Boulder Awards and Accolades

Boulder, Colorado, has won many accolades and awards for its recreation, culture, health and overall quality of life.

2023

• 12 MICHELIN Guide Distinctions and Recommendations — The MICHELIN Guide, September 2023 
• #10 Best Smaller Metros for Corporate Retreats — Coworking Cafe, June 2023

2022

• Top ten most vibrant arts communities among medium-sized U.S. communities — Arts Vibrancy Index Report by SMU DataArts, December 2022
• #14 Top Holiday Destinations for Remote Workers — Coworking Cafe, December 2022
• Colorado Chautauqua voted “Best Historical and Cultural Place” in local government in the 2022 Knope Award contest

2021

• #8 Best Cities in the US for Craft Beers and Brews — Western States Arts Federation, April 2021 
• 20 U.S. Destinations Perfect for Solo Travelers — Travel + Leisure, December 2021
• 18 Best Craft Beer Cities in the U.S. — Fodor's, November 2021

2020

• No. 5 Most Vibrant Arts City Among Medium Cities — SMU Data Arts, September 2020
• 12 Best Day Trips in the Rocky Mountains — Lonely Planet, September 2020
• No. 7 of America's 100 Best Small Cities — BestCities.org
• No. 3 of the 30 Most Creative Small Cities in America — Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF), April 2020
• 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S. — The Discoverer

2019

• The 9 Best Outdoor Towns in the U.S. — The Discoverer, July 2019
• Top 20 Places to Spend Christmas in the USA — Green Global Travel, November 2019
• No. 1 Most Bikeable City in the U.S. — People For Bikes
• No. 1 of the 50 Best College Towns in America — Best College Reviews
• 10 Best Underrated Cities to Visit in the U.S. — Complex.com, January 2019
• 20 Cities to Visit in Your 20s — CarRentals.com, February 2019

2018

• Best Small Cities in the U.S.– National Geographic Traveler, January 2018 
• Beer City to Watch in 2018 — Food & Wine, January 2018
• Top Destinations on the Rise — TripAdvisor, January 2018
• America's Most Artistic Towns — Expedia, February 2018
• These Unexpected Cities Have the Best Coffee in the U.S. — National Geographic, March 2018
• America's Best Long-Weekend Getaways — Jetsetter.com, April 2018
• 8 Most Underrated Cities in America — Jetsetter.com, April 2018
• Top 13 Cycling Cities in the U.S. — Travel Channel, July 2018
• The Ultimate Destination for an Outdoor Adventure — Travel and Leisure, August 2018
• Known for National Parks — Select Traveler, November 2018

​​2017

• The Happiest City in the U.S. – National Geographic, October 2017 
• #10 “Highest Well Being Communities” — Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, March 2017
• #1 "Top 10 Fittest Cities in the U.S." — Self, September 2017 
• #1 2017 Bloomberg Brain Concentration Index – Bloomberg, October 2017
• 6 of the Best State Parks in America (Eldorado Canyon State Park) – Outside, September 2017
• #2 “Hidden Beer Gem in the US” – Infogroup.com, April 2017
• Most Breweries Per Capita — Datafiniti, April 2017
• #3 18 Best Cities in America for Solo Travelers – Travel + Leisure, May 2017
• #9 “12 of the most underrated food cities in America” – BuzzFeed, June 2017
• #5 “13 Farmers Markets Worth Traveling For” (Boulder Farmers Market) – Bon Appétit Magazine, June 2017
• #3 “21 Lazy Rivers to Float this Summer” (Boulder Creek) – TravelChannel.com, July 2017
• #7 “15 Cities you never thought to visit (but really should)” – The Telegraph, July 2017
• #2 “5 of the Most Gorgeous College Towns in America” – Make It Better, September 2017
• America’s 13 hottest up-and-coming coffee cultures – Expedia.com, October 2017
• #4 “Top Five Friendliest Cities” – Mister Manners, October 2017
• 12 Most Dog-Friendly Towns in the West – Sunset, November 2017

2016

• 18 Best Cities in America for Solo Travelers — TravelandLeisure.com, December 2016 
• The Best U.S. Cities to Spend a Weekend — Thrillest.com, March 2016
•  #7 “Highest Well Being Communities” — Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, March 2016
• Top 25 Cities for a Weekend Getaway — Thrillist, March 2016
• Top 15 Cities for Seasonal Brews — Travelocity.com, November 2016

