and then driving to Boulder for a few days. Anything I should make a special effort to do or see?

I've never been there, don't know where anything is in relation to anything else, but would like to hear any advice. Thanks.
 
Well, don't know particulars about your trip or your interests but I'll try. I lived between Denver and Boulder about 5 years ago... but things have changed a bit since then and since my last visit. Here's a few things folks that visited me enjoyed:

- Boulder, check out Pearl Street and the Farmers market on the weekend. Pretty cool. Has hippies, food, flowers, beer, bands and such. But if you smoke, it was banned city-wide, FYI. Commonly called The People's Republic of Boulder.
- Since you are near Boulder, head on up to Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park.
- If you like the night life head to LoDo (Lower Downtown). Or hit a ballgame at Coors Field. Or do both. Pretty family friendly (or used to be).
- Spyderco factory in Wheat Ridge (west of the metro). I moved before they moved there, but if you are a knife-knut, why wouldn't you visit? :D
- Beer. If you like beer, CO has some good brews. Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout was my favorite. Christmas Ale even better but that is seasonal.
- Denver Museum of Natural History. I always enjoyed it, even though the wife and kids moaned and groaned when I drug them along.

That's a start, I'm sure some folks will chime in with others. Also let us know what you'd like to do. Plenty of outdoors stuff to see and do.

--Chris
 
Thanks a bunch for the reply. My wife is closing up her company's office out there (signing papers, getting rid of the office equipment, meeting with the employees) so she will be pretty busy and might need me to help with inventory and stuff but we'll have plenty of time for wandering around etc. Luckily, smokings the one bad habit I don't have.

I want to see some of the natural sites, etc. but nothing too hardcore. I'm not in good enough shape to climb serious trails any more. Sounds like there will be good stuff to just wander around and drink beer (my favorite sport).

Does the spyderco factory allow folks to visit?
 
I'm sure they'll allow a BFC member in. :D

Factory Outlet Store
3244B Youngfield Street
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Phone: 303-279-8613
Toll-Free: 800-828-1925
Fax: 303-278-2057


And when you leave Wheat Ridge, just head on up to Golden to the Coors Brewery for the tour (only a few miles away). I thought it was pretty neat, all 567 times I visited. :rolleyes:

Then leave the brewery, heading west and take Hwy 6 to Blackhawk/Central City, nice curvy mountain drive. Stop by one of the casinos and enjoy a $5 prime rib dinner.

Just throwing out some more options.
 
You should go to Brother's Bar in Lo-Do, and get a Ralphy (buffalo) burger and a Fat Tire ale. But my absolute childhood favorite place is the Colorado Historical Society, which still has on display the amazing WPA dioramas made in the 1930's illustrating the early history of the state. The detail is fantastic. I'll never forget for the boot pistol in the rendezvous diorama when I was about 10. It's about 1/8" long! Enjoy, it's a good city to visit.
 
Don't miss the "Tattered Page" (Cover?) used/discount bookshop in Denver. I'd consider making the trip just for that. Denver also has some decent craft shops, and of course the whole area is just oozing with scenic views. Go hiking in the mountains!

Boulder is a great college town, with lots to look at also. All I can recall from my visit there 15 years ago is the impressive kite shop in town. I'm sure its filled with microbrewerys, and likely there will be summer concerts as well.

Sounds like a great trip, have fun
 
make sure you are up-to-date on Yuppie innoculations. It is virulent there.
 
Well, I live in the mountains near Boulder and I am NOT a member of The United Republic of Boulder, or a screamimg liberal.
Boulder is about 50 miles from Denver Intl Airport (DIA) and about 30 miles from Denver.
Yes, we have our yuppies and our hippies and horrendous traffic.
We have four seasons, almost Winter, Winter, still Winter and Construction season...now playing.
There is a new mall being constucted off of Hwy 36 and road work EVERYWHERE.
The Farmer's market happens every weekend and the kite shop (Into the Wind) is still there on the Pearl Street Mall, well worth a visit as are several other "older" shops.
As for food there is lots, some even good.
Tom's Bar and Grill at the west end of Pearl Street makes a great burger.
Lots of Italian, Baccaro is good and on Pearl street too.
The Med (The Mediterranean) is diverse, as mentioned, lots of good bars and grills all around downtown.
There is Sushi and even a Cheesecake Factory which serves everything.
14th Street and Red Dog are yuppie kinda places (if you like that...and I'm not askin).
Illegal Pete's makes killer burritos at the East end of the Pearl Street Mall.
Fat Tire has my vote for the best CO beer and the brewery is just up the road near Fort Collins (http://www.newbelgium.com/visitus.php)
I'm just not a Coors fan.
Rocky Mountain National Park is 45 minutes to the north via Hwy 36 through Estes Park, a cute artsy-craftsy-touristy town with some excellent custom knife makers.
There are plenty of great trails in and around Boulder itself, the Anne U. White trail is just north of the city, easy, 3 miles round trip (or any length you want to make it) (http://www.americanhiker.com/viewArea.php?areaID=4)
UC Boulder is located on The Hill if you are into the college scene.
August can be hot. For now we haven't had much of a Spring / Summer.
It has been unseasonally cool and wet, but that makes for green which is great for this time of year...and reduces the risk of forest fires.
There is a gunshow in Denver sometime in August which also sports a great collection of knife dealers.
That's my 2 cents worth, hope it helps.
Will be glad to try and answer any questions that you might have.
 
Well, I just confirmed that we will be in Colorado the week of August 7th. We are staying at the Boulderado Hotel, which looks like a pretty cool place. Boulder sounds kind of like Burlington, VT, with its pedestrian mall and brew pubs and kind of a college town feel.

I'll definately try to get to the Spyderco Factory store and you can bet I'll hit some brewpubs. Thanks for the tips and keep 'em coming if you have any ideas for me and my wife.
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