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Boulder Colorado - Gay City Guide

Boulder is beautiful. There's no secret about that. This city, located at the base of the foothills in the Colorado mountains and relatively close to Denver, is a city known for its abundance of outdoor beauty, and quirky, free-spirited feel. It's also known for being one of the warmest and welcoming cities in the country.

A Bit of Boulder History

Before its modern-day history, the Boulder Valley was first the home of the Native Americans, particularly the Southern Arapahoe tribe. In the mid-1800s during the gold rush, gold-seekers came to the area and established the first non-native settlement. By 1859, the Boulder City Town Company had been organized to begin developing land in the area. Boulder City remained part of the Nebraska Territory until 1861 when the United States Congress created the Territory of Colorado. It remained an important supply base and destination for miners searching for gold and silver at the time. Eventually, railroad service came to Boulder in the late 1800s, causing the area to experience significant additional growth. That growth continued throughout the early 20th century and beyond, and eventually, Boulder came to be known as a tourist destination for all of the natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities it offered. Today, Boulder remains an eclectic, quirky, beautiful, free-spirited place that draws new visitors and residents alike every year. It is truly a place where everyone can feel free to be who they are and enjoy what they love.

Boulder - A Few Fun Facts

  • Boulder's Third Flatiron mountain is 1,400 feet high - a few hundred feet higher than the Empire State Building. It has been climbed by people without using their hands, on roller skates, naked and in even in as little time as eight minutes (by separate climbers).
  • Boulder was once found to be the “Happiest City in the United States” by National Geographic, and Gallup studies have repeatedly ranked it as one of the nation’s best cities for well-being. 
  • With Coors and Anheuser-Busch nearby, plus 20 local microbreweries the Boulder area is one of the largest beer-producing communities in the world.
  • The Flatirons Mountains in Boulder were given that name by pioneer women who said they looked like flat, metal irons used to iron their clothes.

Read more fun facts about Boulder here.

The LGBTQ Community in Boulder                                            

Boulder is a place known for its free-spirited, friendly and welcoming vibe, and the way it loves and celebrates its LGBTQ community is no exception. Boulder's LGBTQ community has a variety of resources available, including:

Out Boulder County

Out Boulder County is an LGBTQ community center in Boulder dedicated to providing education, advocacy, support, and services to Boulder’s LGBTQ community.  The center accomplishes this mission every day and serves the community well. It is a great place to go to feel connected, supported, and celebrated for who you are.

PFLAG Boulder

PFLAG Boulder is the city's local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical and important role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community.

What's the Weather Like in Boulder?

Typically fall and spring are the mildest and pleasant seasons in Boulder, although there is really no bad time to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors in this city. Boulder receives an average of 18 inches of rain per year, which is significantly less than the national average. However, it also receives significantly more snow than the United States national average. Winters bring an average of 71 inches per year, and temperatures often dip down to around 18°F in January. Summers can be warm but dry with highs in July reaching around 88°F.

The Best Events in Boulder

Boulder Pridefest

Boulder Pridefest is the city’s largest annual celebration of the LGBTQ community, and all that it adds to the city as a whole. You’ll definitely want to put this festive, fun event on your calendar – whether it’s parades, parties, family-friendly activities, or all of the above, you’ll be able to enjoy it here.

Experience a Full Moon Event

“Full Moon” events are very popular in Boulder, and as you might expect, they happen every month – whenever there’s a full moon. As they say in Boulder, the full moon isn’t just a natural phenomenon here – it’s a special occasion. Hiking, poetry readings, concerts, drum circles and more – you can find them all under the light of the full moon in Boulder.

Where to Live in Boulder

If you’re looking for the best LGBT neighborhoods in Boulder, you're not likely to find one specific "gayborhood" as you might find in other cities. Instead, you'll quickly realize that the city is so open and friendly that everyone typically mixes together, creating incredibly diverse neighborhoods where everyone can feel at home and part of the community. Condos in Boulder typically range from $110,000 to almost $4 million, while single-family homes are usually priced from the low $100,000s to upwards of $7 million.

Arts and Entertainment

The Chautauqua Auditorium

The Chautauqua Auditorium is a unique piece of Boulder’s history. Constructed in 1898, the Auditorium is a wooden building that was constructed in 1898, and through the years has hosted a wide variety of performances for all ages and preferences. It’s a wonderful and unique place to enjoy a show – or several – throughout the year.