2015

• #1 Farmers' Market in the U.S. — USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice, August 2015
• 10 Best Cities to See Street Performers — USAToday.com, May 2015
• The 7 Most Underrated American Food Cities in 2015 — Thrillest.com, May 2015 
• America’s 50 Best Farmers’ Markets — Cooking Light.com, May 2015
• Best Cities to Visit with Your Dog — Men’s Journal, July 2015
• The Country’s Best July 4th  Celebrations — CondeNastTraveler.com, July 2015
• Wine Spectator  Grand Award Winner (Flagstaff House)— Wine Spectator, July 2015
• Best Food Factory Tour (Celestial Seasonings) — USAToday.com, August 2015
• Ten Laziest Rivers in the US (Boulder Creek) — Men’s Journal.com, August 2015
• #4 “America’s Best Beer Towns” — CNNMoney.com, September 2015
• #2 “The 21 Most Romantic Restaurants in America” (Flagstaff House) — Thrillest.com, October 2015

2014

•  #2 “Top Cities for Well Being” – Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, March 2014 
• The Best College Towns in America – GQ, June 2014 
• America’s Best Towns for July 4th – TravelandLeisure.com, June 2014 
• 10Best: Bike-friendly cities – USAToday.com, July 2014  
• #4 America’s Quirkiest Towns – TravelandLeisure.com, August 2014
• Best College Towns for People Who Aren’t In College – CondeNastTraveler.com, October 2014
• 15 Most Memorable Restaurants of 2014 (The Sink) – Forbes.com, December 2014 

2013

• #2 “Top Cities for Well Being” – Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, March 2013
• #4 “The Best Clubs in America” (Fox Theater) – Rolling Stone, April 2013
• Outstanding Wine Program (Frasca Food and Wine) – James Beard Foundation Award Winner, May 2013
• Ten Best Foodie Streets in America (Pearl Street) – Food & Wine, May 2013
• #2 “Top Urban Bike Paths” – USA Today, July 23, 2013
• America’s Best College Towns – Travel & Leisure, December 2013 

2012

• Top Ten Foodie Cities – Livability.com, January 2012 
• Best Underrated College Towns – NextGen Journal, February 2012 
• Top Sommeliers of 2012 (Pizzeria Locale) – Food & Wine, April 2012 
• #1 "America's Most Creative Cities" – Richard Florida's Creative Class Index, June 2012 
• 20 Best Vacation Destinations – Frommers, June 2012

2011 

• Top 10 Winter Towns – National Geographic Traveler, January 2011 
• 10 Great College Towns – US News & World Report, February 2011 
• #1 "America's 15 Most Active Cities" – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Study February 2011 
• Happiest and Healthiest City – Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, March 2011 
• America's Best New Bars (Oak) – Food & Wine, April 2011 
• #9 "Top 25 Small Cities for Art"– AmericanStyle magazine, June 2011
• 10 Great Places for City Cycling – USA Today, July 22 2011
• 10 College Towns with the Best Food – The Daily Meal, September 14 2011
• #1 Most Educated Metro Area – US Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2011
• 50 Best Bars in America (Oak) – Food & Wine, December 2011
• 5 Great College Towns for Winter Enthusiasts – US News, Dec 2011
• #7 "Top US Travel Destinations for 2012" – Lonely Planet, December 2011

2010 

• Top 25 Destinations in the US – TripAdvisor, January 2010 
• #4 "Eleven Most Bike Friendly Cities in the World" – Virgin Vacations, January 2011 
• Happiest and Healthiest City – Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, February 2010 #3 America's Best Bike Cities – Bicycling magazine, May 2010 
• America's Best College Towns – MSNBC.com, June 25, 2010 
• #9 "Top 25 Small Cities for Art" – AmericanStyle magazine, June 2010 
• 10 Best Cities for the Next Decade – Kiplinger's Personal Finance, July 2010 
• America's Top Adventure Towns – NationalGeographic.com, September 2010America's Foodiest Town – Bon Appetit, October 2010 
• Best College Football Towns – Associated Press, October 2010 
• America's "Brainiest" City – Portfolio.com, December 2010

