Keewayden - Boulder, CO Area Guide

In 1858, goldseekers settled in Boulder. As gold dwindled and the town turned into a supply hub for miners on their ways into the Rocky Mountains, developers divided the town into 4,044 lots each priced at $1,000.

By 1880, over 3,000 people had settled in Boulder. The town made a bid for the University of Colorado, and after it opened, the school became the artistic, intellectual and cultural center of the town. To that end, it hosts museums such as the CU Art Museum and the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History.

In the 1960s, a group of hippies settled in the area, and Boulder still retains that image. The neighborhood of Keewaydin in south Boulder grew as the metro area grew, but it exploded when the Boulder-Denver turnpike made the area convenient for commuters. Annual events include the Bolder Boulder run and the Boulder Festival of the Arts.

Restaurants exist all over Boulder, but in the Keewaydin neighborhood, look near the intersection of Baseline Road and Highway-157 or along Table Mesa Drive if you feel hungry. In these spots, you can find anything, from Indian or Nepalese food to American, Italian and Chinese fare.

At Nepal Cuisine, try Nepali favorites such as chicken momo, stir-fried noodles or curried mustard grains. This restaurant hosts lunch and dinner buffets, but vegans, in particular, feel drawn to the Monday buffet. On Monday, the entire buffet features vegan food, and out of respect for its vegan clients, the kitchen exclusively prepares vegan fare on that day.

If you like Italian, check out the Gondolier Italian Eatery. Here, you can order a la carte items such as steamed clams, knotted bread drenched in garlic and butter, homemade minestrone soup and a range of pastas and sandwiches. Stop by on Tuesdays for all-you-can-eat spaghetti.

Locals who want to sample some of the area's microbrews head to the Southern Sun Pub and Brewery. This pub brews its own stouts, ales and lagers, and the knowledgeable staff kindly direct customers to the best beer to pair with their meals. The menu features pub standards such as burgers alongside hippie-vegan fare such as tempeh reubens. Sit around the fire in the evening, or come enjoy the patio on a summer afternoon.

Live music frequently plays in the evening at many local places such as the Under the Sun Eatery & Tap House and Caffe Sole, but locals in the mood for a clubbing night typically drive to Denver for clubs such as Charlie's Denver or The Church.

From the Keewaydin neighborhood, drivers can reach downtown Denver via the Denver-Boulder Turnpike, also called Highway-36. Throughout Keewaydin, free parking spots exist, but in downtown Denver, drivers should plan to pay for parking. RTD buses also connect the two areas, and most routes carry riders between the two cities in less than an hour and a half.

Bicyclists have access to hundreds of miles of trails and bike lanes throughout Boulder, but brave riders can also tackle the journey from Boulder to Denver. Using the lanes along Boulder Road, riders can reach Denver in less than 3 hours at a speed of 10 miles per hour. The hilly terrain ranges from 5,187 feet to 5,610 feet, giving riders the chance to have quite a workout.

In Keewaydin, you can walk safely, but the area is not a "walkable" community. For that, you need to move further into the heart of Denver or Boulder. Cabs and Uber cars both serve the area. Rather than trying to hail one in the street, call in advance.

In addition to the small Keewaydin Meadows Park in the heart of the neighborhood, Keewaydin locals have access to a range of other parks and outdoor recreation opportunities. At Harlow Platts Park, kids frolic in the playground all summer long, organized sports take place on the ball fields and locals play pickup games at the tennis and basketball courts. During the winter, locals workout in the rec center or ride down the sled hill.

The area also sits near a range of fabulous hiking trails. Bear Peak trail takes you up to the highest point in Boulder, and the breathtaking view attracts many locals to this spot. If you love outdoor festivals, check out Central Park. At the beginning of each summer, Boulderites welcome the season with a giant festival of vendors, musicians and family-friendly activities.

Living in the Keewaydin neighborhood in south Boulder costs about the same as living in the Denver metro area. In Denver, one-bedroom apartments rent for $1,061 per month, on average, but in Keewaydin, monthly rent for a similar-sized accommodation averages at only $1,047.

At local pubs, you can find microbrews for as low as $4, but they can carry price tags up to $7 and above. If you want to reach Denver, a one-way ticket costs just $5. You even receive a slight discount on gas as area gas stations charge 4 percent less than the national average.

Shops exist in the Keewaydin neighborhood, but if you want to browse through several independently owned boutiques in a single shopping trip, check out the shops near Pearl Street. Locals enjoy gift shopping at Nod & Rose Storehouse. At this shop, you can find anything from novelty flasks to stylish scarves. Whether you want something to complete your outfit or a gift for a friend, the well-curated selection of items in this shop appeals to hipsters.

If you feel like more of a hippie than a hipster, check out Boulder-Nepal. The perfect place to buy incense or a laughing Buddha statue, this shop also sells handicrafts, paintings and decorations from around the world with an emphasis on eastern and Buddhist themes.

Other area boutiques include Jacque Michelle, Two Sole Sisters and Rags Consignment. Whether you want a gift, a new pair of shoes or labels at a discount, you can find what you need at one of these shops.

For groceries, locals frequent King Soopers, Whole Foods or Sprouts Farmers Market. During the summer, you can pick up fresh local produce at the Boulder Farmer's Market.