Top Things to do for a Cheerful Holiday in Boulder
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We shared our favorite things to do and best places to see this holiday season in Boulder, CO. The holidays, when planned well, elevate the spirit!
Whether wrangling animated children along or experiencing a wonderful date night, we invite you to feel overjoyed while traveling in Boulder. (Yogis - don't miss out on our recent guide to the 5 best parks for awesome outdoor yoga in Boulder.)
Thankfully, frequencyRiser’s local experts carefully curated this list of best things to do when visiting Boulder for the holidays in 2017.
The venues, landmarks, retail stores, restaurants and others in this list are selected based on our local insights, reviews and ratings.
Best Places to Visit this Holiday Season in Boulder, CO 2017
We found the top 3 picks for each category below. Mix and match recommendations to create an awesome Boulder holiday itinerary!
- Best Places for Taking Pictures
- Best Places for Yoga & Meditation
- Cutest Stores in Boulder, CO
- Best Things to with Kids in Boulder
- Top Boulder Theaters (Performing Arts)
- Live Music Venues
- Boulder’s Best Trails
- City of Boulder Landmarks
Things to Do in Boulder this Holiday Season 2017
Best Places for Taking Pictures
- Panorama Point on Flagstaff Mountain
- Rating: 4.8 stars (94 reviews)
- Aptly named, from Panorama Point you can see Boulder and the surrounding areas with excellent clarity. Drive up or hike the steep incline from below. Either way, breathtaking views are guaranteed. Bring your camera!
- Address: Flagstaff Rd, Boulder, CO 80302
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- Boulder Creek Path
- Rating: 4.6 stars (83 reviews)
- Boulder Creek runs right through the heart of the city and is a hub for outdoor recreation, markets, festivals and quiet reflection. Near Pearl Street, discover a mix of great urban and nature photo opportunities.
- Address: Boulder, CO 80302
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- University of Colorado at Boulder
- Rating: n/a
- The University of Colorado at Boulder was voted 49 on Best College Review’s most beautiful campuses in the nation. From the sandstone and limestone to the red roofs, to the foothills of the mountains, the architecture and university scene creates a beautiful setting.
- Address: University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309
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Best Places for Yoga & Meditation
- Alandi Ashram
- Rating: 5 stars (2 reviews)
- Alandi Ashram, Alandi Ayurveda School and the Alandi Ayurveda Clinic are nestled up against the foothills in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 1990 by Alakananda Ma and Sadanandaji, Alandi provides unique and authentic ayurvedic experiences.
- Address: 2457 20th St, Boulder, CO 80304
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- Osho Leela Meditation Center USA
- Rating: 5 stars (2 reviews)
- Osho Leela is a spiritual meditation center in Boulder offering Osho's Kundalini Meditation Monday through Friday at 5:30pm, Dynamic Meditation Saturdays at 7am, and Satsang on Sundays at 10am. Several special events and retreats are also offered throughout the year.
- Address: 1025 Rosewood Ave, Boulder, CO 80304
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- Yoga Pod Boulder
- Rating: 4.9 stars (131 reviews)
- Yoga Pod Boulder offers a variety of yoga styles, including hot yoga, vinyasa, and yin yoga. Locals love this studio’s amazing community of yogis that encompass all ages, all body types and all levels. The yoga teachers have a reputation for being friendly and their ability to appropriately help both advanced and beginner yogis.
- Address: 1750 29th St, Boulder, CO 80301
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Cutest stores in Boulder, CO
- Boulder Book Store
- Rating: 4.7 stars (250 reviews)
- Consistently hyped as the “best bookstore ever,” this spacious 3-level bookstore stocks over 100,000 titles. Plus, Boulder Book Store hosts readings and other events on a regular basis. There’s a book here for everyone!
- Address: 1107 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
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- Bliss Boulder
- Rating: 4.6 stars (24 reviews)
- Bliss Boulder is a cozy, snug store specializing in housewares, pillows, candles, stationery, jewelry and unique gifts. This place has souvenirs for everyone and gift cards with genuine messages!
