Historic Boulder & Beyond Itinerary
Total Number of Days/Nights: Three
Itinerary Summary: You’ll experience the unique historic attractions in Boulder, Colorado and travel the scenic and historic Peak to Peak Highway through Nederland to Estes Park.
Destinations Include:
Colorado Chautauqua
Hotel Boulderado
Historic Neighborhoods Walking Tour
Pearl Street Mall & Downtown Boulder
Boulder History Museum
Banjo Billy’s Bus Tour
Peak to Peak Highway
Boulder Theater
Mary Rippon Theater
Boulder
Nederland
Estes Park
Gold Hill
Day One:
Start your day exploring the Colorado Chautauqua District located within the city of Boulder. Recently awarded a National Historic Landmark, Chautauqua was formed in 1898 as a place for cultural and educational summer retreats. Today, Chautauqua continues to offer workshops, lectures, live music and plenty of hiking. Visit the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage for suggested hikes or a great spot to photograph the majestic Flatirons. After your hike, relax on the patio of the historic Chautauqua Dining Hall for lunch. Check into the Hotel Boulderado for a unique stay at Boulder’s oldest hotel. The hotel's name comes from the words "Boulder" and "Colorado" so no guest would forget where they had stayed. Built in 1909, the Hotel Boulderado has become a National Registered Landmark and is a member of the National Trust's Historic Hotels of America. Plan to spend the evening exploring Pearl Street Mall in Historic Downtown Boulder. Stroll along the city's popular pedestrian mall and enjoy a great selection of restaurants, bookstores, boutiques and sidewalk cafes. Also popular are the seasonal art shows, craft fairs, live music and street performers who entertain enthusiastic crowds.
Day Two:
Enjoy a day of scenic driving along the Peak to Peak Highway. Start your tour by traveling up Boulder Canyon (Highway 119) to the town of Nederland. While in Nederland, visit one of the many historic sites including the Gillaspie House Museum, Nederland Mining Museum & Bucyrus Steam Shovel and Nederland Town Hall. Continue your journey on Highway 72 (Peak to Peak Highway) to Estes Park (approximately 1 hour scenic drive). While in Estes Park, visit the famous Stanley Hotel and take a ghost tour. The charming town of Estes Park offers plenty of shopping and dining options for lunch. You may even see elk wandering through town. Estes Park is located at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park. You may want to spend some time driving or hiking around the park to view wildlife such as elk, mountain goats and many smaller high-altitude critters. As evening nears, take a leisurely drive back to Boulder on Highway 36. For a night out on the town, visit the Boulder Theater, offering live music in a historic setting.
Day Three:
Start your day with a tour of Boulder’s Historic Neighborhoods. This self-guided tour explores 6 different historic neighborhoods, all within walking distance of the Hotel Boulderado. Free guides are available at the Boulder Visitor’s Center located one block south of the hotel at the corner of 13th and Pearl Street. If you would rather not walk, you may choose to take Banjo Billy’s Bus Tour (seasonal) for a one-of-a-kind historic tour of Boulder. Hear ghost tales, crime stories and the history of Boulder while sitting on a couch, recliner or saddle. In the afternoon, visit the Boulder History Museum located in the Harbeck-Bergheim House. The museum exhibits artifacts from a collection of more than 35,000 objects of historical significance donated by Boulder-area families during the past sixty years. The Museum rotates its displays two or three times a year to highlight Boulder's own unique history for the enjoyment of the public. In addition, the museum offers kids, ages 4-10, a fun, interactive experience in the Discovery Room. The room includes a 19th century schoolroom where children can dress up in clothing and complete schoolwork just like children 100 years ago, as well as a quilt design station with a craft to take home, a historic games exploration table, an outdoor sports footware activity and a cozy reading nook. End your day with a memorable dinner at the Gold Hill Inn (seasonal) or drop by the Gold Hill General Store for a local’s perspective. The ten-mile drive from Boulder takes you back a hundred years as you explore the small town of Gold Hill.
Enhance your trip with the following seasonal activities:
Banjo Billy's Bus Tour (Apr.-Oct.)
Gold Hill Inn (May-Dec.)
Historic Mary Rippon Outdoor Theater: Colorado Shakespeare Festival (June-Aug.)
Chautauqua Historic Auditorium: Colorado Music Festival (June-Aug.), Chautauqua Summer Concert Series (May-Sept.)
Boulder Theater: Boulder International Film Festival (Feb.)
Contacts:
Colorado Chautauqua: www.chautauqua.com, 303-442-3282
Downtown Boulder: www.boulderdowntown.com, 303-449-3774
Boulder History Museum: www.boulderhistorymuseum.org, 303-449-3464
Banjo Billy’s Bus Tour: www.banjobilly.com, 720-938-8885
Boulder Theater: www.bouldertheater.com, 303-786-7030
Gold Hill Inn: www.goldhillinn.com, 303-443-6461
Town of Nederland: www.nederlandchamber.org, 303-258-3936
Town of Estes Park: www.estesparkcvb.com, 800-44-ESTES
Colorado Music Festival: www.coloradomusicfest.org, 303-449-1397
Colorado Shakespeare Festival: www.coloradoshakes.org, 303-492-0554
Boulder International Film Festival: www.biff1.com, 303-449-2289
For visitor information please contact:
Boulder Convention & Visitors Bureau
2440 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302
Toll Free: 800-444-0447
www.bouldercoloradousa.com