RR Ralphie Report: 5 things to do in Boulder when visiting for a football weekend

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Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images

Known as one of the top college towns in America, Boulder offers lots to explore when visiting in the fall for football games.

If you’re reading this article, welcome to Boulder, it’s been a minute. We’re happy to be back in the Big 12 with some old friends and new. And I’m sure you’re happy we’re back, if only because Boulder is one of the loveliest cities in the country and a wonderful place for fans to visit.

Before we get into recommendations, it needs to be said that everything there is to do in this city requires trail runners, Gore-Tex jackets and a medium sized Hydro Flask. We’re built right up against them pretty mountains and our hiking trails begin in town and take you 10,000 feet up. It’s almost always sunny and even our cold winter days feel closer to 50 than the 20 on the thermometer.

You’re going to work up a sweat on this weekend getaway. Your calves are going to scream if you’re not used to the climb. Your muscles will feel weak if you’re not adjusted to the 5,430 feet of elevation. And if you choose to drive, your patience will be tested in this city that’s notorious for its narrow streets, pedestrian zones and lack of parking spaces.

The good news is this city is incredibly walkable, especially if you’re staying in downtown.

1. Explore Pearl Street Mall​

Assuming you’re here for three days — Friday to Sunday with a game on Saturday — it’s best to start exploring Boulder from the inside out. There are shops, cafes and restaurants up and down this busy street.

I like to start my walk with a specialty mocha from Ozo Coffee. They are locally owned and a staple of the coffee scene here. I would also recommend Foolish Craig’s for breakfast (as seen in Diners, Drive-ins and Dives) or Illegal Pete’s if you’re feeling like a locally sourced (and cheaper) Chipotle-style burrito. There are many, many more options, all of them good. That is, besides Pasta Jay’s, a known tourist trap last seen crawling with Nebraska fans.

Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

As for the shopping mall, we have locally owned clothing stores, gift shops, art galleries, all the outdoor apparel you could imagine and even the Savannah Bee Company that sells nothing but honey products. There are also street performers and live music depending on the day. I usually end my walk at the Boulder Bookstore, then I’ll take Boulder Creek Path and head on back home.

And for a Friday night bonus, the Colorado Buffaloes football team participates in the Pearl Street March the night before home games. Starting at 7 PM, the players walk the length of the mall, signing autographs and meeting fans, all while the marching band plays their fight songs. It’s an absolute must if you’re traveling with kids.

2. Hike like a local​

Whether you’re reading this in September or November, it doesn’t matter; it’s always hiking season in Boulder, Colorado. The hiking trails aren’t quite as accessible as Pearl Street, but many of them start within city limits and there’s usually parking if you’re able to get to the trails by 10 in the morning.

If you’re going for the picturesque, there’s no better place than Chautauqua Park. This is where every CU student takes their senior pictures — it’s right under the world famous Flatirons, the hike itself is easy enough, and it’s close to campus. You can always connect to other trails if you’re looking for something more difficult (e.g. Royal Arch).

Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

The other option would be either the People’s Crossing (FKA Settler’s Park) or the more difficult and much busier Mt. Sanitas. They’re both easily accessible and they offer tremendous views of both Boulder and the Denver metro area. I would recommend hiking to the trailhead from the west end of Pearl Street, then enjoy a warm drink and a pastry from Spruce Confections when you’re all done.

And if you’re not feeling up to challenge, you can bypass the whole hiking thing and drive up to the top of Flagstaff Mountain. There are a few overlook points along the winding road, although the views look better when you’ve worked for it. We also have a restaurant up there — you’ll need a reservation and a couple hundred dollars — and a giant star on the side of the mountain that shines on Boulder during the holidays.

3. Walk to Folsom Field (and watch the Buffs)​

Don’t look at Google Maps. Don’t even think about driving from the hotel to the stadium. Not unless you have a parking pass, the time and patience to sit through traffic control before and after the game, or you miss tasting the sweet fumes of the C4C parking garage. It’s easier to just walk the 15 minutes from downtown to the front gates of Folsom Field, especially when you have recommendations on either side of the journey.

If you want a couple quick suggestions, Flatiron Coffee is fantastic if you’re craving autumnal drinks with a nice view, or you can go to Woodgrain Bagel & Deli for homemade bagels.

If you’re looking for somewhere to sit and ruminate in the Boulder’s working class culture, it would be sacrilegious to skip out on the Village Coffee Shop. Adorned with CU memorabilia and teaming with locals, the Village serves huge portions that are as greasy as they are affordable. They also have a fun surprise for first timers, so make sure to tell them if you’ve never been in before.

