Boulder, Colorado

Boulder http://www.bouldercoloradousa.com/ is only 50km from Denver, but is a total contrast. Nestled up against the mountains, Boulder has 30,000 acres of open space, 56 Parks and more bicycles than people. I met up with a ranger at Chautauqua Open Space trail-head, part of a vast protected area set up in the 1890’s to preserve the mountain back drop http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2996&Itemid=1035 . The hike in the foothills was sparkling (top) and the meadows were ablaze with the spring wild flowers (middle). After lunch at The West End Tavern www.thewestendtavern.com/ , we explored the Pearl Street Mall (bottom) which is the downtown pulse of Boulder, pedestrianized and full of eclectic shopping opportunities. Up in the hills above town we met up with Tim Barnes at the National Center for Atmospheric Research to learn about weather, climate and global warming – fascinating stuff! www.ncar.ucar.edu/