Boulder, Colorado, located at the base of the Rocky Mountains, is noted for its progressive views and cutting edge public policies, however, that also has led more conservative types to refer to the city as "25 square miles surrounded by reality."

But Boulder is much more.

A noted destination for runners, hikers, cyclists, mountain bikers, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts, the city of 103,000 residents is home to a host of world-class athletes and Olympians, including Frank Shorter, Alan and Shayne Culpepper, Jorge Torres, Dathan Ritzenhein, Kara Goucher, Taylor Phinney and Jenny Barringer. Runners and bikers clamor to Boulder and its trails to train. The annual Bolder Boulder 10K race attracts nearly 50,000 elite and citizen runners each May. And climbers come here because of the easy access to routes on the majestic Flatirons, Eldorado State Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and elsewhere in the Rockies.

The University of Colorado — with about 29,000 students and boasting Division I athletic teams, the CU Buffaloes, competing in the Big 12 — is a premier research university, boasts more NASA astronauts than nearly any other university, and touts Nobel Prize winners Thomas Cech, Carl Wieman and Eric Cornell, who is a fellow of both the National Institute of Standards and Technology and JILA, a joint CU-NIST institute.

In addition to NIST, Boulder is home to other federal labs and research institutions, among them National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Boulder also is renown for its clubs and night life scene, as well as boasting scores of restaurants including the nationally known Frasca, The Kitchen, the Flagstaff House, L’Atelier, Mateo and Q’s.

And there are other tourist attractions, too, such as the “Mork & Mindy” house from the popular 1970s TV sitcom starring Robin Williams; Celestial Seasonings, which popularized herbal teas; the Dushanbe Teahouse, an authentic Tajikistan teahouse shipped to and rebuilt in Boulder; and even the infamous Jon Benet Ramsey house.

Best Western Boulder Inn
770 28th Street, Boulder | 303-449-3800

Best Western Golden Buff Lodge
1725 28th Street, Boulder | 303-442-7450

Boulder Marriott Hotel
2660 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder | 303-440-8877

Boulder University Inn
1632 Broadway, Boulder | 303-417-1700

Briar Rose Bed and Breakfast
2151 Arapahoe Avenue , Boulder | 303-442-3007

Courtyard Marriott Boulder
4710 Pearl East Circle, Boulder | 303-440-4700

Days Hotel
5397 South Boulder Rd., Boulder | 303-499-4422

Holiday Inn Express Boulder
4777 North Broadway, Boulder | 303-442-6600

Hotel Boulderado
2115 13th Street, Boulder | 303-442-4344

Millennium Harvest House
1345 28th Street, Boulder | 303-443-3850

Quality Inn and Suites Boulder Creek
2020 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder | 303-449-7550

St. Julien Hotel and Spa
900 Walnut Street, Boulder | 720-406-9696

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