- Address: 1643 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
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- Clutter Consignment
- Rating: 4.3 (46 reviews)
- Clutter Consignment is a colorful store featuring a curated selection of consignment clothes, furniture, art and home decor. Their eclectic mix of wares are fun to explore, mix and match!
- Address: 2500 30th St, Boulder, CO 80301
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Best Things to with Kids in Boulder
- University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
- Rating: 4.4 stars (27 reviews)
- This is a cool little museum in the heart of the CU Boulder campus. See exhibits about the history of Boulder from ancient dinosaur fossils to current scientific findings. If you have kids and have not visited this treasure, do so soon. You and your kids will have a blast! Plus, admission is free.
- Address: Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302
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- Fiske Planetarium and Science Center
- Rating: 4.3 stars (35 reviews)
- Fiske Planetarium is a public museum dedicated to educating the public on astronomy and astrophysics. Great for kids and adults, enjoy awesome shows such as FiskEDM Laser Show, Dark Side of the Moon, and We Are Stars.
- Address: University of Colorado, 2414 Regent Dr, Boulder, CO 80309
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- Winter Skate
- Rating: 4 stars (1 review)
- Great for kids or a romantic date night, Winter Skate ice skating rink and the surrounding park will be illuminated with more than 225,000 LED lights for the holidays. Lights will be on display starting at 4:30 p.m. daily. The rink opens for the season on Friday, December 1, 2017.
- Address: 1780 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302
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Top Boulder Theaters (Performing Arts)
- The Dairy Center for the Arts
- Rating: 4.6 stars (102 reviews)
- The Dairy Center for the Arts is a neat old dairy plant house bustling with art galleries, a cinema and theaters for drama, dance and comedy troupes.
- Address: 2590 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302
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- The Historic Boulder Theater
- Rating: 4.5 stars (337 reviews)
- Founded in 1906, this art deco landmark is the best venue in Boulder for live music shows and films. Simply a great place to see some of the bigger (and smaller) acts that come through the area. Close to famous Pearl St., there are lots of other things to see and do in the area.
- Address: 2032 14th St, Boulder, CO 80302
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- The Nomad Theatre
- Rating: 4.5 stars (22 reviews)
- Quonset hut-style venue hosting local theatrical performances, orchestras and other arts-related events. The theatre has lots of character, with newly refurbished furniture, great amenities in the surrounding community, and friendly and accommodating staff.
- Address: 1410 Quince Ave, Boulder, CO 80304
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Live Music Venues
- Laughing Goat Coffee House
- Rating: 4.5 stars (332 reviews)
- This modern coffeehouse serves locally roasted, organic espresso and hosts live acts nightly. The Laughing Goat is home to many local and touring musicians. A great local scene with a good selection of drinks. Also, they have a nice message board in the back to get an idea of what's happening around Boulder.
- Address: 1709 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
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- Bohemian Biergarten
- Rating: 4.4 stars (272 reviews)
- This rustic, Czech-style bar and restaurant offers a huge beer menu and traditional plates, plus a patio and live music. Bohemian Biergarten is a fun place for a night of beer drinking, pierogi munching, and local music.
- Address: 2017 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302
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- The Fox Theatre
- Rating: 4.3 stars (216 reviews)
- The Fox Theatre is a live music club with two bars on The Hill in Boulder, Colorado. The ambiance is near unbeatable. See big names here or local bands for an authentic taste of Boulder’s live music scene.
- Address: 1135 13th St, Boulder, CO 80302
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Boulder’s Best Trails
- Marshall Mesa Trailhead
- Rating: 4.7 (47 reviews)
- Marshall Mesa provides an easy 2.5 mile loop hike with amazing views of the Foothills and front range. Great for families with small kids to advance with minimal elevation gain and some rocky terrain. Explore further by following the trails East towards Superior or South towards Hwy 128.
- Address: 5258 Eldorado Springs Dr, Boulder, CO 80303
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- Realization Point
- Rating: 4.6 stars (47 reviews)
- This scenic point on Flagstaff Mountain has expansive views (don’t forget your camera!) as well as an amphitheater. Realization Point connects to a number of other beautiful trailways, including Flagstaff trail and Green Mountain.
