A Bold, Beautiful Boulder
October 27, 2009 by 247 Travel Guides
Filed under Travel Tips
Boulder is a beautiful city surrounded by recreational open space and nature preserves. There are many outdoor activities that can be enjoyed here including hiking, rock climbing and biking. The City of Boulder is very serious about protecting the surrounding natural environment and created an Urban Wildlife Management Plan. There are stringent policies in place to protect urban wildlife and they have teams that monitor parks to protect ecosystems.
Boulder is also home to some very unique universities. The only Buddhist University in the US, The Naropa Institute, is located here. It was founded in 1974 and would be the first university that combined contemplative studies with traditional Western scholastics and artistic disciplines.
Prospectors found gold in the hills surrounding Boulder in the mid nineteenth century, which started the Gold Rush of 1859. Miners and settlers started moving into the scenic place. Now you will find that it has a diverse eclectic culture and a laid back atmosphere.
The University of Colorado Boulder is there, along with several other universities. Students and school staff make up over a third of the population. Boulder has many outdoor activities to enjoy and is also known as a major center for scientific studies. The National Center for Atmospheric Research makes its home there.
Boulder is nicknamed the “People’s Republic of Boulder,” because the citizens here have a reputation for political and social liberalism. It has an ECO-pass program that allows passengers to buy annual bus passes. The League of American Bicyclist recognized this city for achieving the highest level of bicycle friendliness.
There are plenty of areas and parks to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Boulder. The Chautauqua Park is a great place to explore the meadow like foothills. it is a great place to relax with a good book or for a family picnic. Numerous musical concerts are performed here throughout the year and it is home to the Colorado Music Festival.
The Eldorado Canyon State Park has over 1,000 acres of land and a variety of activities to enjoy. You can hike on over 10 miles of trails, or you can do some horseback riding. The park has an 850-foot high canyon wall made of sandstone that is popular with rock climbers. You can enjoy trout fishing in the many streams throughout the park. If you want to learn about the history of the park you can visit the Visitor’s Center.
The Fiske Planetarium is located at the Colorado University Boulder campus and is a local landmark. It has one of the most remarkable stargazing machines in the world, known as Zeiss. You can see lectures, star shows, and laser light productions. It is a family-friendly place.
Boulder is a great place to visit and also a place where you can get a premium education surrounded by natural beauty. Boulder is a fun and diverse city with things to see and do for all ages.
