Lorna’s Boulder Guidebook
Boulder's Spanish Hills in Paragon Estates
You are in Spanish Hills, Boulder's Southernmost Neighborhood. Enjoy wonderful cafes, breweries, shops and restaurants (our favorite is Busaba Thai and their lovely patio with wonderful cocktails & delicious food. There is something for everyone on the menu from meat lovers to vegan!).
We recommend renting a car, Uber us expensive here (Lyft often cheaper) but you'll want a car to explore enormous Boulder County and the majestic Rocky Mountain National Park
Walk and enjoy all the bike paths! Davidson Mesa Trail is around the corner or just turn right out our driveway and walk up the road a bit fir views of the entire Boulder Valley, Flatirons etc.
We recommend renting bikes st University Bikes and enjoying walking or biking the miles of paths along Boulder Creek. The Farmers market is huge, every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning.
Boulder Reservoir is wonderful to swim, rent paddle boards, kayak, play volleyball etc.
Downtown Louisville has Friday night summer outdoor music and food, Saturday morning Farmers market and year round wonderful restaurants and bakeries, cute boutique gift & clothes shops ect, just a 5 minute drive East on S. Boulder Rd.
RiNo is a really cool neighborhood for visitors in Denver, lots of Murals, restaurants and cool shops. (If you are looking for a cool local store Be A good Person is a Denver favorite)
558 locals recommend
River North Art District
RiNo is a really cool neighborhood for visitors in Denver, lots of Murals, restaurants and cool shops. (If you are looking for a cool local store Be A good Person is a Denver favorite)
Niwot is a charming village 2 minutes up the road with wonderful art galleries and wonderful dining. We love 1914 House and Abo's Pizza, Niwot Tavern is a locals favorite too!
16 locals recommend
Niwot
Niwot is a charming village 2 minutes up the road with wonderful art galleries and wonderful dining. We love 1914 House and Abo's Pizza, Niwot Tavern is a locals favorite too!
Downtown Boulder is full of wonderful shops and great food but beware parking can be difficult and lodging ranges $200-$500/night! We love to eat at Rosetta Hall and Avanti, 2 fun new food halls with something for everyone from meat lovers to vegans and great deserts.
We love to walk or bike along the Boulder Creek path or picnic and splash around on a hot day. We love to shop, special local gifts can be found at our favorite, Rebecca's Herbal Apothecary, don't miss her lip gloss and facial oils. Bliss Gifts is also wonderful.
See live music at the Fox or historic Boulder Theater and for an extra special treat catch a live taping of the NPR radio show eTown, an indescribably delightful experience you will never forget!
13 locals recommend
Downtown
Downtown Boulder is full of wonderful shops and great food but beware parking can be difficult and lodging ranges $200-$500/night! We love to eat at Rosetta Hall and Avanti, 2 fun new food halls with something for everyone from meat lovers to vegans and great deserts.
We love to walk or bike along the Boulder Creek path or picnic and splash around on a hot day. We love to shop, special local gifts can be found at our favorite, Rebecca's Herbal Apothecary, don't miss her lip gloss and facial oils. Bliss Gifts is also wonderful.
See live music at the Fox or historic Boulder Theater and for an extra special treat catch a live taping of the NPR radio show eTown, an indescribably delightful experience you will never forget!
Denver! One of the best neighborhoods in Denver, Great restaurants, stores and views of Denver. Recommend getting Little Man Ice Cream. We also love Blue Pan Pizza, they have an exceptionally good caesar salad too!
193 locals recommend
Highland
Denver! One of the best neighborhoods in Denver, Great restaurants, stores and views of Denver. Recommend getting Little Man Ice Cream. We also love Blue Pan Pizza, they have an exceptionally good caesar salad too!
Sightseeing
A must see for visitors to Boulder, outdoor pedestrian mall with cool local shops, delicious restaurants and street performers.
591 locals recommend
Pearl Street Mall
1303 Pearl StreetA must see for visitors to Boulder, outdoor pedestrian mall with cool local shops, delicious restaurants and street performers.
Must see for outdoorsy visitors, most beautiful hike in Boulder. Chautauqua Dining hall has great food as well.
649 locals recommend
Chautauqua Park
9th StreetMust see for outdoorsy visitors, most beautiful hike in Boulder. Chautauqua Dining hall has great food as well.
Another classic hike in Boulder, with stunning views of all of Boulder Valley at the top! We like this trail for "walking and talking" because its a road for the first 30 minutes and you can walk side by side
47 locals recommend
Mount Sanitas
Another classic hike in Boulder, with stunning views of all of Boulder Valley at the top! We like this trail for "walking and talking" because its a road for the first 30 minutes and you can walk side by side
It's an extraordinary independent book store, regularly has book signings by famous and local authors alike.
19 locals recommend
Boulder Book Store
1107 Pearl StIt's an extraordinary independent book store, regularly has book signings by famous and local authors alike.
Wonderful restaurant and interesting cultural exchange story with our sister city in Tajikistan.
317 locals recommend
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
1770 13th StWonderful restaurant and interesting cultural exchange story with our sister city in Tajikistan.
Wonderful, interesting food, incredible beer, try a flight or drink by the pint, take a tour of the brewery and watch the sunset from the lovely patio, kids and dogs welcome, plenty of room to run around on the huge outdoor picnic play area, electric car charging stations, wonderful place to visit!
201 locals recommend
Avery Brewing Company
4910 Nautilus Ct NWonderful, interesting food, incredible beer, try a flight or drink by the pint, take a tour of the brewery and watch the sunset from the lovely patio, kids and dogs welcome, plenty of room to run around on the huge outdoor picnic play area, electric car charging stations, wonderful place to visit!
