How to Have an Awesome + Healthy Afternoon in Boulder

I knew from the tagline I was going to be all set: “Nourish Your Body. Feed Your Soul.” Yup, my kinda people.

They even had a cinnamon roll made of sprouted buckwheat and coconut sugar: how could I resist?!

The menu is all plant-based with TONS of organics! I even walked out of there with a few (healthy, non-sugary!) desserts!

 

 

Connect with People that Inspire You

While I knew Boulder is an amazing city, there was one definite reason I wanted to get up there: to meet up with Marc David!

Marc taught “Secrets of Mind Body Nutrition” at the en*theos Academy and I was the TA.

This is seriously one of my FAVORITE classes, and just about every day I’m practicing something I learned in there or telling others about the goodness! Such practical ideas + tips – I think you’d dig it!! :)

He also founded and runs the Institute for the Psychology of Eating. Central message: it’s not just what you eat, but who you are as an eater!

We had a great conversation at a local cafe, and the time just flew by!

Really loved Marc’s energy – oh and this guy is definitely doing something right: I think he easily looks 15-20 years younger than he actually is!! The benefits of healthy living and a positive mindset, right… ? ;)

 

Go for a Hike You Won’t Forget

Marc generously brought me to a trailhead nearby and gave me directions for a hike I could do in either a half-hour, or two hours. I took the latter option. :)

I walked through prairie dog country (they were popping up everywhere!), then came upon a lake, switched into my Vibram Five Fingers, and began the ascent!

I got some pretty good elevation, and then realized I wasn’t that far from the top! Who knows when I’d be back?! Gotta go for it!!

 

I had to go off-path for the last part, dodging small cactus plants and climbing rocks. Oh, and I discovered there were houses at the top of the mountain – that’s gotta be an awesome place to live!

I finally made it top the peak after about 40 minutes (not too shabby), and just kinda hung out and took in the view.

 

I even made a call to my buddy John – not a bad “office” for the day! What a crazy, cool world we live in!

 

 

Reinvent a Dinner Menu Item

After I (carefully) climbed down and headed downtown, I hopped on the computer and looked for food on Pearl St.

I didn’t find anything super close that was exactly what I was looking for, but I found a place that had some amazing choices items, and I knew I’d be able to make modifications to the menu!

I had no idea how awesome dinner was about to get.

I wandered over to the Mountain Sun Pub, sat down, and dove into the menu.

My waiter Pat was super cool: he does this thing where he grabs a seat at your table, to make the whole ordering process more conversational. Totally dig it!

I initially ordered this portabello and roasted red pepper sandwich without the bread or cheese. He suggested I just throw those two items onto a salad for a few bucks more. Two salads in one day?? :)

Sounded like a good idea to me!

 

And apparently, I wasn’t the only one: the server who brought over my food, Katie, put down my plate, saying “That looks soooooo good. We should totally have that on the menu!”

Haha. I made a friend through my unconventional ordering style. (The one other item I would have added: avocado! just didn’t think of it…)

Turns out Katie is a dietician, and I told her about : her eyes got super wide with excitement!

LOVE make those kinds of connection (not just with people, but also hooking them up with the cool places/resources I find)!

I had such a great time and experience at Mountain Sun that I filled out their comment card, recommending this item for the menu (Katie fully supports me on this one ;), and letting them know how great Pat is!

What an easy and fun way to give back to this place and to these two people. :)

 

Use the Remarkably Easy + Inexpensive Public Transportation

So Boulder is about an hour from Denver by car. In some places around the country, that would be a nightmare by public transit.

Not so here.

Not only did I take the bus from North Boulder to Downtown, I then hopped on a super comfy coach bus (!) from Boulder to Denver, got off at the Light Rail Stop, and took that directly to where I was staying in South Denver.

First bus cost $2.25 and I got a transfer for the second bus. Then on the second bus, I paid $2.75 and received an additional transfer for the Light Rail. LOVE how seamless and integrated all the public transit is — even across different cities!!

North Boulder –> Downtown Boulder –> Denver –> South Denver!

A distance of about 44 miles in about two hours for only $5. Not bad at all, plus the rides were all comfy and safe.

I even struck up conversation with a guy on the Light Rail (he totally had this Christian Bale-surfer vibe going!). This guy (Fred) commutes to Boulder daily using the Light Rail and Coach bus and doesn’t even own a car, just a skateboard – ha!

Good times, Boulder. Good times.

 

Totals:

So how did I make out…

Time in Boulder: 7 hours

Money Spent: $32 (food + metro)

Awesomeness: priceless! :)

 

What a day!! You know, living in Boulder at some point may have just been added to the list. Yup, it’s that sweet out there! :)

***

 

I had initially hoped to spend a week in Colorado. My travel plans changed once I booked a couple of speaking gigs at the Life Is Good Conference (totally a good reason! and my first talk is THIS Friday!! :).

Instead of completing the remainder of the Overly Ambitious Tour, I hopped on a plane and headed to Portland, Oregon, skipped across the Columbia River and landed in Vancouver, WA (ah, the PacNW…).

I’m actually looking for a housesitting gig for the summer months: I need to just stay in one place and do some WORK — so many ideas running around my head, and more travel is only creating more ideas. :) (good problem to have!)

If you’re headed out of town and need a super reliable and easygoing housesitter (to feed the dogs, cats, and plants!), feel free to give me a shout: I have references, and I’ve gotten my shots. ;)

 

Have you had an awesome afternoon somewhere? Been to Boulder and loved it?

 

I’d love to hear your response + any other thoughts you have below.

Looking forward to learning more!

 

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