VISITING BOULDER, CO
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Jamie Travel Tips has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Jamie Travel Tips and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers on the website of Jamie Travel Tips are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on this website. Jamie Travel Tips does not include all card companies or all available card offers.EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. We decided to visit Boulder, CO when the stars aligned.
Here’s what I mean…
In high school I had two really great friends. As you can imagine, as the years went on, we moved around and didn’t see each other as much.
With me living in Southern California, one in Western Australia, and one in Cheyenne, WY, it wasn’t really possible. But.. then my friend in AUS was staying with family in Fort Collins, CO & the 3 of us figured, when would we EVER have a chance to get together again?!
So, with two kids in tow I decided to visit a city we’d never been to before & we all got together.
My kids could NOT have loved Boulder more! My 5 yo said several times he wanted to move there.
My travel style is pretty laid-back. I like to travel like a local & not Jam Pack our schedules! This allows for naps and meltdowns and no one’s expectations are ruined.
We spent 3 days at the Hyatt House Broomfield, about 20 minutes from downtown Boulder. (This worked out PERFECT since my 2 yo would only nap in the car.) This was only their second time ever staying in a hotel!
The Details:
King Studio Suite - room had a kitchen which was GREAT! We had leftovers almost every day from somewhere we’d gone out to eat. This really helped save on food.
Free Breakfast - my kids LOVE running down the hall for some Fruit Loops
Afternoon Cookies in Lobby
Super Clean
Great Staff
BOULDER CREEK PARK: Best spot for the whole family!
PARKS WE LOVED
Let me tell you, Coloradoans are active! For a place that has winter half the year and the kids (probably? lol) aren’t even playing outside, the parks were LEGIT! We were super impressed with how modern and clean all of them were.
Boulder Creek Park/Path - Boulder, CO - We went here 2/3 days because we couldn’t get enough! Paved pathway for miles, walk down to wade in the water, bring tubes to go down the river, restrooms, playground, street parking.. this one truly had it ALL
Chautauqua Park - Boulder, CO - Free parking for SOME of the year, but the lot does charge during peak season. Gift shop, restaurant, restrooms & located at the bottom of the Trail Head. If you’re wanting to hike, this is a perfect spot!
Founders Park - Superior, CO - Right across the street from a Target and shopping center
Purple Park - Superior, CO - Also has two ponds & running water the boys loved throwing rocks/sticks in!
The real reason we love parks:
they’re free!
WOW! Children’s Museum
Children’s museums in big cities are often super crowded and you’re fighting through kids to even get to the activities. They’re loud and overstimulating. Honestly put, they’re not for us.
This was the opposite of all of this!
Extremely chill and easy to navigate. The kids played at all the different stations & were able to fully take everything in. If you’re comfortable with it, you can even let the kids go play and there’s benches/chairs throughout for parents to sit and read, breathe, scroll their phones, whatever!
THE POINTS DETAILS
Hotel Stay - 2 nights would have cost $300
We paid 15,500 points transferred from my favorite bank
Flights - 3 round trip flights would have cost $405 (there was a killer sale!)
We paid 14,000 fave airline points for 2 flights + one FREE with our Southwest Companion Pass
To read more about trips I have taken using these cards, check out these blog posts:
Sweet Spots for Capital One Miles
Hyatt House Anaheim Resort/Convention Center