Food scene
Walking distance, something for everyone, BEST Truffle Fries ever! They'll deliver to the house for free! We love their Chicken Parmesan Sandwich & Panang Curry, great cocktails! Say hi to Miguel and Joseph from Lorna and Finn : )
6 locals recommend
Aperitivo
5530 Spine RdWalking distance, something for everyone, BEST Truffle Fries ever! They'll deliver to the house for free! We love their Chicken Parmesan Sandwich & Panang Curry, great cocktails! Say hi to Miguel and Joseph from Lorna and Finn : )
Walking distance, wonderful Neapolitan style pizza, great salads, wine, cannolis, Andy does an amazing job!
7 locals recommend
Proto's Pizza-Gunbarrel
5378 Gunbarrel Center CtWalking distance, wonderful Neapolitan style pizza, great salads, wine, cannolis, Andy does an amazing job!
Raglin Market
5378 Gunbarrel Center CourtHealthy Comfort Food, Nicely Affordable!
Sweet Cow
2628 BroadwayAmazing Local Ice Cream, yummy flavors, vegan options, always good!
Has something for everyone, I recommend Rooted (American) and New Yorkeese (Pizza) They also have a rooftop deck with beautiful views of the flatirons. Gets busy in the evenings
31 locals recommend
Avanti Food and Beverage Boulder
1401 Pearl StHas something for everyone, I recommend Rooted (American) and New Yorkeese (Pizza) They also have a rooftop deck with beautiful views of the flatirons. Gets busy in the evenings
Some of the best food in Boulder! Like Avanti lots of options something for everyone.
49 locals recommend
Rosetta Hall
1109 Walnut StreetSome of the best food in Boulder! Like Avanti lots of options something for everyone.
This is one of our absolute favorites in boulder go very early or make a reservation. If you go early, you can order a much less expensive meal during happy hour : )
102 locals recommend
Brasserie Ten Ten
1011 Walnut StThis is one of our absolute favorites in boulder go very early or make a reservation. If you go early, you can order a much less expensive meal during happy hour : )
This is a chain that has reliably delicious salads. You can add protein to and have a great, inexpensive, healthy meal. We always order ahead and pick up to eat there open cafe style or take away as it's next to the Pearl Street Mall with challenging parking
sweetgreen
This is a chain that has reliably delicious salads. You can add protein to and have a great, inexpensive, healthy meal. We always order ahead and pick up to eat there open cafe style or take away as it's next to the Pearl Street Mall with challenging parking
This is a local's favorite and not to be missed under any circumstances! It is the most lovely little gift shop ever. Don't miss their precious face oil or raw Shea butter hand salve or delicious lemongrass lip gloss. Enjoy a wonderful meal next door at the Hotel Bolderado Corner bar or more formal Spruce Farm and Fish.
18 locals recommend
Rebecca's Herbal Apothecary & Supply
1227 Spruce StThis is a local's favorite and not to be missed under any circumstances! It is the most lovely little gift shop ever. Don't miss their precious face oil or raw Shea butter hand salve or delicious lemongrass lip gloss. Enjoy a wonderful meal next door at the Hotel Bolderado Corner bar or more formal Spruce Farm and Fish.
Absolutely wonderful food and less expensive than the almost the same menu/kitchen at Spruce Farm and Fish on the other side of the historic Hotel Boulderado. Try the mustard crusted salmon on menus. In both restaurants, it's absolutely delicious.
22 locals recommend
The Corner Bar
2115 13th StAbsolutely wonderful food and less expensive than the almost the same menu/kitchen at Spruce Farm and Fish on the other side of the historic Hotel Boulderado. Try the mustard crusted salmon on menus. In both restaurants, it's absolutely delicious.
Absolutely wonderful Thai food go early. Because by 6 or seven, they are very busy. And it can be a long wait, our favorite, is their chicken Satay!
21 locals recommend
Busaba
133 McCaslin BlvdAbsolutely wonderful Thai food go early. Because by 6 or seven, they are very busy. And it can be a long wait, our favorite, is their chicken Satay!
City/town information
We LOVE Denver, check out great food (D Bar is incredible, don't miss their deserts), amazing museums (Denver Art Museum, Colorado History, Nature & Science, Clyfford Still etc), incredible music (Red Rocks, Fiddler's Green, don't miss Jazz Brunch at Dazzle) Antique districts, RiNo arts district and the wonderful Tattered Cover bookstore
168 locals recommend
Denver
We LOVE Denver, check out great food (D Bar is incredible, don't miss their deserts), amazing museums (Denver Art Museum, Colorado History, Nature & Science, Clyfford Still etc), incredible music (Red Rocks, Fiddler's Green, don't miss Jazz Brunch at Dazzle) Antique districts, RiNo arts district and the wonderful Tattered Cover bookstore
Georgetown
Historic village, charming shops & good food!
Only 20 minutes North of us on the way to Estes Park! Shop, eat, listen to love music, rent tubes for the creek, hike, bike, fun!!!
58 locals recommend
Lyons
Only 20 minutes North of us on the way to Estes Park! Shop, eat, listen to love music, rent tubes for the creek, hike, bike, fun!!!
Visit a historic mine, eat good food, shop, enjoy hot springs, lovely spot on the way to Summit County Ski Country
164 locals recommend
Idaho Springs
Visit a historic mine, eat good food, shop, enjoy hot springs, lovely spot on the way to Summit County Ski Country
Traveler advice
Getting around
RTD Bus Schedule to our neighborhood and around Boulder
RTD buses aren't always frequent but bus stop is on S. Boulder Rd
What to pack
Check weather prior to visting/packing
Sometimes it snows late (May/June) or early (September/October) in the season. Or winter can be unseasonably warm, January often has 60 degree days so check weather prior to packing : )