Just a few hours outside Denver, Boulder is nestled in the foothills and the perfect just far enough trip for getting away for a long weekend or holiday. Despite living just down the road from Boulder I rarely spend much time up that way so planning a quick couples getaway for Drew and I was the perfect escape.
I am a sucker for historic hotels and when we started looking for a place to stay the Boulderado was immediately at the top of my list. Located just off the Pearl Street Mall the Boulderado opened in 1909 when the town of Boulder was barely a blip on the map. The property was established by a team of local business owners in need of a luxury hotel solution for visitors to the town. While the property has been updated for modern visitors, the charm and history throughout the hotel remains evident.
We stayed on the fifth floor in a room looking towards the mountains. Getting up to our room meant either taking the winding staircase or riding up in the manually operated Otis Elevator. One of the few remaining Otis Elevators in the country, a member of the Boulderado staff accompanies you to your destination both opening and closing the elevator cage doors. This unique feature is something you don’t typically see and definitely added to the fun of the experience.
Today’s rooms are a far cry from what visitors in 1908 might have experienced and guests can tour the property seeing an example of the original sleeping rooms, including the original standard room without private bath! Our room was extremely comfortable with windows overlooking the streets around. A large king sized bed was topped with beautifully embroidered bedspread and plenty of sitting room space made the entire suite feel like home.
Throughout the property a wide variety of historic artifacts are on display, including trunks refinished by the property historian, vintage clothing and even original radiators that once heated the rooms.
Three restaurant within the hotel itself means you don’t have to travel far for a drink or meal. Our first night in town Drew and I shared beers in the first floor sports bar while watching the end of the world series upon returning from dinner at the nearby Pasta J’s Italian restaurant.
In the morning the next day we woke up early and headed out to the nearby Chautauqua Park to hike the 1st and 2nd Flatirons. One of the most popular hikes in Colorado the trail was busy despite both the early hour and visiting on a Monday. If hiking on a weekend, plan for there to be large crowds. Just under 3 miles we incorrectly assumed this was a ‘easy’ hike, failing to realize that the 1400 foot elevation change would happen primarily at the very beginning of the trail.
Colorado is always a beautiful state but during the fall you can really appreciate the rich colors that come out in the changing colors of the leaves. This trail winds through the park giving panoramic views of the town of Boulder and Colorado University campus. We reached the final leg of the trail to discover that it was currently closed for maintenance but had time to enjoy a closer view of the iconic Flatirons before heading back into town for lunch.
Back in town we left the car at the Boulderado valet and walked two blocks to the newly opened Ruthie’s Boardwalk Social. Specializing in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, this was the perfect mid day treat. I picked the Italian Caprese, combining mozzarella, basil and pesto into an unforgettable grilled cheese delight. Drew chose the Classic and we both added a cup of tomato soup for dipping. This was exactly what I needed after an early morning hike.
Our second evening in town we ventured into the basement of the hotel to License No. 1. Owner of the 1st liquor license in Boulder the speakeasy style bar is the perfect place for starting or ending an evening (and is even available to book for private events). We enjoyed what I can truthful say was one of the best Moscow Mules I’ve ever had. Made with fresh ginger these cocktails made it hard to head onto dinner! After dinner at Jax FishHouse just a few blocks away we headed back to the hotel for a goodnights rest before returning home the next day.
Venturing just far enough from home to relax is the perfect way enjoy a quick couples getaway. With all the holiday celebrations just around the corner, now is the best time of year to head just slightly out of town and leave all the worries back home.
In honor of their 110th year the Boulderado is celebrating with a New Year’s Eve Grand Gala, just like the one hosted in 1909 when the property originally opened. You can join in on this year’s black tie optional celebration and enjoy a couples getaway of your own should you choose to stay the night up in Boulder.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay at the Boulderado to inspire this post. All opinions are my own.
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