About Boulder

Family Activities

We are excited to introduce the marimba community to Boulder and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Boulder and the surrounding area offer a multitude of recreational and cultural activities. Recreational activities include hiking, biking, rock climbing, tubing on Boulder Creek and swimming among other things. CU has a bowling alley in the basement of the Student Center along with a snack bar and video arcade.

ZimFest organizers will have maps available with biking and hiking trails in the immediate area and of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) located about an hour's drive northwest of the CU campus. These will be at or near the registration desk during the festival. RMNP is one of the most scenic national parks in the U.S. with spectacular views and Trail Ridge Road, which allows the visitor to drive to an elevation of 12,000 feet for an amazing viewpoint.

Boulder has great public transportation (RTD buses) that can transport you to the local hiking areas. One of the most popular is Chautauqua, located within walking distance from the CU Boulder campus, where ZimFest will be held. Chautauqua offers cultural and recreational programs. The hiking trails that originate from the park are generally mellow. There are some more challenging trails that include scrambling on rocks. There are many other hiking trails close by. Bus route maps will also be provided at the registration desk. Boulder is a bike-friendly city with many bike paths that go through town or to nearby attractions. Many main roads have bike lanes painted on them. You can rent bikes at many locations within walking distance from campus, including University Bikes at 9th and Pearl. Festival organizers will have bike path maps available at the registration desk.

There are indoor and outdoor public swimming pools at Boulder Recreation Centers close to campus. The Boulder reservoir allows public access for swimming and boating. Most of these locations are easily accessible by public transportation. The weather at the end of June can be quite hot, so bring a swimsuit for cooling off!

Boulder Creek, which is walking-distance to campus, flows from the mountains so the water is cold all year round. The creek is a great place to go tubing or wading. You can buy or rent tubes in many nearby stores.

Finally, for the adventurous souls there is rock climbing and bouldering. Boulder is surrounded with fabulous bouldering and rock-climbing sites. Information about them will be at the registration desk. You can hire local outdoor schools or guides for assistance if you are not an experienced climber.

Boulder is 25 miles from Denver where there are many cultural and family activities. The Denver Zoo, the Aquarium, the Children's museum, and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science are just a few to mention. Festival organizers will provide information on these institutions and about transportation to the sites in Denver.

Close to the CU Boulder campus you can enjoy wandering down our Pearl Street Mall, with a fountain for kids to play in, and rocks and animal statues to climb on. Boulder is a sister city to Dushanbe from Tajikistan. The city of Dushanbe built a traditional tea house in Boulder by transporting painted plaster from Tajikistan. Another wonderful cultural site is Chapungu, the great stone sculptor garden. Chapungu Sculpture Park has pioneered the promotion of Zimbabwe Stone Sculpture (Shona Sculpture) and has built up the most important permanent collection of this work in existence It is located in Loveland, Colorado, about 32 miles from Boulder.

ZimFest organizers will book the famous Banjo Billy Boulder tour for the festival visitors. The tour will be offered on June 26 from 9-11 am and will cost approximately $20 per person. This tour is locally known to be a blast and is a 'must do' activity while in Boulder. (See the Mork and Mindy house among other things!)
Also check out these great resources:

Check out these great resources:

Taking Care at Altitude

Beautiful Boulder Colorado sits at an average elevation of 5,430 feet mean sea level (1,655 M). Many of you will be visiting Boulder from lower altitudes or even sea level. As a visitor you should be aware of altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness (AMS). It typically does not affect people until elevations of 8000 feet or above, but can affect individuals who are not acclimated to our low atmospheric pressure at this altitude. AMS can progress to high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high altitude cerebral edema, which are more severe and discussed below.

One of the most common initial symptoms of AMS is a dull persistent headache, although this can also be associated with dehydration (see below). Signs of AMS include lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, dizziness/light-headedness, insomnia, shortness of breath upon exertion, persistent rapid pulse, drowsiness, general malaise, peripheral edema (swelling of hands, feet, and face).

Other less common altitude related illnesses include HAPE or pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and cerebral edema (swelling of the brain). HAPE is characterized by a persistent dry cough, fever, shortness of breath even when resting. Cerebral edema symptoms include a headache that does not respond to analgesics, an unsteady gait, an increased vomiting, and gradual loss of consciousness. If you experience these types of symptoms you should seek out medical assistance immediately, as these illnesses are very serious and even fatal. They therefore require medical attention as quickly as possible. However, these types of altitude related illnesses are more common at 8,000 feet and above.

An unrelated condition, although often confused with altitude sickness, is dehydration, due to the higher rate of water vapor lost from the lungs at higher altitudes. It is VERY IMPORTANT to drink a LOT of water or electrolyte-loaded sports drinks while you are visiting. You may also experience extreme fatigue mid-afternoon. It's best to listen to your body and rest when this occurs.

What can you do to hopefully avoid these illnesses? It helps to remain hydrated, rest when feel you need to, do not partake in strenuous activities, listen to your body, avoid alcohol, and be aware of the symptoms listed above and seek out medical help if you are in doubt. Also, if you plan to visit higher altitudes during your visit to Colorado, you may want to acclimate in Boulder or lower altitudes before spending time at 8000 feet or above.