Boulder's beloved Flatirons - those slanting, massive slabs of sandstone that form Boulder's backdrop from just about any angle - tend to have a slightly mystical effect on visitors. We're willing to bet you'll be drawn to them, and the Open Space Mountain Parks area adjacent to the Chautauqua historic district affords the best way to get a closer look. Gaze up at them from the hiking area's beautiful meadow, where dozens of trails lead off into the foothills, then hike right up into the Flatirons if you are seeking a bit more exercise and adventure.

Conveniently located one block from the hotels, the brick-paved Pearl Street is Boulder's heart and soul — a central gathering place where locals and visitors alike come to stroll and shop among the historic storefronts, dine at buzzed-about restaurants, sip a cup of coffee, throw back a microbrew or simply people-watch. If you do only one thing in Boulder, walking this pedestrian mall should probably be it.

Estes Park is a town in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. A popular summer resort and the location of the headquarters for Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park lies along the Big Thompson River. Estes Park had a population of 5,858 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Missouri native Joel Estes, who founded the community in 1859.

Strap on some snowshoes (rentals are widely available) and hit Boulder's snow-blanketed hiking trails. After a streak of sunny weather (and we have a lot of those), you likely won't even need snowshoes to hike many of Boulder's trails — just a pair of boots. There are free, guided hikes where you can discover winter birds, snowflakes and animal tracks in the snow. Most of the trails are located no more than five minutes from downtown.

Wondering what one of the top things to do in Boulder is? Boulder Brew Tours offers walking, driving, and custom tours to sample some of Boulder's famous microbrews. The walking tour starts at a local brewery on Pearl St., Boulder's #1 tourist attraction, while the driving tour visits some of the larger breweries outside of town. Boulder Brew Tours also offers custom tours where you can pick the breweries that you are interested in visiting. All tours get a behind-the-scenes look at how beer is brewed. Continuing on to more breweries, groups will sample a wide variety of microbrews and end with a pint of your choice.

An easy 30-minute drive from downtown Boulder, Eldora Mountain Resort offers snowboarding, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Eldora has a laid-back local vibe with enough skiing and riding for skiers and boarders of all levels. Both Ski and Skiing magazines are based in Boulder, as is Warren Miller's famed ski film production company. So yes, we love to ski!