Best on the Cheap

$10 Meal
EC.c : Cheese Importers (Olde Philly Towne Hoagie, honorable mention)
Even after updating its menu, the Cheese Importers’ grilled paninis clock in under $7. A delectable combination of sumptuous cheeses and fresh ingredients toasted between slices of pan rustica or a ciabatta roll are a deal worth the wait. Get their early or stop by before they turn off the panini grills at 2pm.
EC.r : Zamparelli’s

BD.c : Snarf’s
Tucked into a prime corner of real estate blocks from Pearl Street Mall is a diner-ish looking joint stripped of most of its chrome. It’s here that Snarf’s builds and toasts sandwiches stuffed with Italian meats, cheeses and accoutrements, the largest of which could bail out ravenous appetites without putting a dent in your purse. The line out the door is a permanent fixture; your patience will be rewarded.
BD.r : Snarf’s

Used Furnishings
EC.c : Front Range Mercantile
The joy of buying used furnishings is the hunt. At Front Range Mercantile in Longmont, the hunt doesn’t mean driving around from store to store, but exploring 21,000 square feet for treasures under one roof.

BD.c : Feather Thy Nest
The best part of Feather Thy Nest is its variety and selection. Like a bird picks up a bit of this and that to build their home, Feather Thy Nest has a fun assortment of new, used and consignment furniture
and décor.

Used Clothing
EC.c : Goldie’s Vintage
Goldie’s is a treasure trove for vintage gems, but they carry new and recent consignments for a wide-ranging selection. Goldie’s calls itself a creative outlet, which is precisely what they strive to be, with unique items you won’t find in chain stores and vintage items you won’t find anywhere.

BD.c : Rags Consignments
Some say Rags is “like having access to your sister’s closet.” Nothing about this store feels like shopping second hand. Buyers are picky about which brands they’ll accept, which means everything on the racks is quality and stylish. Don’t miss the shoes, bags and accessories for some killer finds.

Free
Entertainment
EC.c : Rhythm on the River
Last summer, more than 20,000 people visited Rogers Grove in Longmont to enjoy art, entertainment and food at the annual Rhythm on the River festival. Activities include hot air balloon launches, duck races and kids activities. Music pours out of the park, completing a nearly perfect day.
EC.r : Rhythm on the Rails

BD.c : Pearl Street Mall
Pearl Street is at the heart of what makes Boulder so attractive. It’s living la vida local! Saturday nights here are a little like going to a street fair, with buskers singing, playing instruments, doing magic or just about anything else. The people watching alone is world-class—throw in shopping and dining and you’ve got hours of entertainment.
BD.r : People watching on Pearl Street

View
EC.c : Erie High School
Everyday, it happens. It’s at the final leg of my commute. Off the highway, the speed limit slows as though it becomes more sensitive the closer the road gets to suburbia. County Road 8 slopes down, and about 200 yards before you reach the four-way stop, the entire Front Range unfolds. The view is surprisingly spectacular, like bumping into a super model in the grocery store. Damn, I love Colorado.
EC.c : Long’s Peak

BD.c : Fairview High School
Picturesque is such a bad word. Well, maybe not bad—just limiting. Especially when you live in a place with so many breathtaking views. Take Fairview High School for example. You have a postcard-worthy view of the Flatirons as well as of the community and campus below. Beautiful? Gorgeous? Dazzling? No, no, no. The English language fails again.
BD.r : Longs Peak

Hiking Trail
EC.c : Teller Farm
Teller Farm is popular with runners, and you’re likely to encounter packs on mornings, but they come for a reason. Teller Farm is relatively flat; the trail has great views—of both the plains and mountains. On the north side of Arapahoe Road between 75th and 95th streets there is a dirt road with a wooden open space sign; trailhead parking is located at the end of the dirt road.
EC.r : Hall Ranch

BD.c : Flatiron No. 1
Leading up to one of Boulder’s most recognizable geological features, this trail is moderately strenuous but still accessible for all levels, and provides astonishing 180-degree views of the Boulder Valley as well as the perennially snowcapped Indian Peaks beyond. Take Baseline west to Chautauqua Park where the trail begins.
BD.r : Mount Sanitas

Sledding Hill
EC.c : Westminster City Park Recreation Center
Even the city of Westminster brags that this is its best sledding hill—but we’ll go a step further and say that it’s our favorite in the area. In the summer, the park is a picturesque spot with gorgeous views. In winter, it’s a virtual race track for sledding fiends. This baby will make you forget that it’s 15 degrees and your butt is sopping wet.
EC.r : Sunset Middle School

BD.c : Tantra Park
Sledding may not have the cool-factor that sports like snowboarding and backcountry skiing have, and sledders may not be able to go pro or get sponsorships…but we think there is more to sledding than just kids in puffy coats and wool hats. At Tantra Park in Boulder, the decent is steep and you’ll ride further than the length of a football field. Take that, Shaun White!
BD.r : Scott Carpenter Park