Spend a Day Downtown

In Boulder, there’s a popular slogan, “Love the Local,” and there is certainly plenty to love about Boulder’s selection of local shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. Regardless of your preference or taste, the walkable, eclectic vibe of Downtown Boulder is one you’re bound to love.

Parks and Recreation

Boulder Parks Trails

Boulder is a city known for its incredible abundance of natural beauty, and there is no shortage of things to see and do in the outdoors any time of year. In fact, Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks area boasts over 155 miles of trails and beautiful green spaces that have been meticulously and carefully preserved and maintained over the years.

The Colorado Frontrunners

The Colorado Frontrunners is an LGBTQ walking and running community that gathers for weekly walks, hikes, and runs, all around the greater Boulder area. It’s a great way to meet other members of the LGBTQ community, get some healthy exercise, and enjoy Boulder’s stunning natural beauty, all at the same time.

Boulder Nightlife

It is often said that there is no specific “gay” bar in Boulder because every bar in Boulder is a gay bar —and also a straight bar, a transgender bar – essentially, all bars are “everyone” bars – open, friendly, and welcoming to all. Having said that, a couple of Boulder nightspots that you’ll want to put on your can’t-miss list include:

Longmont Brewhop Trolley

The Longmont Brewhop Trolley is an excellent way to experience many of the microbreweries which Boulder is famously known for. Hop on, take a ride, enjoy some brews, and make some friends!

The West End Tavern

The West End Tavern has served some of the area's best BBQ, beer, and bourbon in Downtown Boulder for more than a decade. The tavern features 21 taps (many of which are Colorado beers), 25 bottled beers, and 75 bourbons. It also boasts one of the better views of the Flatirons in the city and has an indoor-outdoor space and shuffleboard for guests to enjoy.

Contact a Boulder Gay Realtor Today

Boulder is beautiful. There's no secret about that. This city, located at the base of the foothills in the Colorado mountains and relatively close to Denver, is a city known for its abundance of outdoor beauty, and quirky, free-spirited feel. It's also known for being one of the warmest and welcoming cities in the country.

A Bit of Boulder History

Before its modern-day history, the Boulder Valley was first the home of the Native Americans, particularly the Southern Arapahoe tribe. In the mid-1800s during the gold rush, gold-seekers came to the area and established the first non-native settlement. By 1859, the Boulder City Town Company had been organized to begin developing land in the area. Boulder City remained part of the Nebraska Territory until 1861 when the United States Congress created the Territory of Colorado. It remained an important supply base and destination for miners searching for gold and silver at the time. Eventually, railroad service came to Boulder in the late 1800s, causing the area to experience significant additional growth. That growth continued throughout the early 20th century and beyond, and eventually, Boulder came to be known as a tourist destination for all of the natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities it offered. Today, Boulder remains an eclectic, quirky, beautiful, free-spirited place that draws new visitors and residents alike every year. It is truly a place where everyone can feel free to be who they are and enjoy what they love.

Boulder - A Few Fun Facts

  • Boulder's Third Flatiron mountain is 1,400 feet high - a few hundred feet higher than the Empire State Building. It has been climbed by people without using their hands, on roller skates, naked and in even in as little time as eight minutes (by separate climbers).
  • Boulder was once found to be the “Happiest City in the United States” by National Geographic, and Gallup studies have repeatedly ranked it as one of the nation’s best cities for well-being. 
  • With Coors and Anheuser-Busch nearby, plus 20 local microbreweries the Boulder area is one of the largest beer-producing communities in the world.
  • The Flatirons Mountains in Boulder were given that name by pioneer women who said they looked like flat, metal irons used to iron their clothes.

 

Read more fun facts about Boulder here.

 

The LGBTQ Community in Boulder                                            

Boulder is a place known for its free-spirited, friendly and welcoming vibe, and the way it loves and celebrates its LGBTQ community is no exception. Boulder's LGBTQ community has a variety of resources available, including:

Out Boulder County

Out Boulder County is an LGBTQ community center in Boulder dedicated to providing education, advocacy, support, and services to Boulder’s LGBTQ community.  The center accomplishes this mission every day and serves the community well. It is a great place to go to feel connected, supported, and celebrated for who you are.

