Question: Colorado Springs or Boulder
 

I am working on organizing a family vacation for an active family of 5 for early August. We finally secured our condo rental in Aspen for 5 days. I need advice on where to base ourselves for the early part of the trip. We arrive via Denver International on a Friday (late) evening. We will spend Sat/ Sunday with a checkout on Monday someplace. Trying to decide between Colorado Springs or Boulder. I have 3 teenagers ages 14-20. We are an active family and enjoy the outdoors. After the first 3 days we are heading over to Aspen for the bulk of the trip. Looking for this group to provide feedback on where to base ourselves for the early part of this journey.

Time of year? Assuming summer. Personally I think CS has little to offer beyond Pike Peaks and the Garden of the Gods. For you schedule and kids I would hit Boulder. It is a college town, from there you could swing through Estes Park and Rocky Mt Nat Park on your way to Aspen. And Boulder would be far easier to reach with a late Friday arrival.

Boulder, hands down.

I agree with Boulder. Especially with your teenagers.

Walk the CU campus, look at flyers on the main kiosk by the student union, for music and events the kids might enjoy.

Stay at the Boulderado, if you can.

Thanks... I am going to heed the advice and plan out a Boulder itinerary on the front end of the trip. I've looked at lodging and coming up blank. I've looked at The Boldorado and it's booked. I am a Marriott member and there is a full service Marriott in Boulder. Is that a good place to base ourselves? I'd like to be walking distance to places but not sure if that's feasible. If that's not possible is parking ok? If I'm looking at VRBO or other services where would you recommend we base ourselves? Pearl Street area? Where on Pearl?

I'd be a little concerned about VRBO in Boulder, simply because there are so many mediocre apartments for students to rent. You could end up with one of those.

The Marriott on 28th street would be good. Probably not walking distance to downtown Boulder, though.

Maybe go to the CU-Boulder website and see what they recommend for parental visits. They should list some hotels you could try.

If you want to splurge, and be right downtown Boulder, look at the St. Julien.

Again, what are your dates? Boulder tends to be pretty busy in the summer with conferences, summer camps, new student orientation, etc., so it doesn't surprise me that the Boldorado is full. There are a number of hotels that ring the campus on the east side as you come into Boulder off 36. Nothing is going to be super walkable but there is a bus systems that loops around the campus and downtown. Park is OK - not terrific.

The closeness to the Rocky Mountain National Park is the best reason for choosing Boulder!

We are looking at early August.

Also try cabins at Chautauqua Park. They have wonderful vintage cabins. It's a great place to hike. And the Dining Room is one of our all-time favorite restaurants. We usually take guests there. Beautiful views from the front porch tables, where we always sit. Food is very good and rather inexpensive.

There is a nice, small music venue at Chautauqua you might be interested in.

CU classes begin the 3rd week of August so the Boulder campus will start getting busy around the time you are there.

But the check in for dorms, fraternity rush, etc., etc., will be earlier. Boulder will be in higher gear by early August. That may explain some of your limited options. Also near peak time for Estes Park. Will have to do some careful planning.

If you're here Aug 16, Melissa Etheridge is at Chautauqua. It's a very small venue. She's a great show.

As a resident of the Boulder area, I think the Springs has more kid stuff to offer: Manitou Springs (including the interesting reconstructed Manitou Caves Cliff Dwelling) , Garden of the Gods and other parks, Pikes Peak (drive, trails, cog railway), Old Colorado City, Cheyenne Mt. zoo, Cave of the Winds, Air Force Academy, Cave of the Winds, and it's pretty near Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

More lodging choices, too. JMO.

For teenagers, though, I think Boulder works best for them. There's plenty to do.

More importantly, the teens would then have bragging rights to say they have been to the infamous Boulder, Colorado.

For Marriott, we have stayed at the Courtyard in Boulder. Also, stayed at Homewood suites, a little hard to find but free breakfast. Neither are very near Pearl Street but not sure you want to spend a lot of time there. We don't have trouble finding parking by Pearl Street, there is a website that lists parking spots, including garages. Let us know if Boulder is your choice & we can come up with restaurants. Many choices!

Plenty to do? Rent bikes. Visit NCAR. Ummmm...really, there's not much beyond the mall and maybe walking some paths. I raised my kids here, and have been trying to think of anything for teens to do that's different from any similar sized town, other than scenic drives and short hikes.
Joanie Boulder "infamous"?!

Joanie should be "how is"!

Sylvia, Boulder has a certain reputation from the 60s, along with Berkeley, which I termed 'infamous'. High school students I've met are very curious about Boulder.

"really, there's not much beyond the mall and maybe walking some paths."
You must be kidding.

As an outsider, Boulder is much "cooler" and more fun. Manitou to me is wall to wall kitsch--sorry.
I'd maybe go to Boulder for a day and then on up to RMNP. And even for your aged kids, I'd go to the Celestial Seasonings tour if you are in need of something to do.
I think we all may struggle with what Sylvia describes--my home town is so boring, etc. Well, not to someone coming in. It's still Boulder for my vote.

As an outsider, Boulder is much "cooler" and more fun. Manitou to me is wall to wall kitsch--sorry.
I'd maybe go to Boulder for a day and then on up to RMNP. And even for your aged kids, I'd go to the Celestial Seasonings tour if you are in need of something to do.
I think we all may struggle with what Sylvia describes--my home town is so boring, etc. Well, not to someone coming in. It's still Boulder for my vote.