2009 

• Top 10 Bargain Ice-Skating Rinks (The Ice Rink at One Boulder Plaza) -TripAdvisor, February 2009 
• #1 Top Chef (Hosea Rosenberg) — Bravo's Top Chef: New York, February 2009 
• The West's 20 Best Small Towns — Sunset magazine, March 2009 
• Top Ten Best Midsize Metropolitan Areas — bizjournals.com, March 2009 
• #1 "America's Top 25 Towns to Live Well" — Forbes.com, May 2009 
• Top 10 Travel Destinations (Celestial Seasonings Free Tour) — USA Weekend, May 2009 
• Best Places to Live - The 30 Coolest Neighborhoods in America — Men's Journal, June 2009 
• #8 "Top 25 Small Cities for Art" — AmericanStyle magazine, June 2009 
• #1 "Best Cities for Gen Ys" — BusinessWeek.com, June 2009 
• Ten Top Wine Destinations — Food & Wine, July 2009 
• 25 Coolest Film Festivals (Boulder International Film Festival) — MovieMaker magazine, Summer 2009 
• #1 "Best Cities to Raise an Outdoor Kid" — Backpacker magazine, August 2009 
• #1 "The Most Eco-Enlightened U.S. Colleges" — Sierra magazine, August 2009 
• America's Coolest College Towns — Travel + Leisure, September 2009 
• #4 America's Best Running Cities — Runner's World, December 2009

2008

• America's Smartest City - Forbes magazine, February 2008 
• #6 in "Top 10 Best Eco-Friendly Restaurants" - The Kitchen - Bon Appetit, Feb 2008 
• The West's Greenest Restaurant - The Kitchen - Sunset magazine, March 2008 
• Top 10 World's "Greener Cities" - Urban Land Green magazine, Spring 2008 
• #5 in "Top 25 Best Green Places to Live" - Country Home magazine, April 2008 
• Top Pick for Food & Wine Vacations - Organic/Veggie - Orbitz, April 2008 
• Top 25 Destinations in the US - TripAdvisor, April 2008 
• Top 100 Destinations in the World - TripAdvisor, April 2008 
• #3 in "Top 10 Cities for Masters Runners" - Masters Athlete magazine, May 2008
• The 10 Brainiest Places to Retire - US News and World Report, May 2008 
• #8 in "Top 25 Small Cities & Towns for Art" - AmericanStyle magazine, June 2008 
• America's Top 5 Cities for Cycling - Bicycling magazine, June 2008 
• CVB & Tourist Office Award Winner - Top 13 Convention and Visitors Bureaus in the West - Successful Meetings magazine, August 2008 
• #6 in "Healthiest Cities to Live and Retire" - AARP The Magazine, Sept 2008 
• America's 10 Best Healthy Places To Retire - US News and World Report, Sept 2008 Ten Great Football Stadiums - USA Today, October 2008 
• Runner-Up "America's Foodiest Small Town" - Bon Appetit, October 2008 
• Top 10 Mini Wine Escapes - Sunset magazine, November 2008

2007 

• #8 in "Top 10 Cities for Artists" - BusinessWeek, February 2007 
• Top Triathlon Town - Inside Triathlon magazine, April 2007 
• #7 in "Top 25 Best Green Cities" - Country Home magazine, April 2007 
• #5 in "Best Cities for Empty-nesters" - Kiplinger's Personal Finance, June 2007 
• Top 10 Hottest New Restaurants - Bon Appetit magazine, June 2007 
• #8 in "Top 25 Small Cities & Towns for Art" - AmericanStyle magazine, June 2007 
• #3 in "Top 10 Rooftop Bars" - Sunset magazine, July 2007 
• #6 in "Top 10 Farmers' Markets" - EatingWell magazine, August 2007 
• CVB & Tourist Office Award Winner - Top 13 Convention and Visitors Bureaus in the West - Successful Meetings magazine, August 2007 
• Best Places to Retire - US News and World Report.com, August 2007 
• #1 "Top Small-City College Destination" - Denver Business Journal, October 2007 
• #4 "11 Most Bicycle-Friendly Cities in the World" - Virgin Vacations.com, Nov. 2007 Top 10 Best New Restaurants - 5280 Magazine, December 2007

2006 

• Place You Dream of Living - Backpacker magazine, February 2006 
• Best City for Cycling - Bicycling magazine, March 2006 
• Top 10 Greenest Cities - Homestore.com, April 2006 
• #10 in "Top 25 Small Cities & Towns for Art" - AmericanStyle magazine, June 2006 
• #3 in "Top 10 Brainiest Small Cities" - Bizjournals.com, June 2006 
• #1 in "20 Dream Towns" - Outside magazine, August 2006 
• #4 Heart-Healthiest City - Men's Journal, August 2006 
• #9 Best City for Green Meetings - Meetings and Conventions, August 2006 
• Top 20 Greenest Spots in the Country - Vegetarian Times, July/Aug 2006 
• Top 10 Favorite Outdoor Dining Spots - Bon Appetit magazine, July 2006 
• America's Smartest City - Forbes magazine, December 2006