Boulder is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding countryside and Rocky mountain range. While the city is not teeming with hotels, there is a good and varied selection of accommodation from hotels to motels and even a youth hostel.

A popular choice is the quaint Hotel Boulerado, located near the busy Pear street mall and set in a restored building. This historic hotel has a reputable restaurant and two bars in addition to nice rooms. Also in the same area are a few other hotel choices set in restored buildings which give a sense of what Boulder was like in its early days, when it attracted hopeful gold prospectors.

For a piece of luxury, Boulder has one five-star establishment downtown. The St Julien Hotel has all the amenities you would expect of a first class hotel and is conveniently situated just a few blocks from the popular shopping hub of Pearl street mall. 

Boulder’s bed and breakfast establishments can make for a more intimate experience, with charming lodgings available in a number of grand old buildings. A cheaper alternative is to stay at a motel, with a few lodgings of this variety on offer along the banks of Boulder Creek. Near the University of Colorado is a single youth hostel, mainly catering to students, as well as a few well appointed hotels.

Perhaps the most exciting way to experience Boulder and its surrounds is to go camping. Numerous campsites dot the area, including five official campgrounds in the Rocky Mountain National Park: Moraine Park, Glacier Basin, Aspenglen, Longs Peak and Timber Creek. Reservations are strongly recommended if you want to avoid disappointment. Alternatively, you can camp in backcountry so long as you have a permit, obtainable at the park’s headquarters for a fee.