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B O U LD E R , CO LO R A D O Get happy in this college town at the base of the mountains. by Elizabeth Arrighi Borsting
28 ORA NGE C O AST • July 2021
HISTORIC DIGS
When the Hotel Boulderado opened on New Year’s Day 1909, Teddy Roosevelt occupied the White House and Mary Pickford made her screen debut. While the hotel has one foot in the elegance of a bygone era, it effortlessly bridges the past and present by offering modern amenities. The Italian Renaissance retreat features an iconic stained-glass canopy ceiling, a cantilevered cherry wood staircase, and the original 1906 Otis elevator still in use. Slumber in a room cloaked in Victorian elegance or opt for
the chambers with contemporary furnishings ($290 and up). PEARL JAM
A visit to bustling Pearl Street Mall feels slightly familiar—think a more urban Downtown Disney without Mickey and Minnie. This pedestrian-only destination in the heart of downtown stretches four blocks and is lined with stores, services, and restaurants punctuated by a plethora of pubABOVE Hotel Boulderado combines historic elegance with modern features.
P H O T O G R A P H B Y M A R I S S A D A I LY
W
hen Garry Marshall selected Boulder as the setting for his quirky 1970s sitcom “Mork & Mindy,” starring an unknown Robin Williams, it had nothing to do with the Rocky Mountains or historic architecture. The town was cast because Marshall’s niece attended school there. That nonchalant decision catapulted Boulder from small town to small-screen stardom. These days, Boulder is a hub for hikers, intellectuals, artists, students, progressives, and foodies. No wonder National Geographic named the city the Happiest Place in the U.S.
