Arapahoe Ridge - Boulder, CO

As the 11th-most populous home-rule municipality in the state of Colorado, Boulder first become a popular area due to the University of Colorado campus built here. The campus originally opened in 1877, bringing new residents and people to the surrounding neighborhoods.

The campus focus brought about a younger demographic to the area, making this city an attractive prospect for college students and young professionals. The Arapahoe Ridge neighborhood grew as a result of the campus population growth.

While no museums or major arts scene exist specifically in the Arapahoe Ridge neighborhood, much culture awaits just a few minutes away in the downtown Boulder streets. One local art gallery exists, called the Naomi Susan Schwartz Jacobs Uplifting Art for residents to enjoy, but you have to make an appointment to see the art.

While downtown Boulder has plenty of options for restaurants and night life, the Arapahoe Ridge neighborhood has its own unique dining options.

Known for the amount of breweries in Colorado, BRU Handbuilt Ales & Eats holds its own in the brewery world. During the daily happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., the most popular side dish is the scrumptious Bahn Mi: crispy pork with lime aioli sauce. If you stop by for dinner, order The Bru, a pizza with tomato sauce, topped with sausage, kale and smoked shallots. Of course, people frequent BRU for the brewed beer. If you order a beer flight, you get a tray of five beers to sample, giving you a wide selection of beers to experience. BRU also opens late for anyone looking for a relaxing place to have a drink in the evenings.

For your coffee needs, stop in the Ozo Coffee Co. along Arapahoe Avenue. Locals know this establishment as a great place to stop for coffee before an early morning hike in the foothills. If you stop by in the afternoon, order the Bhakti Chai.

Since the mountains sprawl all along the West, outdoor seating at Pica's Taqueria should be on your list to try. While you enjoy the sights, you can munch on some of the popular shrimp tacos. When feeling particularly hungry, order any of the burritos for a generous portion size.

The nightlife in this neighborhood remains more suburban than young and metropolitan, but downtown Boulder awaits just a few minutes away by bus or car.

Leaving the neighborhood and heading across Arapahoe Avenue provides residents with Boulder's Dinner Theatre for live music and Broadway performances, and also many bars to choose from, such as the Wild Woods Brewery.

With RTD Denver serving the Boulder County area, getting around the neighborhood proves simple with multiple bus stops at most blocks. The public bus can get you to downtown Boulder, surrounding cities, Denver or even the Denver International Airport. Highways 157 and 36 run just a few blocks away, giving residents full access to different parts of the state.

Other options include Uber, Lyft and local taxi companies that frequent Pearl Street Mall for easy accessibility.

Most popular areas of Boulder require a small fee for parking, but the Arapahoe Ridge neighborhood has free parking through its predominately suburban tree-lined streets.

Biking and walking remain commonplace options for getting around the neighborhood for those not looking to drive.

When it comes to parks and outdoor recreation, Boulder remains one of the best cities to live in for parks and outdoor recreational activities.

Within the Arapahoe Ridge neighborhood, the Arapahoe Ridge Park gives residents a nice place for families to relax. The park has a rock fort, barbecue area, picnic tables, long stretches of grass and tennis courts for residents to explore.

Boulder has thousands of acres of open space for locals to explore. Some of the parks come in the form of national parks, some are conservation areas and nature preserves, but most remain free open spaces for exploration. Visitors often flock to the Rocky Mountains, with plenty of resorts for residents to ski and snowboard during the winter, or hike and bike during the summer.

The most popular annual outdoor event comes as the Bolder Boulder. This 10 kilometer run through Boulder happens on Memorial day annually and continually attracts over 50,000 participants.

The cost of living in Boulder sits higher than the state average due to its popularity. The RTD bus fare starts at $2.25 for local rides, but college students get free bus passes to get around. The median rent for a one-bedroom holds at $1,302 a month, with the typical price of beer around $2, which is lower than the national average due to so many breweries in the area. The gas price sits 1 percent higher than the national average, but biking also ranks as one of the most popular modes of transportation for locals.

As one of the healthiest cities in Colorado, Boulder focuses on locally grown, organic foods, providing residents with some of the best farmers markets in the area. No specific farmers markets grace this neighborhood, but residents enjoy many throughout all of Boulder. A short drive west along Arapahoe brings you to a Whole Foods, Cost Plus, Sprouts and Safeway for all your grocery shopping needs. Within the Arapahoe Ridge neighborhood, locals love to shop at The Video Station. This old store sells old movies, video games, music and DVDs. Rental options come available for people just looking to test out new movies. Bike enthusiasts love LTD Cycleworx. This store stocks both brand new bikes as well as a repair shop for maintenance requirements after a long bike-riding season. If you are new to bike riding, the friendly staff at LTD helps you get sorted, learn the basics and get you ready for your new bike.