Married 42+ years, my wife and I like to vacation at a different spot every year, just for the experience of it. We have done a lot of vacationing near water but have no real reason to do so, so we decided, "MOUNTAINS" this time. Preferably near a college town.
Boulder jumped right out at us. It is the home of the University of Colorado main campus (known locally as "CU"), and easy driving distance from Denver's international airport.
Boulder is a clean, well-organized town with a trendy business-social district called the Pearl Street Mall, which can be walked in its entirety in half an hour. There are lots of shops and places to eat, as well as a steady stream of street performers doing the usual sorts of stuff.
Physical fitness is strongly emphasized in the culture, and there are unlimited opportunities for road biking, mountain biking, running, active hiking, and rock climbing in the area. Photographers will have multiple orgasms finding endless breathtaking vistas of, and from, the various mountains. Don't be concerned that the road biking will be too strenuous, as there are miles and miles of relatively level roads with wide shoulders to allow safe biking.
A good overview of the place can be had by taking the local tourbus called "Banjo Billy's." The company has one bus tour in Boulder and another one in Denver (which we also tried), and the tour guides both were very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Within relatively easy driving distance are the Rocky Mountain National Park (spend time in Estes Park, at the entrance of the National Park), Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, and a dozen or so other 14-thousand foot peaks, some of which, like Pike's Peak, can be driven by car. Also drivable are Indian ruins, historic trains, spectacular waterfalls, incredible stone formations (see Garden of the Gods especially), and a few zoos and amusement parks. The Colorado Springs area especially has several interesting places to visit and spend time, including the U.S. Air Force Academy (your tax dollars at work).
We took an "adult" vacation and didn't visit many places that kids would find amusing, but I'm sure there are some around.
If you are looking for someplace to vacation that doesn't focus on an ocean, lake, river or stream, Boulder should be on your short list. Along with Asheville, NC, and Burlington, VT.
Boulder jumped right out at us. It is the home of the University of Colorado main campus (known locally as "CU"), and easy driving distance from Denver's international airport.
Boulder is a clean, well-organized town with a trendy business-social district called the Pearl Street Mall, which can be walked in its entirety in half an hour. There are lots of shops and places to eat, as well as a steady stream of street performers doing the usual sorts of stuff.
Physical fitness is strongly emphasized in the culture, and there are unlimited opportunities for road biking, mountain biking, running, active hiking, and rock climbing in the area. Photographers will have multiple orgasms finding endless breathtaking vistas of, and from, the various mountains. Don't be concerned that the road biking will be too strenuous, as there are miles and miles of relatively level roads with wide shoulders to allow safe biking.
A good overview of the place can be had by taking the local tourbus called "Banjo Billy's." The company has one bus tour in Boulder and another one in Denver (which we also tried), and the tour guides both were very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Within relatively easy driving distance are the Rocky Mountain National Park (spend time in Estes Park, at the entrance of the National Park), Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, and a dozen or so other 14-thousand foot peaks, some of which, like Pike's Peak, can be driven by car. Also drivable are Indian ruins, historic trains, spectacular waterfalls, incredible stone formations (see Garden of the Gods especially), and a few zoos and amusement parks. The Colorado Springs area especially has several interesting places to visit and spend time, including the U.S. Air Force Academy (your tax dollars at work).
We took an "adult" vacation and didn't visit many places that kids would find amusing, but I'm sure there are some around.
If you are looking for someplace to vacation that doesn't focus on an ocean, lake, river or stream, Boulder should be on your short list. Along with Asheville, NC, and Burlington, VT.
