Get Out of FOCO: A Day Trip to Boulder, CO
Boulder, Colorado is one of the most well known cities in Colorado, and for good reason. Tucked against the Flatirons, this city has a unique beauty like no other. Home to CSU’s rival, the University of Colorado, Boulder is located approximately just 50 minutes from Fort Collins. Boulder is known for its many outdoor activities and famous Pearl Street, where you can find amazing live street shows and entertainment, great shopping, and amazing local spots to eat.
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Activities-
Flat Irons Hike:
Chautauqua Park in Boulder is a popular tourist destination and for good reason. The Chautauqua Trail hike is a 1.2 mile hike that takes you through fields of wildflowers and wraps up into the Flatirons giving you an amazing view of Boulder.
The best months to use the trail are March through November depending on weather, as the trail can be muddy. The hike is good for all levels of hikers and is a great quick hike to add to your fun-filled day in Boulder! Parking for the hike includes access to a parking lot which can fill up depending on the timing as well as neighborhood street parking in all blocks around the trailhead. And the best part? The hike is completely FREE!
Farmers Market:
The Boulder County Farmers Market is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The mission of this farmers market is to support, promote and expand local agriculture. This market offers a fun twist on a traditional event. They have live music every weekand artisan shows every second Saturday of the month.
A variety of vendors are in attendance every week in categories including: Farmer, Rancher, Apiary, Farm Crafter, Packaged, Prepared, Community Group and Brewery. Foods that are in season right now: beef, beets, bison, carrots, celeriac, cheese, chicken, eggs, garlic, goat, honey, kale, lamb, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, pork, potatoes, radishes, spinach, sweet potatoes, turnips, and winter squash!
The market is open Saturdays from 8 AM – 2 PM on 13th Street between Canyon & Arapahoe, April 7-November 17.
Avery Brewing Company:
Avery Brewing Company is a family owned brewery that serves comfort food, a variety of beers and ales. They are located in a large facility that includes a lively restaurant upstairs that complements its bar food with the extensive selection of brews, and on the bottom level is the tap room with a chalkboard that shows the day selection of over 30 beers on tap. The Avery Brewery Tour is something that is unique to the city of Boulder.
There are two different type of tours that you can be a part of. For a small fee of $15, you can take part of the Exclusive Brewery Tour and Tasting that will last 1.5 hours or the Free Guided Brewery Tour that will last an hour. The tours are available all year, so don’t worry if you cannot make it one weekend. If you are looking to bring friends, you can book up to 15 for the exclusive tour and up to 20 for the free guided tour. Avery Brewery Company is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM. If you are looking for someone to park, the east lost as ample space with overflow on the street.
Village Shopping Center/29th St:
For some fun, outdoor shopping in Boulder, visit the Village Shopping Center. There are a variety of stores that encompass thisshopping center. From outdoor-orientated stores like REI and Christy Ski to health- oriented restaurants like Modern Market and Mad Greens, this shopping center has it all. You can complete all of the shopping you need to do in one place. They provide a small play area for kids to visit while accompanying their parents on their day of shopping. The mall provides street-side parking as well as a parking garage, both of which are free.
Located at Canyon/Arapahoe and 28th
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Restaurants-
Falafel King:
This Mediterranean restaurant is a quick dining spot located at 1314 Pearl Street right in downtown Boulder. Falafel king was founded in 1980 at the original Pearl Street Location.There is now a second restaurant in Denver, Colorado, as a response to popular demand increased.
This is a perfect healthy organic spot to stop for a quick lunch that you can eat in house, or take on the go with you as you walk around Boulder’s famous Pearl Street. This delicious restaurant offers Gyros, falafels, shawarma, hummus, rice bowls, Greek combo plates, and just about any other Mediterranean combo you can think of. Falafel King even offers a select few authentic Mediterranean dessert options! Link to Menu: http://falafelkingfoods.com/menu.php
Centro Mexican Kitchen:
If you are looking for an exciting atmosphere in the heart of downtown Boulder with authentic Mexican cuisine, then Centro is the place for you. Centro Mexican Kitchen has creative Mexican dishes from all across Mexico. The head chef, Johnny Curiel, was born and raised in Jalisco and gets most of his food inspiration from there as well as Baja, Chihuahua, Veracruz, and Oaxaca.
If you are planning on visiting Centro on the weekend, Sunday is the day to go! They have happy hour on weekends from 2:30-5:00 and feature a live band every Sunday during the same time slot! On their happy hour, they feature a list of about 12 food items at discounted prices as well as discounted drinks as well. The Queso Fundido is a must have on their happy hour list. It is a bowl of rich, creamy queso filled with chipotles and other spices and comes with chips and warm flour tortillas for dipping.
If happy hour isn’t your thing, they feature an amazing dinner menu as well and a pretty reasonable price.
Most dishes are between $13 and $18 and the portion sizes are really big. Another cool thing about their menu is that they have a list of street tacos for $3.75 each and you can mix and match different kinds.
When you go, be sure to check out their outdoor patio as well. It looks out over the beautiful flatirons in Boulder and you can people watch on Pearl Street.
Link to menu: https://www.centromexican.com/menus/dinner/
Pasta Jays:
If you are in the mood for a heartier and more classic meal, Pasta Jay’s is a great option for you! Pasta Jay’s is a staple in Boulder for Italian food. The inside of their restaurant makes you feel like you just teleported right to Italy. On the inside, you will see that the walls are made of old stone and there are classic red and white checkered table clothes on each table. The authentic Italian decoration is not the best part of the restaurant, however.
At Pasta Jay’s, you will be served your meal is a steaming hot skillet fresh out of the oven. Most of their dishes are cooked in cast iron skillets and all the flavors blend together and make for a delicious meal. You can choose from one of Pasta Jay’s carefully crafted dishes like the Pasta Margherita, or you can create your own pasta dish by picking your favorite noodles, sauce, and toppings. If you are not in the mood for pasta, make sure you look at their amazing pizzas. Pasta Jay’s makes their own marinara sauce in house and it makes their pizzas 10 times better.
Pasta Jay’s also has a wrap around porch that has bar style seating outside, so if it is a nice day out, ask the host if you can snag a spot outside!
Link to menu: https://pastajays.com/locations/boulder/#pasta-dishes
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Weather-
| Months | Average Temperatures (℉) |
| January | 33.5 |
| February | 35.5 |
| March | 42.5 |
| April | 49 |
| May | 57 |
| June | 67 |
| July | 75 |
| August | 73 |
| September | 70.5 |
| October | 63 |
| November | 40.5 |
| December | 34 |
Annual high temperature average: 65.17
Annual low temperature average: 37.75