Question about Boulder area
 

We will be in the Boulder area the week before Christmas for business and would like to spend a few extra days sightseeing. We are flying into Denver. Can anyone recommend places to stay/things to do near Boulder? We do not ski. I would love to do a dogsledding or possibly a snowmobile tour. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Boulder does not have that kind of winter activity; you'd have to go into the mountains (it could be snowing here or sunny and in the upper 50s; you never know; but snow usually doesn't stick around long).
However, Estes Park/Rocky Mountain National Park is only 30 miles away, and there are many opportunities for winter recreation in that area.
You might find more snow up Boulder Canyon in Nederland; not sure if there are companies that offer the activities you mention, although they have a ski area that's got nice beginner terrain.

There has been a lot of snow falling lately, even in Boulder itself, but it's still a city, not a winter sports resort, so what you're seeking isn't available right in town. The nearest (and affordable) winter sports area is Eldora, but i don't tnink there is anything there to do other than skiing and boarding - see www.eldora.com/mountain.sports.html

This site shows more promise: www.aaa.com/aaa/006/e2/SleighRides.html

Boulder is a great college town that can serve as a base for getting to the snow/activities in the mountains, and you should have it pretty well scopoed out during your business trip.

In Boulder do the Celestial Seasonings tour sometime--fun and interesting, particularly the mint room!!
I hope you'll also visit Denver while you are there.
Frisco is a fun little town for shopping and dining on up in the mountains. Nearby is Dillon and there might be some snow activities available near there.

When you say, "Boulder area." Does that mean in Boulder or somewhere around Boulder? That could shape the responses. Boulder is really in the foothills or base of the mountain range so for winter activities you need to go further into the mountains.

Don't look in Boulder for the Celestial Tea company, ask your way to an area called Gunbarrel along what's called the "Diagonal" highway (119), heading northeast towards the city of Longmont. Gunbarrel is before the hamlet of Niwot (that's all still in huge Boulder county but quite a ways from the town of Boulder).

In Boulder itself, nothing to do with winter sports but worth a mention while we're at it: the Dushanbe tea house - I'll bet you've never been in a restaurant looking like this: www.boulderdushanbeteahouse.com/

Good heavens Michael--"quite a ways"???? What planet do you live on.

What Michael says is correct--it is the mailing address that is in boulder. It is actually 6 miles out of town--very near the Boulder Country Club.

Celestial Seasonings
4600 Sleepytime Drive
Boulder, CO 80301
Telephone 303-530-5300

Boulder also conjures up memories of great times past (mid-60's) - such as at the two largest accounts/night spots - of Coors beer - Tulagi's - now a movie theater? - and the formerly down and dirty - including sawdust covered floors - The Sink - which had great/grilled burgers back in the day.

The Sink is now replete with table cloths and a nice place for brunch/lunch - whatnot. http://www.programmableweb.com/mashu...ouse-directory

Oops - was researching the 17 main Houses of Champagne - and guess that paste was still in the ole computer.

For The Sink - see: http://www.programmableweb.com/mashu...ouse-directory

Dang - my bad - 3rd time Charm: http://www.thesink.com/

LOL - Forgot that Robert Redford once worked at the Sink - which has also been visited by other dignataries.

"The unique and timeless artwork that characterizes The Sink was produced by beatnik artists starting in 1955. The trademark Sink Angel has been watching over guests of The Sink and the Boulder community for the past 90 years. We have been honored by visits from President Obama, Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Madeleine Albright, Top Chef's Eric Ripert, Anthony Bourdain, and former employee Robert Redford, to name just a few!"

Bill Murray used to frequent The Sink and Tulagi's, in the early 70s, before SNL.

(In fact, he lived right down the street one summer.)

I had breakfast at the Boulder Teahouse a couple of months ago and the food and service were horrible. Never again. It is worth a quick peek but don't waste your money on a meal.

That's too bad, wtm. It's usually a good place to go.

I have been invited to the Dushanbe tea house three times in the last few months (it's a staple to take visitors there since there isn't much else around during the day other than slushy dives with disgusting names like "Sink"...) and the tea house, food and drink and service, was delightful every time. wtm3003 must have been there on a rare unlucky day I'd say.

