City of Distinction: Boulder, Colorado

If you're looking to buy a home in an area that will satisfy your needs for outdoor recreation, cultural diversity, and sustainable living, then perhaps you should consider Boulder, Colorado. This city of about 93,000 people has consistently been recognized by national publications as one of the great cities in the country. Praise for Boulder includes commendations for being green, smart, sporty, brainy, and artsy. It was voted the "Most Educated City in America" by Forbes Magazine, placed number 5 on Country Home Magazine's list of America's "Top 25 Green Cities," and Bicycling Magazine choose Boulder as one of its top 5 cities in its list of the "Best Cities for Cycling."

Baby boomers will be interested to know that Boulder was also declared one of the "Best Places to Retire" by US News and World Report, and was #5 on Kiplinger's Personal Finance list of the "Best Cities for Empty-nesters." Boulder has also been voted by Seventeen Magazine as one of the "Top Ten Cities for Teens"—how's that for diverse? Although located only twenty-five miles from Denver, Boulder does not live in the shadow of its big sister.

The city has developed a character all of its own. After all, where else can you join a group of cyclists and cruise around town every Thursday, wishing residents a "Happy Thursday"? As many as 500 people take part in the Boulder Cruiser Ride during the warm summer months, with many choosing to dress up and decorate their bikes for the occasion! Boulder is a great area for cyclists, and has been labeled a "Platinum-Level Bicycle Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists. A forward-thinking state, Boulder hosted its first annual "Bike to Work Day" in 1977, and is believed to be among the first cities to do this. Among its educational opportunities, the University of Colorado at Boulder is the largest university in the state.

Boulder also has a large selection of private schools, charter schools, colleges and science institutes, and also features the only accredited Buddhist-inspired university in the USA (Naropa University). There are weekly farmer's markets held in the summer, and shoppers enjoy strolling around the pedestrian-friendly Pearl Street Mall, which spans four blocks. If all that doesn't tempt you, its pleasant climate will. Boulder has mild, dry summers, comfortable winters (the surrounding mountains shield the city from many bad storms), and more than 300 days of sunshine per year. And with the glorious mountain ranges to explore, Boulder has one of the most inviting landscapes in the country.

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