But enough with the recommendations — the walk to campus is more about getting you away from your car and free to explore the best of Boulder on those aching feet of yours. Folsom is on the edge of campus and it would be a travesty if you weren’t able to walk around the university grounds. It’s best to just wander around the country’s most beautiful campus. Just make sure you see Norlin Quad and the University Pond.

And if you insist on taking your car — really, it’s fine, I get it — you can find spots to tailgate on Euclid and 18th, in Lot 360 near Duane Physics or on Franklin Field right next to the stadium. (I think all of them require parking passes.) The vibes will be family friendly and wholesome, as our alumni fan base is more senior than most.

We do have rowdy fans, but they’re over on “The Hill,” the neighborhood west of campus where the wealthy out-of-state students live. That’s where you will see the, uh, school spirit. Also where students used to set couches on fire and start small riots after big wins, but they don’t do that anymore. If you do end up going, be warned, and be recommended The Sink for dinner, another Guy Fieri favorite.

4. Find space away from the crowds​

Boulder is small city and most of the goings on are packed into a 15-block radius around Pearl and CU. It gets a bit crowded, the streets too narrow for the traffic volume, the restaurants too loud, the hiking trails too busy to enjoy the views. Sometimes it’s nice to find space away from the noise.

I do mean this literally. The University of Colorado is one of the world’s leading universities in atmospheric research and aerospace engineering. We’re a feeder team for NASA, as we’ve sent nearly as many astronauts to space as the football team has had consensus All-Americans. We send our best to Ball and SpaceX, the brightest to Lockheed Martin.

Better yet, we embrace this connection and make it accessible for kids. Scott Carpenter Park is everyone’s childhood playground. Every kid has climbed the rocket sculpture and every young adult has gotten stuck and pondered the passage of time. It’s nothing special, really, but it’s a nice family place and it means a lot to the locals.

As for those atmospheric researchers, we lock them away in the towers high above the city. Their labs are at NCAR, an architectural marvel just below the Flatirons. There’s a parking lot out front, a visitor’s center with an interactive science museum for kids, and easy access to all kinds of hiking trails. (Mallory Cave for the casual, Bear Peak for the ambitious.)

Back in town, you can always decompress at the Fiske Planetarium. It’s located on the university campus and has multiple showings a day, including matinees on weekends. They have science programs that explore stars and galaxies, black holes and astronomy. There are also music-themed shows, including “Lazer Taylor Swift.”

5. Get outside (the city)​

After two or three days in Boulder, you might be sick of it. Too many people, too many cars, too distant from nature. Maybe you want to get out of the city and into the mountains — deep in the mountains where you can ski, hike, snowshoe or just walk around with a hot cocoa.

If you’re looking for a day trip from Boulder, you have to look past the most famous of our mountain towns. Aspen, Vail and Telluride are too far and they’re crowded with tourists. Crested Butte, Ouray and Steamboat Springs are more chill, but they’re just as far away. We need to look a little more local, lest you mind the Sunday evening traffic on I-70.

For those visiting in the early fall, the one place you absolutely need to see is Estes Park. It’s a tourist trap, but it’s our tourist trap. Every kid from the Front Range has walked the cutesy streets and been mesmerized by the taffy shops. We’ve all raced down the carpet slide at Fun City and faced our fears on the Estes Park Aerial Tramway. And we’ve all been scared to death when our parents point out the Stanley Hotel and its haunted halls.

Best of all, Estes Park is at the footsteps of Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s less than hour up to Estes, then 10 minutes more to the park entrance. Early in the fall you can see the changing of the seasons, the elk during bugling season, and it’s still possible to hike in the park. Moraine Park is my personal favorite but maybe I should keep that one to myself.

I should also note that the drive from Boulder to Estes is unreal. It’s an easy drive: 28th Street turns into Highway 36 and that takes you through Lyons — itself an interesting town with very good food — and up into Estes. You get to see the farms and ranches north of Boulder, the foothills in and around Lyons, and then of course the nauseating drive through the mountains. Bring water, sunscreen, winter coats and maybe some dramamine.

Photo by Thomas Cooper/Getty Images

Now, if you’re here for the winter, maybe you want to try skiing at Eldora or Winter Park. If those places are bit too crowded or expensive, Arapahoe Basin feels much more like a local spot, even if it’s a bit further away. There’s also Breckenridge and Frisco if you want that small town winter feel in addition to the outdoorsing. And sure, Vail is a little over 2 hours away if you insist on luxury skiing.

And finally, if you don’t want to take the long drive or pack winter coats and other outdoor equipment, there’s always the world famous Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison. It’s a concert venue that’s built into the sandstone and it’s open to the public during the day. They have ample parking spaces, the steps serve as a (dog-friendly) workout you can do in tennis shoes, and there are views of both the Front Range and the Denver metro area.

by Sam Metivier
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