North Broadway-Holiday Boulder, CO

In 1858, prospectors established the first non-native settlement in the Boulder area. Initially, the settlement near the mouth of Boulder Canyon attracted those seeking gold, but quickly, it became a supply hub for miners on the way to the mountains.

In the following decades, Boulder began lobbying to have the University of Colorado built within its borders. Ultimately, the university claimed a 45-acre site in the middle of town, and it influenced the town's culture for the next 150 years and beyond. The University of Colorado's Museum of Natural History is a major stop for many locals and visitors alike.

Only 13,000 people called Boulder home in 1940, but 70 years later over 100,000 people lived there. Much of the growth happened between 1950 and 1970, when the turnpike linked Boulder and Denver. In spite of massive growth, the city maintains a commitment to natural areas.

Locals embrace the city's art culture, which includes annual events such as the Boulder Bluegrass Festival and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.

A variety of different local and international cuisines entice hungry diners to the area. Though the neighborhood lacks a central restaurant location, many nearby restaurants and breweries stand ready to provide tasty fare.

When North Broadway-Holiday residents feel hungry, they head to Pearl Street, where a host of restaurants, cafes and pubs await them. At The North End at 4580, diners enjoy fresh, local ingredients artfully prepared into American-bistro style dishes. For a gourmet experience, start with some bacon-wrapped dates followed with pan-seared duck. If you're just in the mood to snack, grab one of the North End's burgers or a charcuterie plate. For an alcoholic treat, ask to hear about the rotating list of craft cocktails.

Another spot for gourmet fare, Bacco Trattoria and Mozzarella Bar has an expansive menu and a long list of local craft beers. If you order from the mozzarella bar, you get to select a hunk of cheese with your choice of condiments ranging from green tomato marmalade to organic roasted peppers. You can also order homemade pizzas, antipasti plates and duck prosciutto.

In the evening, locals head to one of the area's brewpubs to sip craft beer and listen to live music. A popular option, Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery has a menu full of standard pub fare as well as super affordable snacks such as dollar tacos. At this pub, patrons play board games on weeknights and fill the dance floor on weekends, delivering a more relaxed nightlife than in busier areas.

The Bohemian Biergarten also attracts dance lovers with its supply of live music, but locals in search of a more intense clubbing experience drive to Denver to experience clubs there such as Tracks or the Church.

Ample free parking spots exist through the North Broadway-Holiday neighborhood, and drivers can easily reach Denver via Highway-36, the Denver-Boulder Turnpike.

If you prefer public transit, RTD buses run from Broadway and Canyon Boulevard in Boulder to Union Station in Denver. From Union Station, you can reach the rest of the Denver metro area by bus or light-rail train.

For an intense workout, you can even tackle the 36 miles from Boulder to Denver on bicycle. Bike lanes run along Lowell Boulevard, making the journey safe, but the hilly terrain has ups and downs with altitude shifts up to 1,283 feet.

Bike paths also run throughout Boulder, linking North Broadway-Holiday to the rest of the city. You can safely walk through this neighborhood and even access many of its amenities by foot.

Both cabs and Uber cars provide services in the Boulder area and, with special arrangements, these cars drive between Denver and Boulder. Rather than trying to hail a cab in the street, contact them by phone or with an app.

Boulder's commitment to natural areas and sustainability bodes well for the town's parks, and several free neighborhood parks sit throughout the North Broadway-Holiday neighborhood. An attractive park, Foothills Community Park features playgrounds for kids as well as a fenced-in off-leash area for your furry friends. If you want a workout, play a pickup game in one of the park's many sports fields, or hit the trails through this park. Perfect for bicycling or jogging, the recreational trails through this park lead into the mountains.

Located along Boulder Creek, Central Park also draws locals for its great scenery and fun playgrounds. This park hosts one of the area's most popular festivals, the Boulder Creek Festival. Designed to welcome summer, this festival features vendors, live music and kids areas.

On average, the cost of living in the North Broadway-Holiday neighborhood is higher than the cost of living in Denver. In Denver, renters pay $1,061 on average for a one-bedroom apartment, but in this neighborhood, that size of accommodation rents for an average of $1,625 per month.

Taking the bus into Denver costs $5, and if you just want a ride through the Boulder area, tickets range from $1 to $3. At local pubs, craft beers cost between $4 and $7, with cheaper beer prices available near the university campus. Area gas stations charge 3 percent less than the national average for a gallon of gas.

Near the North Broadway-Holiday neighborhood, the best shops sit along Pearl Street. Home to a number of small boutiques, this shopping area boasts a great deal of personality.

Since 1984, Jacque Michelle has been providing Boulder's fashion lovers with hard-to-find clothing and accessories. This shop also sells gifts and accessories designed with the true Boulder spirit in mind. Gardeners can buy plaques warning trespassers that they will be composted or pottery planters with punny messages such as "oh, grow up" or "pour me a drink."

Another boutique named with a pun, Two Sole Sisters has urban brick walls, filled with stunning displays of fashionable shoes, scarves and accessories. At this shop, you can find innovative brands such as Fortress of Inca as well as shoes that artfully balance style and comfort.

Fashion lovers on a budget shop at Rags Consignments. This shop consigns over 250 new items every day, giving its shoppers a reason to stop by frequently. The shop stocks top brands from Anne Taylor to J. Crew, making it easy to own labels without breaking your budget.

In the North Broadway-Holiday neighborhood, popular grocery stores include markets with an emphasis on organic foods such as Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Lucky's Market. You can also shop at small markets such as Alfalfa’s Market, an independent alternative to the natural chains.

In the summer, if you want to snack on local produce, check out the Boulder County Farmers Markets. The Saturday Market is held April to November and features artisan shows and live music. It is held between Canyon and Arapaho. The Boulder Wednesday Market is held at the same location May to October. It offers live music and a beer garden.