Things to do in Rocky Mountains
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Maria's Bookshop
A good general bookstore – independently owned and well stocked; does e-reader orders too.
reviewed
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EVOO Marketplace
This specialty shop sells extra-virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from across the US and around the world.
reviewed
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Coors Field
Denver is a city known for manic sports fans, and boasts five pro teams. The Colorado Rockies play baseball at the highly rated Coors Field.
reviewed
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Uptown Exchange
A consignment store with some great bargains. Labels are less than glamorous, but it does have everything from affordable denim to stylish shoes to, gulp, fur. There's a decent assortment of dresses too.
reviewed
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Steamworks Brewing
DJs and live music pump up the volume at this industrial microbrewery, with high sloping rafters and metal pipes. College kids fill the large bar area, but there's also a separate dining room with a Cajun-influenced menu.
reviewed
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Washington Park
Denver's best local park, this great little strip of green is where moms zip by on in-line skates, Frisbees float around all afternoon and clusters of friends lounge beneath the proud Denver skyline. A bike path around the park makes for an excellent ride.
reviewed
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Jives Coffee Lounge
Easily the hippest hand on the Old Colorado City stretch, this large brick-wall coffee lounge has ample sofas, wi-fi and a bandstand featuring regular live music and a Wednesday open-mic night. They do all the coffee drinks and a selection of all-fruit, no-sugar smoothies.
reviewed
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Rocky Mountain Diner
If you're into things 'old-fashioned' and 'chicken-fried', then yee-haw yourself to this comfy-boothed, family-friendly restaurant. It serves sandwiches, salads and hearty American fare, and for the curious (and very hungry), more exotic dishes such as venison soup or buffalo meatloaf.
reviewed
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Six Permissions
West of the Pearl St Mall, this tiny apothecary offers Chinese herbs and organic facials, and has an attached acupuncture clinic. In addition it offers a range of deep tissue, lymphatic, Swedish and sport massages. Your Zen wishes will be fulfilled here. Massage is available by appointment only.
reviewed
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Olive Tree Traders
One of the most elegant shops in Colorado Springs, they have remarkable silk pashminas from India and great prices, sensational Moroccan tea glasses, striking, vivid and utterly unique dishes from Istanbul and fine soaps and olive oils too. Its owner-operater has a discerning eye and a warm smile.
reviewed
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Yoga Pod
- Boulder, USA
- Activities › Yoga
One of the hippest, if most-oddly located, studios in Boulder. But don't let the 29th St Mall location throw you off. There's plenty of free parking, the place isn't corporate and the instruction is first rate. When the Fourmile Canyon Fire hit Boulder, they offered free yoga to those displaced by the Fourmile Fire.
reviewed
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Buen Tiempo Mexican Restaurant & Cantina
Bursting with locals at bar stools and families filling the booths, this is a good-time spot. From the chile-rubbed sirloin to the posole served with warm tortillas, Buen Tiempo delivers. Start with a signature margarita, served with chips and spicy homemade salsa. You can end with a satisfying scoop of deep-fried ice cream. But if you want to find out how the dollars got on the ceiling, it will cost you.
reviewed
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Miracle of America Museum
The mind-boggling Miracle of America Museum, located just 2 miles south of Polson, is worth seeing. At turns random and fascinating, it consists of 5 acres cluttered with the leftovers of American history. Wander past weird artifacts including the biggest buffalo (now stuffed) ever recorded in Montana.
reviewed
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Stranahans Colorado Whiskey
Only a dozen barrels of whiskey are produced from this family distillery each week...and they’re damn good. Using water from the Rockies, barley from Colorado and white-oak barrels, it’s a rare taste of quality over quantity. Short tours of the facility are available, though limited space means it's best to sign up online.
reviewed
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Spruce Confections
Boulder's go-to bakehouse, where the favorites are the Ol' B Cookie (chocolate, oats, cinnamon and coconut) and the Black Bottom Cupcake (a chocolate cupcake with cheesecake in the middle). Pair either with the Spruce Juice, possibly the world's greatest iced vanilla latte. They have sinful scones and filling salads too.
