Boulder, Colorado

We took a little road trip to Boulder last week. It had been a long time since we'd been there, but it used to be a regular day trip when we lived in Denver years ago. 

A mix of mountains, town, + country make it a pretty great destination...especially for a short trip. I'll admit that my plans didn't always pan out...prices might be higher for meals than expected, hikes might be closed off because of falling rocks, or a museum might disappoint, prompting a text from Mr. Tribe asking if we'd seen the exhibit including three trash cans labeled with their purposes (not an exhibit, but may have been better than some of the pieces that were at the time).  :)

​Anyhow...here are a few things I would recommend in Boulder:

A drive up into the mountains. The Peak to Peak scenic byway is amazing. 

Pearl Street

Cedar + Hyde

Fjall Raven

Patagonia

A stroll up + down Pearl Street. Lots of local + not as local shops to peruse. Some of our favorites were:
-Cedar + Hyde. One of those shops where I see brands I don't usually get to touch...like Homecore and Rachel Comey...yeah, like that...but, I found a lovely little ceramic pot to bring home. Yes, I bought a little pot in Boulder.  ;)
-Fjall Raven. Where this lovely lady was repairing someone's worn shorts right in the shop!
-Patagonia. Their initiatives are always inspiring (+ did you see this serene beauty surfing in the catalog? Transporting.)
​-Boulder Book Store.
-University Bicycles. Rentals + a parts vending machine.
-Buffalo Exchange. Found Julia a Patagonia fleece for a steal.

A hike (or climb).
-Red Rocks Trail at Settler's Park (pictured here). 1 mile loop.
-Eldorado Canyon State Park's Streamside Trail. 1 mile loop.
-First + Second Flatiron Hike. 2.6 mile loop.
-Boulder Creek Path. Paved.
-Longer and more difficult hikes here. Just remember that the altitude matters.

Rayback Collective

Farmer's Market

Ideal Market

Dushanbe Teahouse

Something good to eat. 
-Rayback Collective. A food truck venue where the locals meet to socialize, play games, + eat tasty fare from a rotating choice of food trucks.
-Ideal Market. Boulder's Whole Foods. Bulk fruits, vegetables, and bins full of granola, nuts, + such.
​-T|acos. Yum.
-Sweet Cow Ice-cream. Handcrafted on site with local ingredients.
-Farmer's Market. Fresh + local produce. Live music. Food tents.
-Alpine Modern. Coffee shop with a lovely patio.
-Dushanbe Teahouse. Built in Tajikistan.
-If we had more money to spend, I would have loved to try a couple of the more expensive spots like The Kitchen which is has a focus on green practices + local produce. This is not really a novelty in Boulder, however. Green + local are pretty easy to find.  :) 

Slightly off the beaten path.
-Innisfree Poetry Bookshop + Cafe. Jo was in her element.
-Common Threads. A bit more upscale thrift. Jo found a Patagonia jacket at a great price.
-Dairy Arts Center. Check the schedule for an interesting event or show.

Get inspired.
​-Neighborhoods. Communities like the one above feature small housing, efficient use of land, + community gardens. A dream.
-Transportation. It seems as if everyone bikes or walks in Boulder. Bike lanes + buses are everywhere. If a city like this, where it snows in the winter + gets hot in the summer can inspire living like this...why can't mine?
-Waste. Compost bins are easy to find. Recycling too. 
-Bike park. This pump track got Mr. Tribe's juices (+jealousy) going.  ;)

The emphasis and value placed on the outdoors is palpable in Boulder. This is a place where sustainability is at work. So many of the movement's principles are being embraced and moving forward. It is easy to want to pick up and move...to join what is already happening there, but I know that each of us has a job to do right where we are. How much more of a difference can I make as one of a few rather than one of the chorus.

Thank you for the inspiration, Boulder. We'll be back!

Love,
​Jane