Travel Guide: What I Wore & Things to Do In Boulder, Colorado
BOULDER, COLORADO
Hotel Boulderado’s historic stained-glass ceiling lobby.
Background: I’ve actually lived in Boulder, Colorado before, so it was a treat to be invited back by the historic Boulderado Hotel for a stay recently. You can read my full feature on that adventure here. Below I’ve also offered other options for things to do in the area in case you want to explore the city a little more than I did on my last stay. My outfits and restaurant choices below are featured strictly from my Boulderado stay. If you’d like other eating or entertainment recommendations for Boulder, send me a message on Instagram.
Hotel Boulderado’s Historic King Suite features victorian-era decor throughout.
What I Wore: Outfit one is a white dress like this one from Banana Republic. I love their line because they offer petite sizing and classic looks. My shoes are throwback Jessica Simpson patent white pumps that I’ve had for a couple of years. Browse pumps like mine here. I wore a pair of pearls to complete this classic look.
Outfit two is a vintage 60s gogo-style cutout floral print dress worn with black Jellypop Mozart Wedges (a $13 steal right now for summer!) and a pair of pink tassel bow earrings. I couldn’t find my exact earrings (bought them about a year ago) but browse similar styles here.
Hotel Boulderado has a mix of historic and modern decor with lush, fun furniture pieces on every floor.
What I Did: You can see much of Boulder in just one day. I recommend hiking Boulder’s beautiful Chautauqua area near the Flatirons, wandering the downtown shopping district Pearl Street Mall, checking out University of Colorado at Boulder’s incredible campus, walking the downtown Boulder Creek path, snagging some fresh produce at the Boulder County Farmer’s Market, or taking a Celestial Seasonings tea tour (the Peppermint room is my favorite part!).
waking up at hotel boulderado with their plush bathrobes and other luxury amenities.
What I Ate: I stopped for a glass of Cabernet at Boulderado’s The Corner Bar before dining at the farm-to-table fresh Spruce Farm & Fish restaurant for dinner. At Spruce, I sampled the Blue Crab Cakes appetizer (delightful and paired with citrus), the Sweet Pea & Mint Linguini (phenomenally fresh with a soft poached egg and delectable English peas), and the Crème Brûlée (a tasty rich custard with fresh berries and a perfectly caramelized top). It was a seriously incredible meal.
After dinner, I headed downstairs to the hotel’s speakeasy, License No. 1, where I sipped one of the bar’s specialty cocktails, the Boulder Mule. Served in a copper mug, the delightfully refreshing drink is a combination of vodka, St. George pear liqueur, house ginger cordial, and vanilla ginger syrup perfect for summer. License No. 1 has an entire book of custom cocktails, some spirit-heavy; others floral focused or sweet. You can read more about my wining and dining adventures on this trip here.
The historic check-in area at Hotel Boulderado.
Where I Stayed: In the Historic King Suite at Hotel Boulderado. This suite features Victorian-era decor, a spacious sitting area with amenities like fresh spring water, and plush Boca bathrobes perfect for winding down or starting your day. The floral wallpaper, iron headboard, and soft colors of the room add to the suite’s beautiful decor details while the room’s vintage desk area allowed me to get some much needed work done before exploring the rest of my stay. Hotel Boulderado was the first luxury hotel built in Boulder, Colorado and it remains one of the top places to stay in the city. Learn more about it in my full feature on Hotel Boulderado here.
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