reviewed
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Rio Grande Cafe
Always packed, this Tex-Mex institution consistently delivers potent margaritas, sumptuous beef fajitas and an addictive queso dip. Loud and chaotic but remaining family friendly, it has a buzzing bar scene top-side with awesome Flatiron views from the rooftop deck. Happy Hour (3pm to 6pm) deals include $2 tacos and $3 drafts.
reviewed
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North Boulder Recreation Center
- Boulder, USA
- Activities › Gym
If you need a workout and the weather isn't cooperating, book some some gym time here. The weight room and indoor hoops court are more than adequate, and the 25m lap pool is fabulous. Or perhaps you'd prefer a game of raquet ball or a yoga class? They have it all for a simple 24hr day-use fee. Bring your own towel or rent one for $1.
reviewed
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Boulder Creek Bike Path
The most utilized commuter bike path in town, this fabulously smooth and mostly straight creekside concrete path follows Boulder Creek from Foothill Parkway all the way to the spilt of Boulder Canyon and Four Mile Canyon Rd west of downtown – a total distance of over 5 miles one-way. The path also feeds urban bike lanes that lead all over town.
reviewed
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Pearl Street Pub
Sorrows are drowned with multiple pints at the scarred wooden bar upstairs, where the vibe is shabby chic meets Old West. Downstairs, 20-something locals pound shots by the pool tables, soaking up the beer-drenched atmosphere at this town's favorite trendy dive. Come for Friday-night happy hour, when there is often live music at the packed upstairs bar.
reviewed
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American Lake Trail
- Aspen, USA
- Activities › Hiking
Easily paired with a peek into the ghost town of Ashcroft and/or a meal at the epic Pine Creek Cookhouse, this trail climbs steadily from Ashcroft through aspen and spruce groves to American Lake, in the subalpine Devaney Creek Valley. Views are limited, but the trail meets several more primitive paths to a panoramic overlook. It's a 6.4-mile hike round-trip.
reviewed
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Dagabi Cucina
Hidden away in a North Boulder minimall off Broadway is this brickhouse of a Mediterranean joint with Italian and Spanish roots, and a popular tapas menu at happy hour (5pm to 6:30pm). That's when you can devour olives, bruschetta, grilled asparagus, steamed clams, and pancetta wrapped shrimp on small plates for just $3 to $6 each. Or there's always paella Mondays ($12).
reviewed
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Mateo
A casual new dining hall with minimalist panache, an upscale but not fancy-pants, crowd, and a damn fine kitchen specialising in French comfort cuisine. Think braised lamb shoulder served over pasta, pork belly over organic rice, and moules (mussels) frites. Cheeses are artisanal, ingredients mostly local and the wine is quite fine. Half-priced moule frites ($6) on Mondays.
reviewed
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Dancers
Frozen in joyful two-step, Jonathan Borofsky's whimsical Dancers invite rushing traffic to stop and play. The centerpiece of Sculpture Park, they supervise live music and lounging picnickers in summer and rise eerily from the snow in winter. Initially a controversial buy for conservative citizens, they're a symbol on scale with Denver's ambition to be the cultural capital of the West.
reviewed
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Sundown Saloon
Only come here if you can stomach outhouse chic bathrooms, throwback tunes, an impossible-to-distinguish odor upon descent into the basement, pick-up shouting (it's straight impossible to hear in late night), vicious competition on the shuffle board or pool tables (free 'til 10pm) and waking up hungover from the cheap Pabst Blue Ribbon ($6 pitchers).
Every town needs an 'end up bar,' and you will end up here.
reviewed
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Boulder Cafe
Score a sidewalk table and check out the Pearl St Mall street performers while waiting for your buffalo burger. The perennially popular Boulder Cafe is one of those 'all things to all people' kitchens, which means anything from shrimp enchiladas to penne pasta or skillets of trout and teriyaki steak to a damn fine raw bar can be yours.
From 3pm to 6:30pm, all appetizers and drinks are half-price. That's the time to go raw.
reviewed