Boulder vs Denver which is nicer to stay at..

[Mac4life30]

Looking for cities with night life/bars/restaurants.. A city that is easily walkable and bigger than just a couple blocks... Last year I went to Boston and though I am sure there is no comparison I wanted to stay somewhere that I can walk from one bar to the next....Check out different shops/restaurants without having to drive... (even though I will have a car)... going in NOv

 

[monsterkitty]

Are you driving to the area or flying into DIA?

If you're flying you can skip renting a car and take either Lyft if you decide Boulder or Light Rail if you decide Denver.

Are you going just for the nightlife and bar hopping, or do you want to sight see as well?

If you're going just for nightlife I would pick Boulder. The Pearl Street Mall has bars and different little shops. There is also a lot of interesting types of entertainment on the Pearl Street Mall.

The 16th Street Mall in Denver also has the bars and there are a lot of bars within walking distance. However, I'm more comfortable walking around Boulder's Mall than Denver. Boulder is just different and it's beautiful.

 

[snoopy5386]

Boulder is gorgeous! Walkable, small town feel in a city. Would move there in a heartbeat. I vote there over Denver.

 

[beckicnm]

For the record, Boulder is where my heart lives. I lived there for 5 years. My children were born there. You can't go wrong going to Boulder.

But, especially if you like art, music and/or drinking, Rino in Denver is really fun too. Lots of art/music, lots of breweries - Great Divide, Epic, Odell and Infinite Monkey Theorum if you like wine. They have free shuttles around on Saturdays , so you can walk as much or as little as you want.

Either one, I highly recommend Snooze for the morning after.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Boulder. Very walkable (and good busses if you want to go further), lots of cute local shops and tons of good locally owned places to dine.
(and I wouldn't bother to get a car)

If you are staying a full week, maybe do a split stay between the two.

 

[mamamary]

We were only in both during the daytime but we enjoyed Boulder more. We had a great time in Colorado in general.

 

[Micca]

How's the weather in November? Seems like it could get pretty chilly to be out in the evenings walking around shops, etc.

 

[monsterkitty]

How's the weather in November? Seems like it could get pretty chilly to be out in the evenings walking around shops, etc.

You will need a jacket or a coat in the evening. However, in the day it could be in the60's or 70s. It may also be a blizzard. Our winters are becoming more and more mild and I often just wear a light jacket or a hoodie most of the winter.

 

[Micca]

You will need a jacket or a coat in the evening. However, in the day it could be in the60's or 70s. It may also be a blizzard. Our winters are becoming more and more mild and I often just wear a light jacket or a hoodie most of the winter.

It except for the blizzard part that sounds awesome! It's been too long since I've visited Colorado, should really get out there again.

 

[Hrhpd]

You will need a jacket or a coat in the evening. However, in the day it could be in the60's or 70s. It may also be a blizzard. Our winters are becoming more and more mild and I often just wear a light jacket or a hoodie most of the winter.

Or 70 before noon, then a 40 degree temperature drop as the cold front comes over the mountains, and a blizzard by 3.

Plenty of days I left for work in a light sweater and flats/no socks only to have to put the winter boots on to scrape the car after work. Ahhh, I miss Colorado

 

[AlohaNow]

Boulder is definitely more interesting than Denver!

 

[Kitty 34]

Years ago when I lived in Ft, Collins, CO I had an appointment in early November down in Boulder and had to cancel due to a snowstorm.

But I would take Boulder over Denver for what you'd like to do.

 

[Mac4life30]

Are you driving to the area or flying into DIA?

If you're flying you can skip renting a car and take either Lyft if you decide Boulder or Light Rail if you decide Denver.

Are you going just for the nightlife and bar hopping, or do you want to sight see as well?

If you're going just for nightlife I would pick Boulder. The Pearl Street Mall has bars and different little shops. There is also a lot of interesting types of entertainment on the Pearl Street Mall.

The 16th Street Mall in Denver also has the bars and there are a lot of bars within walking distance. However, I'm more comfortable walking around Boulder's Mall than Denver. Boulder is just different and it's beautiful.

I wanted to sight see as well.. thats why I am torn about the car rental.. as I do want to venture out to the Rockies one day.. Maybe a brewery....I am making the trek and staying in Telluride and Breckenridge two days.. So I do need the car but know for the Denver/Boulder days it will mostly go unused..

