* Ski photo courtesy of Peter Grannis and Arapahoe Basin ski area

Tucked against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder County is the gateway to recreation in the Rocky Mountains. For those who live and work in Boulder County, "work hard play hard" comes naturally. Boulder and Longmont’s casual environment and eclectic atmosphere offers something for everyone.

• Boulder, Colorado
• Longmont, Colorado

More about Boulder
In a city known as an "outdoor playground," many employees take advantage of Colorado’s mild and dry climate. With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, there is plenty of opportunity for hiking, biking, or even kayaking excursions. Many of Colorado’s better known ski resorts are a mere two hours drive away.

www.snow.com
www.coloradoskicountry.com

For those not wanting a strenuous workout, Boulder’s down town area boasts the Pearl Street Mall, a distinctive place to walk, shop, dine, or just people watch.

Housing
Variety remains the driving force in the Boulder County housing market. From mountain bungalows and historic Victorians to apartments and condominiums, there are many housing opportunities and price ranges, for renting or buying.

www.bouldercoloradousa.com

Education
The Boulder Valley School District is one of the best in the nation. With an emphasis on a strong curriculum, cultural diversity, and community involvement, over 75 percent of Boulder students go on to higher education.

Residents and employees benefit from Boulder’s status as a "college town." The University of Colorado in Boulder is the state’s largest research university, offering a variety of courses at under-graduate and graduate levels, as well as continuing education, and extension programs.

www.colorado.edu

Boulder prides itself on having one of the largest populations of educated people in the United States. That is apparent when you visit one of the numerous bookstores and cultural events in Boulder. Boulder is home to more used bookstores per capita than any other city in the country!

Quality of Life
Boulder’s cultural and recreational offerings satisfy a variety of interests. Symphony orchestras, art museums, renowned performing arts programs, a diverse popular music community and children’s cultural programs thrive in the Boulder-Denver metro area. For the sports enthusiast, the City of Denver (only 28 miles away!) hosts of a full-range of professional teams.

For a small town, Boulder’s restaurants are as diverse as they are sumptuous. Boulder residents brag that Boulder has the most restaurants per capita in the nation! From good ol’ hamburgers to Japanese and Indian cuisine, Boulder has it all. From casual outdoor dining to delectable feasts, every palate can be satisfied.

Boulder takes pride in offering its citizens plenty to do, especially in the summer time. The Boulder creek path that runs east to west through the city, is always busy with bicyclists, runners, roller bladers or people just wanting to stroll along the water’s edge. The Bolder Boulder – one of the nation's top 10K road races brings the whole town out.

www.bolderboulder.com

Summer is not complete without a visit to the Creek Festival or the Farmers Market. There is always something going on that is "Uniquely Boulder."

More about Longmont
This beautiful and growing community is just 14 miles outside of Boulder, but it has a character all its own. Featuring a historic downtown, plenty of open space parks, high tech companies and lots of new housing developments. Longmont is a vibrant, diverse town full of things to do.

Downtown is the city’s top spot, offering a range of restaurants and shops. Family events and live music are part of the urban atmosphere. The history of Longmont is very much alive at the museums and historic homes of the area. Victorian homes and old cabins and mills are all part of the nationally registered historic district. Additional galleries, public art and an outdoor courtyard are yours to explore at the Longmont Museum south of town. Tower of Compassion is Longmont’s most unique cultural site. The Kanemoto family built an oriental pagoda, a symbol of compassion, a gift to the city in 1972.

In addition to cultural and historic highlights, Longmont maintains more than 1500 acres of parks. Boulder County’s extensive hiking and biking trails surround the city. Union Reservoir is a popular summer spot for water sports, fishing and camping. The reservoir even has its own dog beach where furry companions are welcome to go for a swim.

Housing
Longmont has the charm and feel of a small town. Living in Longmont makes economical sense for most families. Housing prices are still reasonable compared to surrounding areas. New construction is taking place throughout Longmont as its popularity continues to grow.

www.longmont-colorado-living.com

Education
Longmont residents understand that a good education is critical for its younger population. The St. Vrain Valley School District oversees 37 exceptional schools which have excelled at putting out a first rate education. In addition, there is an excellent post secondary opportunity within the city limits at Front Range Community College’s Longmont campus.

Quality of Life
The city has become one of the best places in the state and country for raising a family. Good schools, low crime rate, and affordable cost of living are all reasons families can feel good about moving to Longmont.

Longmont enjoys a moderate climate. Summer is absolutely extraordinary with biking, hiking, and climbing activities underway. Fall displays a multitude of golden aspen trees along the front range. Snow rarely hangs around for long due to frequent warm days in the winter. Throughout the winter, Longmont is graced with many 60 degree days. If you are a skier, snowboarder or snowshoer, it is just a short drive to many ski resorts and other outdoor winter wonderland activities.