PETERJ

The Boulder Wilderness Shuttle is a fun experience that should be enjoyed by anyone vacationing in the mountain city. If you like to experience nature with guidance and a healthy helping of history, then this tour is for you. The Shuttle offers an array of backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing, and just plain old walking tours for every weekend adventurer. You can also choose between day trips to excursions lasting up to a week long. I went on a photography tour in the lower regions of the Rockies, and managed to take home some really impressive photos. Felt almost like a pro!

The Twenty Ninth Street development, newly opened, boasts a wide array of shopping, dining and entertainment destinations. The open-air mall environment is pleasant for browsing and window-shopping, with brand name stores for all levels of spender. Many eateries populate the area, both chains and locally owned, so you have a place to go when all the walking has you exhausted. Great community feel to the neighborhood as well, not just another soulless development.

My first night out in Boulder, I was wandering around the Pearl Street Mall and came upon the Attic Bar and Bistro. My friends and I decided to go in and check it out, and we were very impressed with the atmosphere. The food is classic, American-style, just what we needed, and the drink prices were reasonable. Fun little place to end your day of sightseeing and tourism at the Mall.

15th Street headquarters the Whitewater Tube Company, a great spot to head with your family and friends on hot summer days in the city. With a wide selection of tube shapes and sizes, they have something for everyone. Boulder Creek is right around the corner, so once you have your gear you can just hop right in. Great way to cool off and relax as you drift downstream, and the sunny shores are a perfect place to stop for a picnic.

This area is a little off the beaten path, but I made the excursion out to Mile High Gliding, which I had read about on a travel website. Mile High gives scenic tours in their classic planes with stunning views of the Rockies and surrounding areas, criscrossing over white peaks covered with snow even in the warmth of the summer months. Skydiving and Hot Air Balloon trips are also available, for the more adventurous. The kids will simply enjoy walking around and checking out the diverse collection of aerial vehicles parked in Mile High's lot and hangar.

The Gateway Park Fun Center on North 28th in Boulder has something for the whole family, even the parents!! The complex boasts multiple miniature golf courses with plenty of exciting challenges and obstacles, a full gokart track, batting cages, a driving range, and a fully stocked arcade. Great place to spend a day of activities with loved ones, before taking a walk to one of many nearby restaurants for dinner. Beautiful view of the Rockies as well.

Located at the corner of 55th Street and Arapahoe Avenue, the Boulder Dinner Theatre is a fantastic place to bring your family for a night of food, fun and live entertainment. The theatre boasts a talented cast of actors with real experience from television and movies, who come back night after night to keep guests entertained with their Broadway-style shows. Dinner is included with ticket price, although you may choose to upgrade or add extra dishes for a small charge. Trust me, its worth it.

Arapahoe Avenue contains some of the best ethnic restaurants I have encountered in this mountain city. A walk down the street treats the pedestrian to a symphony of smells, each more tantalizing than the next. Open-air seating is great for the warm summer nights, but I can't imagine it would be as pleasant in the bitter cold of Boulder winters. I settled on the Royal Peacock, and was delighted by the delicious Indian cuisine at a relatively low price.

13th Street is the home to a surprising slice of foreign culture in the form of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. I was intrigued by the Oriental facade, so I stopped in to find out more. Turns out, the Teahouse building was actually built in Tajikistan, then exported for reconstruction in Boulder. The dishes I tried were interesting, a sort of combination of Persian and Indian spice cuisine, with delicious combinations of meats and vegetables.

The Pearl Street mall is a beautiful town center, with plenty to offer the visiting tourist. I visited in the winter seasons, when the winter cheer and festivity was abundant. The decorations are magical, and many local cafes and restaurants along the strip offer a warm respite in which to enjoy dinner and a drink in a comforting atmosphere.