How to Spend a Day in Boulder

Royal Arch Trail

The perfect half day trip formula is as follows: coffee + hike + food = a day well spent. If you live in the Denver metro area, a trip to Boulder, Colorado is the perfect place to spend the better part of the day.

Stop 1: Coffee at Capital One Cafe and Pearl St.

For our first stop, we checked out the Capital One Cafe in Boulder. If you have a Capital One credit card, check it out because all Capital One card holders get 50% off drinks! It’s hard to beat a deal like that. Don’t sweat it if you don’t have Capital One, all patrons are served here. The cafe has a sleek, modern interior making it a calming place to start the day and enjoy your first sips of something caffeinated. If you prefer being on the move to wake up, check out the boutiques and outdoor clothing stores on Pearl St.

Parking Info: We found convenient paid parking at 11th & Spruce Parking Garage.

Stop 2: Chautauqua Park

Chautauqua park is the ultimate hub for outdoors enthusiasts. There are multiple trailheads that begin at the park, including the Royal Arch Trail and the Flatirons Trail, both with spectacular views. Be sure to check the trail conditions prior to planning your day. Parts of the Royal arch trail were very icy and I used my spikes for portions of the trail. This trail was also much harder than expected, so please do your AllTrails research prior to showing up. I actually attempted this the first time in November and turned around because we were running out of daylight (we got a late start), but gave it another go around in December and made it. Totally worth the struggle.  

Parking Info: Parking at Chautauqua is free during the winter, but the lot fills up quickly. There is additional parking on the side streets surrounding the park.

Stop 3: Ramen

Our day ended with a warm bowl at Gaku Ramen. Soup hits different in the colder months, which is why I like taking advantage of soup season whenever I can. Goku Ramen has closed since our last visit, but Boulder visitors can order ramen at Dragonfly Noodle. You can view the up-to-date Boulder restaurant directory at: https://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/food-and-drink/restaurants/ .