PFLAG Boulder

PFLAG Boulder is the city's local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical and important role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community.

 

What's the Weather Like in Boulder?

Typically fall and spring are the mildest and pleasant seasons in Boulder, although there is really no bad time to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors in this city. Boulder receives an average of 18 inches of rain per year, which is significantly less than the national average. However, it also receives significantly more snow than the United States national average. Winters bring an average of 71 inches per year, and temperatures often dip down to around 18°F in January. Summers can be warm but dry with highs in July reaching around 88°F.

 

The Best Events in Boulder

Boulder Pridefest

Boulder Pridefest is the city’s largest annual celebration of the LGBTQ community, and all that it adds to the city as a whole. You’ll definitely want to put this festive, fun event on your calendar – whether it’s parades, parties, family-friendly activities, or all of the above, you’ll be able to enjoy it here.

Experience a Full Moon Event

“Full Moon” events are very popular in Boulder, and as you might expect, they happen every month – whenever there’s a full moon. As they say in Boulder, the full moon isn’t just a natural phenomenon here – it’s a special occasion. Hiking, poetry readings, concerts, drum circles and more – you can find them all under the light of the full moon in Boulder.

Where to Live in Boulder

If you’re looking for the best LGBT neighborhoods in Boulder, you're not likely to find one specific "gayborhood" as you might find in other cities. Instead, you'll quickly realize that the city is so open and friendly that everyone typically mixes together, creating incredibly diverse neighborhoods where everyone can feel at home and part of the community. Condos in Boulder typically range from $110,000 to almost $4 million, while single-family homes are usually priced from the low $100,000s to upwards of $7 million.

 

Arts and Entertainment

The Chautauqua Auditorium

The Chautauqua Auditorium is a unique piece of Boulder’s history. Constructed in 1898, the Auditorium is a wooden building that was constructed in 1898, and through the years has hosted a wide variety of performances for all ages and preferences. It’s a wonderful and unique place to enjoy a show – or several – throughout the year.

Spend a Day Downtown

In Boulder, there’s a popular slogan, “Love the Local,” and there is certainly plenty to love about Boulder’s selection of local shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. Regardless of your preference or taste, the walkable, eclectic vibe of Downtown Boulder is one you’re bound to love.

Parks and Recreation

Boulder Parks Trails

Boulder is a city known for its incredible abundance of natural beauty, and there is no shortage of things to see and do in the outdoors any time of year. In fact, Boulder's Open Space and Mountain Parks area boasts over 155 miles of trails and beautiful green spaces that have been meticulously and carefully preserved and maintained over the years.

The Colorado Frontrunners

The Colorado Frontrunners is an LGBTQ walking and running community that gathers for weekly walks, hikes, and runs, all around the greater Boulder area. It’s a great way to meet other members of the LGBTQ community, get some healthy exercise, and enjoy Boulder’s stunning natural beauty, all at the same time.

Boulder Nightlife

It is often said that there is no specific “gay” bar in Boulder because every bar in Boulder is a gay bar —and also a straight bar, a transgender bar – essentially, all bars are “everyone” bars – open, friendly, and welcoming to all. Having said that, a couple of Boulder nightspots that you’ll want to put on your can’t-miss list include:

Longmont Brewhop Trolley

The Longmont Brewhop Trolley is an excellent way to experience many of the microbreweries which Boulder is famously known for. Hop on, take a ride, enjoy some brews, and make some friends!

The West End Tavern

The West End Tavern has served some of the area's best BBQ, beer, and bourbon in Downtown Boulder for more than a decade. The tavern features 21 taps (many of which are Colorado beers), 25 bottled beers, and 75 bourbons. It also boasts one of the better views of the Flatirons in the city and has an indoor-outdoor space and shuffleboard for guests to enjoy.

Contact a Boulder Gay Realtor Today

If you're ready to make a move to Boulder, at www.gayrealestate.com, we're here to help you take the first step toward finding an agent who knows and loves the community, and who can help you find a home and a neighborhood you'll love. We're proud to have a network of excellent realtors in Boulder, and we would love to help connect you with the right one. Contact a Boulder gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!

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