To Gretchen - if you're in Boulder, Gunbarrel seems a long way off, across open country - yes, only six miles and still technically in Boulder County, but an out-of-towner visiting the city of Boulder would not be looking there, so... Nice address, Sleepy Time, like one of their teas.

Yes, it is "out of town". I am also from "out of town" and was visiting Boulder-- and it seemed to be "accessible" because we wanted to do the tour--not a "long way".

Thank you, very informative and most helpful indeed. Much obliged.

Taber - Bill Murray also went to one of my Alma Maters - Regis in Denver. I had graduated the year before he transferred in (like many Chicago lads)- and he left early to pursue his career in Comedy/Acting. Bill has been good to Regis over the years - and the Jebbies finally gave ole Bill an honorary degree. :)

Michele - Geesh - you must have very high standards - aparently moreso than such noted Chefs as Eric Riper and Anthony Bourdain Pleast note - there were plenty of Yuppies having Brunch at the Sink when I last visited - about two years ago.

ALL OF YOU--get over yourselves. LOL

Tom, I know. DH and I were friends of his at Regis. You must have graduated in '67?

He didn't really transfer in, though. He started as a freshman. Then he left town after a couple of years, after he had thoroughly entertained us all, and everyone else in town. Not with a particular career goal in mind, though, but because he wasn't cut out for college and we'd heard all his jokes. Haha. He told me he doesn't remember if he was enrolled his sophomore year

We sat with him when he got his honorary degree at his class reunion. Were you there? It was in the old cafeteria-- the site of many of his escapades.

He gave a funny speech. I was surprised because he seemd slightly nervous at the table beforehand. He even got a haircut that day-- big deal for him to plan ahead like that. He's "disorganized" as he says.

PS. "(it's a staple to take visitors there since there isn't much else around during the day other than slushy dives with disgusting names like "Sink"...) "

That's outrageously wrong-- Boulder is heaven for foodies, for breakfast/lunch/dinner.

Taber - I transferred into Regis as a Senior (from the AF Academy) and graduated in '68. Were you one of the first on campus women students at Regis - or did you go to Loretto Heights? I remember when the poor/frosh? girls (first class) were given a pretty rough time by the guys - and at Christmas - some of the lads gathered outside the girls' dorm (top floor of Carroll wasn't it? - during the first year anyway?) - to sing the 12 days of Christmas. The girls thought - well - finally they are being nice to us - yet it was the raunchiest version one could imagine. :)

And would loved to have been around Bill M if he was "performing" at the "caf". I actually thought the food was ok - but all my buddies from Chicago used to groan and groan about it. :)

Tom, I started Regis in the second year of women. We had all of Carroll Hall, and the animosity had died down. I understand the first year of women did have a difficult time-- unless they were HOT. A few of them did come back, but most didn't.

We had very strict rules & curfew, but we broke all of them. Maybe they weren't aware there was a 'secret' back stairway exit in Carroll??

It's all different now, if you haven't been to campus. It's had quite an infusion of money since we were there. Looks very nice. Carroll Hall is offices now.

PS The cafeteria food was awful-- green gravy and mystery meat. But we didn't know any better. We thought 'steak night' was awesome (thin, tasteless little steaks!). Our kids today would refuse to eat that stuff. haha

Oh yes, knew about the back stairway of Carroll hall - but we really didn't have much of a curfew as Seniors as I recall. Some guys just used it out of habit I think. :)

I was at the campus for a reunion 5? years ago. Yes, it does look different. When I graduated- one of my classmates was from a very prominent family and every semester his Profs had to gather in the President's office to make sure he had a composite 2.0. He drove a beautiful Shelby GT 500 Mustang- with a super sound system that we used at woodsies. :)

He had a trust fund himself at that time - of about $7 million - which was very good denaro in the mid 60's and I would not look askance at it right now. Anyhow - when the Jebbies finally got him through - his dad sent in a check for a cool million and they built a new library.