1. Take a Hike! Less than 10 minutes from the center of town are number of beautiful hiking trails that can accommodate various skill-levels. Hike the beautiful Flatirons or follow Mapleton Ave. west to Mt. Sanitas trail. To get equipped, visit Boulder Running Company for a personalized shoe-fit experience.
2. Scope out the Local Coffee Scene. Boulder has a coffee culture that is rarely found outside of Seattle and if you're embarking on an MBA program, you'll want to have a few coffee shops to call home! Some of my favorites include Pekoe Sip House and The Cup. Also, be sure to check out the Laughing Goat, which offers ample seating for a long work session, an eclectic Boulder crowd and amazing live music (Dechen Hawk is a must see)!
3. Get your CU Buffs Football Tickets! The season opens on September 6th with the CU v. CSU game returning to Boulder! As the game returns to Boulder, students can attend with the purchase of their season tickets!! Visit the CU ticket office for season and single game tickets. GO BUFFS!!
4. Get Geared Up! While shopping for books and school supplies at the CU book store, be sure to pick up some Buff Gear! Checklist: Football Jersey (ladies can shop the kids section for these), comfy hoodie, and a great CU tee.
5. Determine your Workout Regimen. Remember those freshmen fifteen? Be prepared to experience the same in the first year of the MBA program if you're not prepared! Along with an intense school schedule that allows for little 'down time' and fun fall events (think tailgates pertaining to #4 above) will likely come a few extra pounds! Become familiar with the CU Rec Center, as well as local gyms and group fitness studios and work to establish a routine. Boulder provides ample outdoor activities and yoga studios like Corepower provide free week memberships for beginners, as well as ongoing student discounts.
6. Check out Concert Venues. See great bands up close and personal at the Fox Theatre on the Hill or at the Boulder Theater on 14th St. For a quintessentially Colorado experience, get tickets to see one of the many amazing groups scheduled to play at Red Rocks Amphitheater, located ~40 min from Boulder.
7. Float the Creek. For those of you who like a little adventure... drive a short way up Canyon Blvd. to Eben G. Fine Park and tube the Boulder Creek! Take advantage of the last hot days of summer and float the former kayaking course!
8. Get a Backup Plan. Cliff Rosell, MBA 2010 helped many students with computer repairs/restorations throughout the last school year. His recommendation is that everyone gets an external hard drive and creates a backup plan for their work. A little advance planning may save a lot of heart ache should something happen to your computer!
Good luck to the incoming MBA class of 2011! I am so looking forward to this school year, meeting the incoming class and enjoying what Boulder has to offer! If you have any additional activities to add to this list, please post them as a comment to this blog!
See you in a couple of weeks!
