Take a drive into the mountains! The best nearby towns include Nederland and Estes Park, but if you're willing to drive an hour or two down through Denver and west on I-70 or up through the mountains, you open up places like Idaho Springs, Breckenridge, and even Vail!

Colorado is a state of people who love (to say that they love) the outdoors - and those that capitalize on that aren't wrong! There are so many opportunities for hiking, nature walking, and rock climbing in the area that it's impossible to name them all. 

• Chautauqua Park is right in Boulder and has many trail options at varying levels

• Mount Sanitas also has multiple popular trails

• Mt Blue Sky is accessible by car via the scenic byway - the highest paved road in North America. Advanced tickets per vehicle are required and available 30 days in advance (a smaller number of tickets are available 2 days before).

• Rocky Mountain National Park is accessible in about an hour drive from Boulder through the lovely mountain town of Estes Park. Advanced tickets per vehicle are required and available HERE.

Want some time in the city? Boulder and Denver are your places to be! 

• As a college town, Boulder is a blend of suburban and urban with enough places to park but also lots to do (especially on Pearl Street).  The Boulder Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning in the summer and is a great place to find treats and treasures. The Boulder Bookstore is one of Maizy's favorite spots on Pearl Street. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival has shows Tuesday - Sunday nights in the summer.

• Denver and it's suburbs on the other hand have almost endless activities, from museums (try Meow Wolf if you're feeling weird) to shopping Cherry Creek Mall, you can stay busy forever!

If you happen to be up in Loveland, you can pet highland cows at Lucky Blu Ranch

Breakfast/Brunch at The Buff ($0.99 mimosas and bloody marys), Snooze, or Lucile's

Lunch/Dinner at Aloy Thai, Avanti Food Hall (great views from the rooftop), Pupusas Lover II, The Sink (a true Boulder icon), Motomaki, and Hapa Sushi (all in Boulder) are all winners in our book, but it's difficult to go wrong with a lot of the food in the area. There are plenty of great restaurants up towards Longmont as well, such as The Post Chicken + Beer.

Sweet Treats at Gelato Boy on Pearl St (there's one on each end of the mall!)

As a bonus: The Cheese Importers in Longmont. It's a store that sells cheese - need we say more?

This is Colorado, which means - breweries galore! Close your eyes and throw a dart at a map, and you're certainly not more than a mile from a brewery or taproom. Some of our favorites are Rayback Collective in Boulder and the Lowry Beer Garden in eastern Denver, but other classics include Left Hand Brewing in Longmont and Avery Brewing in Boulder.