- Address: Flagstaff Rd, Boulder, CO 80302
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- Mount Sanitas Trailhead
- Rating: 4.6 stars (128 reviews)
- Mount Sanitas Trail is a moderate to difficult trail which meanders both sides of the ridge leading to the summit of Mount Sanitas. The southern portion of the trail has several rock climbing areas. Incredible views of Boulder and beyond are the reward for making it to the top!
- Address: Sunshine Canyon Dr, Boulder, CO 80304
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City of Boulder Landmarks
- Eldorado Canyon State Park
- Rating: 4.8 stars (563 reviews)
- Eldorado Canyon State Park is a local favorite of the Colorado State Park system. The park has two main areas, the Inner Canyon and Crescent Meadows. It's an easy drive in from Boulder, about 5 minutes into the mountains.
- Address: 9 Kneale Rd, Eldorado Springs, CO 80025
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- Folsom Field
- Rating: 4.6 stars (178 reviews)
- Folsom Field is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. Home field of the Colorado Buffaloes, sports buffs must catch a game here in Boulder!
- Address: 2400 Colorado Ave, Boulder, CO 80302
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- Pearl Street Mall
- Rating: 4.6 stars (2,650 reviews)
- The Pearl Street Mall is a four-block-long pedestrian mall in Boulder, Colorado. Stretching from 11th Street to 15th Street along Pearl Street, the Pearl Street Mall is home to an eclectic collection of retail businesses and restaurants.
- Address: Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302
- Learn More
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Also in FrequencyRiser Conscious Lifestyle Blog
Cultivating Mindfulness: How to Practice Mindfulness Meditation
Cultivating mindfulness is the key to overcoming suffering and recognizing natural wisdom: both our own and others'. How do we go about it?
In the Buddhist tradition and in Contemplative Psychotherapy training, we nurture mindfulness through the practice of sitting meditation. There are many different kinds of meditation. For example, some are designed to help us relax; others are meant to produce altered states of consciousness.
Mindfulness meditation is unique in that it is not directed toward getting us to be different from how we already are. Instead, it helps us become aware of what is already true moment by moment. We could say that it teaches us how to be unconditionally present; that is, it helps us be present with whatever is happening, no matter what it is.
Mindfulness, paying precise, nonjudgmental attention to the details of our experience as it arises and subsides, doesn't reject anything. Instead of struggling to get away from experiences we find difficult, we practice being able to be with them. Equally, we bring mindfulness to pleasant experiences as well. Perhaps surprisingly, many times we have a hard time staying simply present with happiness. We turn it into something more familiar, like worrying that it won't last or trying to keep it from fading away.
When we are mindful, we show up for our lives; we don't miss them in being distracted or in wishing for things to be different. Instead, if something needs to be changed we are present enough to understand what needs to be done. Being mindful is not a substitute for actually participating in our lives and taking care of our own and others' needs. In fact, the more mindful we are, the more skillful we can be in compassionate action.
It's Still Such a Wonderful World
It's easy to lose sight of the beauty of the world in the midst of tragedy, political upheaval, injustice and suffering. While we continue with our practice, working to ease the suffering of others and living a life of compassion and Love, we also need to be mindful and grateful for the beauty of the world that still surrounds us when we choose Love. Like Pops says, "Love baby. Love. That's the secret."
"What a Wonderful World" [1970 Spoken Introduction Version] along with Oliver Nelson's Orchestra is a song written by Bob Thiele (as George Douglas) and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world (Thiele as a producer and Weiss as a composer/performer). Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Intended as an antidote for the increasingly racially and politically charged climate of everyday life in the United States, the song also has a hopeful, optimistic tone with regard to the future, with reference to babies being born into the world and having much to look forward to.
From Yama to Samyama
However, the ultimate goal of practicing yoga is to achieve transcendence and to break this cyclic existence. Dharana, dhyana, and samadhi are the three states that prepare one toward this transcendental goal. These three together is called Samyama (sam meaning total and yama meaning to control). “So Samyama means complete mastery over the psychic process or complete control of mental concentration.”