1. The Weather
Yes, the weather IS all it’s cracked up to be! Boulder enjoys all four seasons in their entirety, with none of them being too long or too extreme. We are blessed with ~300 sunny days per year, although on some of those bright clear days, it can be chilly. But we don’t have gloom or grey skies, and we don’t endure much humidity. One thing to note: our weather can change on a dime and the forecasters are seldom right!
2. Prohibition Laws
No booze at the grocery store…yet! If you are coming from another state, you are probably used to being able to go into your local grocery store and buy wine and normal beer. Colorado’s liquor laws throwback to the dissembling of prohibition in the 1930’s. Retail liquor licenses—the one that applies to grocery stores—are limited to one location, per company, in the whole state. So as of today, the only liquor you can buy in a grocery store is 3.2 beer, so don’t make the mistake of bringing this watery swill to the BBQ you are invited to. For the real deal, you’ll have to go to a liquor store, that is, until pending legislation is passed to allow you to do otherwise.
3. Water, Water & More Water!
H2O is your new best friend. While we are on the topic of drinking, get in the habit of drinking LOTS of water when you are here. When you live over a mile high at 5430 feet above sea level, it is important to stay hydrated. What seems like a hangover or just an annoying headache and/or perhaps an upset stomach could be signs of altitude sickness. What seems like a simple exercise routine at sea level will feel more intense in Boulder. In time you will acclimate, and drinking lots of water will help. Our climate is very arid and dry so the hydration will help your skin adjust to that, too.
4. A Few of Our Favorite Things...
People in Boulder love three things the most: dogs, beer, and yoga!
-
People in the Boulder area are a little canine crazy. Many employers and offices are dog-friendly and a few stores too – take your pup to McGuckins, or the bank drive through, and instead of getting the traditional bank Dum-Dum lollipop you’ll get a dog biscuit! But be aware that we do have leash laws, and there are tag requirements in order for your furry best friend to roam free on the Open Space.
-
More than 10 percent of the nation’s craft breweries can be found in Colorado. This is quite an impressive statistic given that the state is home to less than 2 percent of the country’s population. The Front Range, and Boulder in particular, is where much of this brewing takes place. Tap rooms constantly pop up everywhere and everyone has their favorites, just ask!
-
A city with a reputation for being one of the healthiest, happiest, most livable places in the country, Boulder has an unbeatable yoga scene, too. As a result Boulder is listed by Yoga Journal as the #3 Top Yoga-Friendly Town in the US. The area is also the birthplace of organic yoga clothing and product companies such as Prana and Gaiam, and home to several large yoga festivals that attract attendees from all over the world. This is the place to get your Ohm on!
5. We're Serious Athletes
Don’t be surprised if you bump into a professional athlete at the local Farmer’s Market. We aren’t talking NFL, NBA, NHL or any of those other three-letter acronyms. We are talking world-class runners, cyclists and triathletes who love the quality of life here, access to open space for training, and want to live and train at altitude. Every Memorial Day we celebrate the Bolder Boulder, one of the country’s largest and most popular 10k races that draws major competitors to the professional wave. Boulder now has its own Ironman race, as well as countless other races, swimming events and triathlons, many held at the wonderful Boulder Reservoir, our biggest body of water.
6. Landlocked
Speaking of water, we really have none. As a real estate office, we receive a lot of calls from people who want to relocate here, and we always have a little chuckle when one of them lists waterfront in their home buying criteria. We are landlocked here, folks, but you’ll get used to it. Our gorgeous Rocky Mountains make up for that, and you will find a few streams, rivers, small lakes and reservoirs here and there to get your fix in. Local peeps who miss their former life by the sea can get a little water fix in at The Rez - the Boulder Reservoir, our area’s 700 acre multi-use recreation and water storage facility. It's meager compared to the Atlantic or Pacific, but it’ll do.
7. Food
If you like to eat, you found the right town. Whether you are vegan or carnivore, five-star fancy or food truck casual, Boulder has countless highly rated options for whatever pleases your palate. Top Chef winner and home-grown talent Hosea Rosenberg makes his home here with a restaurant and new butcher shop. If you’re not a meat lover you have landed in the veggie capital of the world. And Boulder is home to many, many natural food industry companies including Whole Foods (whose corporate headquarters is here), White Wave, Justin’s Nut Butters, Celestial Seasonings, and the list could go on and on, and on! You can always start your own food company, too: the area is a great incubator for start-ups of all kinds.
8. Colorado Quirks
Quirks of Colorado…if you come from a state where you went to the DMV for everything driving and car related, sorry no one-stop shopping here! You’ll have to make another stop at the County Clerk’s office to register your vehicle. Take a number and wait in line! We aren’t a political primary state, so you’ll have to get introduced to caucusing if you want to be involved in the political process. More lines, during primary season...
9. Politics
Speaking of politics, Boulder has its fair share of nicknames, with one of the more common being “The People’s Republic.” If your political leanings tend to drift anywhere right of center…fair warning, you will be in the minority. The 2nd District has not elected a Republican Representative to Congress since 1975. Boulder has also been called the Berkeley of the Rockies, The Bubble, and 25 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality.
10. Rising Home Prices
All kidding aside, you will seriously love it here…but it ain’t cheap. There is a reason why Boulder’s housing prices continue to increase by at least 4-5% a year consistently, and the median home price of the least expensive 25% of properties is almost $600k. Everyone wants to live here, and why not? It’s the quality – the quality of life, weather, air quality, great schools, abundance of outdoor recreation, casual culture, incredible restaurants, charming downtown and Pearl Street, the legendary Farmer’s Market…seriously, the list could go on for at least 3 more blog posts. You will love it here. Just be prepared to pay for it, just like over 100,000 of your soon-to-be new best friends do!