 

[monsterkitty]

Rent the car and stay in Boulder a few days. On one of those days drive up to Estes Park and the Stanley Hotel. It's about an hour drive ( I accidently put in bike when I googled the distance and it said it would take 4 hours. Then I realized my mistake haha). If the weather is iffy the drive will take longer on the mountain roads. I haven't driven up there in forever so I can't really help.

There are tons of Micro Brews all over Boulder and Longmont. I'm not a beer fan so I can't help you there.

 

[Frwinkley]

Can someone suggest sights/areas that we should visit during a week's long stay in Colorado? We are thinking of such a trip next summer, flying in and out of Denver. Our interests are similar to the OP, but we would definitely rent a car. We are not adverse to stay 2 nights in a few different locations.

Thank you!

 

[monsterkitty]

I wanted to sight see as well.. thats why I am torn about the car rental.. as I do want to venture out to the Rockies one day.. Maybe a brewery....I am making the trek and staying in Telluride and Breckenridge two days.. So I do need the car but know for the Denver/Boulder days it will mostly go unused..

Can someone suggest sights/areas that we should visit during a week's long stay in Colorado? We are thinking of such a trip next summer, flying in and out of Denver. Our interests are similar to the OP, but we would definitely rent a car. We are not adverse to stay 2 nights in a few different locations.

Thank you!

Fly into Denver and stay in Boulder or Denver.
I would then go to Glenwood Springs for a day or two for the hot springs and the sight seeing. If you like to river raft or want to try it, Glenwood is a great place.
Glenwood isn't that far from Aspen so you could take a day trip over there.
Breckinridge is good for a few days.

Personally, my favorite part of the state is the Durango/Telluride area. Durango is a 7 hour drive from Denver. But, you could stop at the Sand Dunes outside of Alamosa on your way there. On the return trip to Denver I would go through

Silverton/​

Telluride/Ouray route that will take you through Gunnison and the Black Canyon National Park. Also 7 hours, maybe a bit more, but worth it.​

 

[snoopy5386]

Something to be aware of in case you didn’t know - altitude sickness. We traveled to Boulder last summer with a group of 11, 2 of us got it and I had it the worst. While we still had a good time, I was really quite miserable, like having a horrific hangover for half the day. Really cut into what I was able to do out there. We stayed a few miles outside of Boulder but 2000 ft higher in elevation. My other friend who had it had been to Boulder before and been fine, so it’s really random. My friend was mostly better by day 3 or 4 of our trip and while I did see improvement as the week went on, I wasn’t really better till we returned home. I’d love to go back, but I’m afraid! It was a rough week!!

 

[monsterkitty]

Something to be aware of in case you didn’t know - altitude sickness. We traveled to Boulder last summer with a group of 11, 2 of us got it and I had it the worst. While we still had a good time, I was really quite miserable, like having a horrific hangover for half the day. Really cut into what I was able to do out there. We stayed a few miles outside of Boulder but 2000 ft higher in elevation. My other friend who had it had been to Boulder before and been fine, so it’s really random. My friend was mostly better by day 3 or 4 of our trip and while I did see improvement as the week went on, I wasn’t really better till we returned home. I’d love to go back, but I’m afraid! It was a rough week!!

Yes, altitude sickness is a real thing and can be scary! I teach outside of Denver. Our 6th graders went to outdoor ed in Estes Park. A handful of them got altitude sickness despite living at over 5200 feet.

While you can't always avoid getting altitude sickness, you can lessen your chances of getting it or a more severe case by avoiding alcohol and drinking plenty of water or Gatorade. It helps to acclimatize by staying at a lower altitude for a few days in Denver or Boulder before going to the mountains. Once in the mountains drink water and Gatorade and avoid that alcohol. Also wear plenty of sunscreen no matter where you are here in Colorado because we do have so many days of sun. Even if its cold the sun is still probably out.

 

[Mac4life30]

Can someone suggest sights/areas that we should visit during a week's long stay in Colorado? We are thinking of such a trip next summer, flying in and out of Denver. Our interests are similar to the OP, but we would definitely rent a car. We are not adverse to stay 2 nights in a few different locations.

Thank you!

Some of the places I have seen that jumped out were Telluride/Breckenridge/Vail/Million Dollar Highway/garden of the gods/san juan national forest/Rocky Mount Park...