Who doesn’t love summer? Even though we are in the Rockies it does get hot here in Boulder, Colorado but with a smart strategy, you can have the best of both worlds, getting outside to play and enjoying the dog days of summer.

With our cool nights, the mornings have ideal temperatures for a long trail run in Chautauqua or an epic mountain bike ride at Hall Ranch before the day heats up. Even hard-core rock jocks wanting good friction can get out early and climb on the shady side where the sun has not heated the rock yet and have really good conditions. Then once the sun does get high in the sky and you feel like you would melt if you raised your heart rate above 80 it is time to get in the water.

The water flowing in Boulder Creek is surprisingly cool all summer long and the atmosphere is as fun as summer camp. Kids of all ages floating through gentle rapids, swinging off rope swings into the water and picnicking on the side of the stream will take you back to a simpler time.

After you have dropped your core body temp to something reasonable swing back by the property to clean up, we are after all about 5 minutes from the best tubing section of Boulder Creek, then head into town for a summer stroll on Pearl Street Mall to be entertained by street performers and enjoy the people watching and see what make Boulder so unique.

Don’t have a tube? Swing into McGuckins hardware and pick one up, but be careful when you are in the store, this is a Boulder institution known for having everything you could imagine. That nozzle for your water jug that broke that you could never find a replacement for, guess what… So if you are not careful you may end up spending a few more hours here than planned.

So don’t let the heat of summer be an excuse to not keep playing hard. With this strategy you of doing half-day adventures and then lounging by or in the creek in the afternoon you will have the energy to do something every day making the most of your Boulder vacation.