The origins of Boulder are interesting and very different from its character today -- in 1858, a group of prospectors settled here looking for gold in the nearby mountains. The University and its student-dominated community defines modern day Boulder and there are excellent cafes, restaurants and bookshops here.

Visit Boulder anytime during the year, provided you are prepared for the vagaries of the weather. A good time to visit is during June to August when the Colorado Shakespeare Festival lays out a veritable feast of plays and during the Colorado Music Festival also held in summer. A lot of visitors come for the Memorial Day Bolder Boulder run when top international athletes and the city residents race through the streets of the town.

Boulder itself does not have too many sights to see. Pearl Street Mal is the most happening place in the city -- stop by and sample the wares of its various stores and cafes. Most visitors head to the nearby Flagstaff Mountain or venture further to see more of the Rockies. Visit the Celestial Seasonings Plant and see how teas are blended.

Just 27 miles away from Denver, you can reach Boulder on the I-25 and then on to the Boulder turnpike (highway 36). There are regular Denver RTD buses to the city. Getting around in Boulder is easy, largely due to the local shuttle service known as HOP -- buses link most areas within town. You can also hire bicycles and get on to the cycling trails in town and to the mountains.

Staying in Boulder is convenient as there are many reasonably priced hotels and motels. In summer, budget travelers attending the music festival can stay in the summer only youth hostel.

With its plethora of eating places oriented to the student community, eating out is cheap and fun in Boulder. Pearl Street has many restaurants, which offer great Japanese and Thai food along with European cuisine. This town is always humming with activity. Lectures, concerts, dance and music performances are regularly held here and the University is a major cultural hub. Also, with such a zestful young population, it is not surprising that the bars and pubs offer great entertainment options such as live music, karaoke and comedy shows.