ROAD TRIP: Fill up on good food, fun, rest, shopping in Boulder

BOULDER • It may sound arrogant that this university town west of Denver has laid claim to both the Colorado Music Festival and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. But it turns out that each festival proves worthy of the name, making Boulder the state's high-culture capital, at least for the season.

Find out more details about those festivals at bouldercoloradousa.com. If you're not into The Bard or classical music, there's still plenty to do here over a long weekend:

PLAY

Pearl Street Mall

This four-block outdoor mall is an odd mix of touchy-feely meets buybuybuy, but you can't say you've been to Boulder without walking it at least once. From the Cheesecake Factory (1-303-546-0222) to the Boulder Cafe (1-303-444-4884), from Zuni Fetishes Direct (1-303-443-9575) to Peppercorn (1-303-449-5847), there's something for everyone with a little green. On weekends, the street performing is second only to Key West. For kids, the mall offers walk-through fountains, as well as climbing rocks and sculptures. Pay to park on the streets or at the many public parking areas. Check the Web site for frequent concerts and other events: boulderdowntown.com.

Boulder County Farmers' Market

Along 13th Street next to Central Park
1-303-910-2236; boulderfarmers.org
Open Wednesdays (4 to 8 p.m. through Oct. 7) and Saturdays (8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 7), this market is teeming with people, dogs, flowers, food, plants, clothing, gluten-free pasta and organic just about everything. Items for sale are all sold by the Boulder county farmers who produce them. Take a bag (and a cooler for the car) to take a little of the bounty home.

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

1750 13th St.
1-303-443-2122; bmoca.org
Oftentimes museums outside urban centers are well-meaning but so-so. This one, though, is small but potent, sending a clear signal that someone pretty smart is curating the museum's shows. Through Sept. 6, "Pure Pleasures" celebrates the end to a five-month renovation with a disparate collection of curious, engaging and beautiful work, most from Colorado. It alone is worth the drive. Free admission during the Saturday Farmers' Market.

For the hoi polloi art experience, go to Art Source International (1-800-304-5029) on the Pearl Street Mall. You could go to its Web site (rare-maps.com), but why miss the pleasure of flipping through vintage posters, photographs from Colorado's pioneer days, maps from as early as the 1600s and an Audubon print of a pelican that barely fits the oversized page? The little store boast more than 25,000 antique maps and prints.

Liquor Mart

1750 15th St.
1-303-449-3374; liquormart.com
When it comes to amazing selection, everyone mentions McGuckin Hardware (mcguckin.com), which is worth a stop to see a mom and pop shop on steroids.
But my money is on this humble liquor store, which offers wine drinkers a dizzying journey down 17 long aisles, and more than 6,500 bottles of the hard-to-find and the everyday. Beer and wine tastings are every Friday and Saturday, respectively. The store can ship to Colorado and California.

SLEEP

Best Western Golden Buff Lodge

1725 28th St.
1-303-442-7450; bestwesterncolorado.com
Why here? Nice, clean rooms and responsive staff. Amenities include central downtown location, twin T-1 Internet access, continental breakfast, local and free long distance, pool and hot tub.
Rooms from $94 to $114.

Hotel Boulderado

2115 13th St.
1-800-433-4344; boulderado.com
Why here? Celebrating its 100th birthday this year, this meticulously maintained downtown hotel gives you a taste of Victorian luxury. Amenities include 160 individually decorated rooms, and wireless Internet.
Rooms from $224 to $394.

St. Julien Hotel and Spa

900 Walnut St.
1-877-303-0900; stjulien.com
Why here? This 4-year-old, independently owned luxury hotel is worth the splurge. Amenities include 201 rooms, 10,000-square-foot spa, two-lane infinity pool and jacuzzi with waterfall.
Rooms from $279 to $469.

EAT

The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

1770 13th St.
1-303-442-4993; boulderteahouse.com
We hit the Teahouse for a Saturday brunch and found an accessible mix of Indian and Continental cuisine. A surprising bonus: an interesting wine list geared to the wide variety of food.
Brunch ranges from $5.55 to $13.

Efrain's Mexican Food Restaurant

1630 63rd St. No. 10
1-303-440-4045; efrainsrestaurant.com
Wow. Really. Efrain's menu has good prices, a wide-ranging menu of all the regular fare, and that hard-to-pin-down homemade taste. And when they say hot, they mean it. Not on the main drag, but worth powering up the GPS to find it.
Lunch ranges from $4.95 to $12.

Frasca

1738 Pearl St.
1-303-442-6966; frascafoodandwine.com
Reservations recommended.
Sheer Northern Italian fabulousness: The inventive menu is complemented by impeccable service and a warm, chic décor. Terrific wine list with a firm leaning toward Old World offerings.
Four-course menu for $66 or a la carte for $12 to $27.

Sheer Nothern Italian fabulousness: The inventive menu is complimented by impeccable service and a warm, chic decor. Terrific wine list with a firm leaning toward Old World offerings.

Four-course menu for $66 or ala carte for $12 to $27