Hey, Tab--I was at Berkeley in the 60's!! LOL

I've been taking visitors all over Boulder the canyon yada yada for decades. Tabernash, please be specific about the fun things for teens that don't involve shopping or hiking (or dining).
And if I take one more lame trip to Celestial, mint room or no, or leanin' tree, or even NCAR...well, just shoot me.:)
I do like biking the creek path, as long as the patrols have chivvied the bums out of the underpasses...

Gretchen, I love it. Ha. Wild times on so many levels.

DD got a degree there recently, and will settle nearby. We like that area a lot.

It just sounds like You are tired of those things, sylvia.
But I won't even try to make a list.
I believe I mentioned Chautauqua activities & lodging earlier.

Teens. Performances at Chautauqua for them? Meh. Other activities there involve eating and hiking. Just saying, specifics other than those I listed? Not kidding, just going off 35 years of experience.

It's too bad you're so bored in Boulder that you can't see its attractions anymore.

To the OP, have you found lodging?

Tab, I merely asked you to elaborate; you didn't provide even 1 example. Boulder is a college town with a beautiful backdrop, yes. The OP asked for a choice between 2 towns for a brief stay with teens.
I voted for the Springs; it is touristy, but there's a reason for that. I think there are more and varied attractions and lodging opportunities. My reasons for my opinions are based on several decades in the area, and raising children (and later CU students) here.

Bored? No, but we are older. We have season tics to the Phil, go to the movies, bike the creek path, go up the canyon to Black Hawk, and trudge along to NCAR, breakfast at Chautauqua, and the tea tour with visitors. Again, I ask, what are your recommendations for teens?
Insulting me personally without offering specifics of your own does not help the OP.

I think most of us suggested a day in Boulder and then going up to RMNP. I think anyone could find enough to do in Boulder to fill that time. College towns are fun!! I STILL like it better than the Springs.
I also am an inveterate "field trip mom" and maybe wouldn't enjoy Celestial Seasonings 4 times a year, but it sure was fun for one. LOL

I'm not familiar with Boulder, but have been looking into it for a trip also with tween /teens. What I'm hearing here, though, is it's "cool" and that it offers activities found in many places around the state of Colo, i.e. biking and hiking.

I have been to Colo Springs a number of times. Some of it is kitschy, but vacation isn't necessarily about style points, particularly for kids. I wouldn't advise spending a ton of time there, but the Cave of the Winds and the Garden of the Gods are worth a visit.

This is in the shopping category, but in Boulder we always find stopping by "Into The Wind" and McGuckin's to be a great way to spend time, even if you come out empty handed. However, it's rare to come empty handed out of McGuckins!

No intentions of shooting anyone :), but I'll suggest NCAR as a good place to visit.

To the OP coming from the east I think Boulder vs. CO Springs is a no-lose choice. Ordinarily I'd recommend Boulder and then Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park and on to Aspen. But with the Ssprings the kids can go home having been to the top of the iconic Pikes Peak. Either way is good.

Gretchen, maybe we crossed paths Berkeley, '69. I was not a student, had already dropped out, but spent some time on campus tuning in, a particular eucalyptus grove I liked a lot. I was easy to recognize: big head of hair, unkempt beard, round glasses ... oh wait, that describes 60% of the male population!

I was there years earlier for one year of grad school--but yes,you had a lot of precursors!! LOL

The Bay of Pigs happened when I was there. The front page headlines that day was about coffeehouses, with the Cuban story below the fold line. They had their priorities!! LOL

Hah, that's funny, I can imagine it. I was still at home in New York City for Bay of Pigs. In Berkeley I remember a Blind Faith concert...

OP, I have not been there personally but if you decide on Boulder the Quality Inn & Suites Boulder Creek gets good reviews as decent lodging close to the mall. We were booked there in September 2013 to stay with friends visiting from North Carolina, then the floods came through. But I'd check that place out.

By now Sylia3 you should recognize that Tab doesn't like to be challenged. She has her opinions and they are facts.

I was wondering when you'd chime in, fmpden. Good to know you're still on my trail.

You have a trail??? And you think someone is interested in following it?? Such arrogance!

So, cincyguy1963, what are your thoughts on your trip? Have you found lodging? Have you decided on Boulder, as you mentioned above?

It was on the news this morning that a Boulder hotel, The Broker, had an explosion and everyone was evacuated. Don't book that hotel! ha Unless they are having a fire sale.

The CU site has info for visiting families, including detailed transportation tips:
http://www.colorado.edu/orientation/.../travel-campus

The CU site gives this URL for lodging & events in Boulder:
http://www.bouldercoloradousa.com

I have not determined a starting point. I have confirmed my Aspen lodging. I am still undecided and it seems to be 2 camps here. We have such a short window with 2 full days and one of those days will most likely be the RMNP.

Cincy, all but one poster recommend Boulder. Since you are going to Aspen, I would cut RMNP, because you can see as much there.

Take shorter day-trips from Boulder, like to Eldorado Canyon.

Wow. Bully much?
The high mountains of RMNP are in no way comparable to the Aspen area. "See as much there"?! Just not true.