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Summer is here and the mountains are calling, but there’s so much more to do in Colorado, even if your student is just staying put in Boulder. Here’s our list of the quintessential, must-do adventures in Boulder County and a few beyond to share with your student this summer. 

Tube the Boulder Creek

Tubing the Boulder Creek through town is a rite of passage for all who call Boulder and the surrounding area home. With a little preparation, proper equipment and a plan for where to put in and get out, a summer float through Boulder can be a perfect way to spend a few hours. The Outdoor Pursuits office at The Rec features an equipment rental center and rents tubes, helmets and life jackets for daily or multi-day use, and they’re open every day in the summer. For more information on how to enter and exit the creek, check out this .

Celebrate the 4th at Ralphie’s Independence Day Blast

Is your student staying in town for the 4th of July this year? Let them know they can celebrate at  with live music, activities and a fire-proof night sky drone show in place of traditional fireworks. 

Eat hyperlocal

Outdoor, seasonal farm dinners grew dramatically in popularity during the pandemic, but these farm–to-table dining experiences are here to stay! Diners eat beside the gardens that produced their meal and are usually visited by not only the featured chef that evening but also the farm’s resident animals. If you’ll be visiting Boulder this summer and would like to try and unique dining experience, check out the line up of farm dinners from some of our favorite chefs and locales including ,  and the .

Does your student crave a farm-to-table meal but can’t make it to the farm? There are many restaurants in Boulder just a short walk from campus that can satisfy the need for clean food. Consider checking out , ,  or one of the many restaurants owned by .

They can also shop locally at farmer’s markets in Boulder, Louisville, Longmont, Lafayette and Lyons! Offering so much more than local harvests, your student can enjoy a meal, listen to music and enjoy the bounty of produce grown in Colorado. For a complete list of markets in the Boulder area, check out this .

Pool hop through Boulder County

Some of the best public pools exist right here in Boulder County and can be enjoyed without breaking the bank. Encourage your student to start off with a dip right on CU Boulder’s campus in the Buff Pool because where else can one swim in a pool the shape of a buffalo? Access to the pool is free to all Buff OneCard holders on Welcome Wednesdays, June 7 through Aug. 2, 2023. 

Once they’ve had their fill of the “Ralphie” pool, they can walk or ride over to  just off campus. This recently renovated pool is named after one of Boulder's most famous astronauts and features a lazy river, multiple slides, a splash pool and lap swimming.

Is your student a diver? Let them know they can check out the  where the springboard and high dive await, the snack bar has the best treats and the manager is always open to requests as he finetunes the pool’s Spotify playlist.

Finally, let your student know they can catch the  to . This 100+ year old attraction is a swimming experience unlike any other! Tell them to pack hiking shoes, fishing poles or a mountain bike too because the pool is located just outside .

Attend the Colorado Shakespeare Festival

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is known for being ‘theater under the stars’ and is held annually on CU Boulder’s campus from June through August. There’s really no better way to see The Bard’s work than this. The 2023 lineup features five different plays and tickets can be .

Check out The Rec

Has your student considered trying the equipment and facilities, a fitness class or an instructional program at The Rec but hesitated to do so? This summer might be the best time to try it out. The Rec truly has something for everyone with state-of-the-art equipment, multiple pools and courts, a climbing gym, and a full line up of and 4-8 week instructional programs. Access to the Rec’s facilities and general exercise equipment is free on Wednesdays from June 7 through Aug. 2, 2023 for all Buff OneCard holders if they’d like to check it out at no cost.

See a show at Red Rocks Amphitheater

 is known as one of the best outdoor music venues in the world and is located just 40 minutes from Boulder. The venue attracts some of the best musical acts and comedians to its stage for unforgettable performances in an unforgettable setting. Early arrival is always encouraged to enjoy the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, explore the grounds and take in the views.

If a Red Rocks concert is beyond your student’s budget this summer, venues throughout Boulder County offer free and low-cost concerts to fill almost every night of the week. Check out some of our favorites including Chataqua’s , Lyon’s , Pearl Street’s , Longmont’s  and Louisville’s .

Ready for a road trip? Visit a National Park

 is the closest option to Boulder. Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompass a spectacular range of mountain environments and cross the Continental Divide. Be sure to encourage your student to plan ahead though, timed entry reservations are required between May 26 and Oct. 22.

 is located just four hours south of Boulder makes one feel as though they’ve been transported to another planet. Pack goggles, rent a board from one of the many shops right outside the park and enjoy a day sledding down the tallest sand dunes in North America. In May and June one can splash (and sometimes float) in the Medano Creek which travels right through the park and creates a unique beach experience unlike any seen before. Visit the park’s  for the latest information on conditions in the park before heading out.

If your student is up for a longer drive, there are two additional parks located towards the southwest corner of the state. , located about five hours away near Montrose, is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of Colorado. This park exposes visitors to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rocks and roughest spires in North America. , located about seven hours from Boulder, is a  and . The park honors the rich heritage and culture of the ancestral Pueblo people who formerly lived there and protects the historic cliff dwellings they built.