As summer reveals itself along the Front Range, locals are taking full advantage of our long, sunshine-filled days. Even if you’ve spent a good deal of your time outdoors this year, you may need a reprieve from your usual routine. A convenient 30 miles from downtown Denver, Boulder’s St. Julien Hotel & Spa offers an idyllic setting for a quick weekend getaway—with spectacular service and casual elegance just steps away from popular dining and shopping at the outdoor, pedestrian-only Pearl Street Mall.
The hotel’s 201 spacious and comfortable guest rooms are beautifully furnished, featuring over-sized bathrooms, slate flooring, and granite counters. Soft textures and colors imbue a welcome sense of calm and relaxation, while plush Italian bedding, pampering minty-scented bathroom products, and a mini bar stocked with locally made goodies are added comforts.
The Nature’s Healing Embrace Package offers overnight accommodations and a welcome basket filled with local treats as well as $150 daily hotel credit that may be used at the hotel’s food and beverage venues, Jill’s and T-Zero Lounge or at the onsite Spa. St Julien’s general manager, Bob Trotter explains “this package was created to support our guests’ desire to get outside and tend to their mental wellbeing, in addition to showcasing the beautiful summer scenery Boulder has to offer. Our guests value the opportunity to explore the nearly 300 miles of trails just beyond our doors,” says Trotter, adding “our concierge team is always happy to recommend their favorite trails for self-guided hiking and biking as well as arrange guided tours with local partners to coordinate these experiences.”
Eat & Drink
We started off our evening at T-Zero Lounge, where master mixologists expertly whip up crafty, creative cocktails. I recommend the Blood Orange Paloma—a zippy concoction of Herradura blanco tequila, Giffard pampelmousse liquor, and Sicilian blood orange. We made our way to Jill’s Restaurant, a modern bistro offering an exquisite farm-to-table experience featuring seasonal and sustainable menu items. Ingredients are sourced through partnerships with local farms, creameries, and ranches, an on-site garden, and Boulder’s seasonal farmer’s market. Our tastebuds delighted in our first bite of the Roasted Beet Salad dressed with arugula and endive, winter citrus, pickled red onions, candied hazelnuts and chevre, and finished with an agave-tarragon vinaigrette. I savored every bite of the Spice Dusted Scottish Salmon filet and organic quinoa with a medley of seasonal vegetables while my husband tucked into his Steak Frites featuring natural angus New York accompanied by Kennebec fries and a zesty peppercorn sauce. The Tiramisu is delish and the Brownie Sundae with pecan ice cream was a nice gluten-free option.
What To Do
Pamper Yourself at the Spa
While most Colorado resorts offer relaxing massages and various body treatments, the St. Julien Spa kicks it up a notch with The Gemstone Chakra Balancing Treatment. This 100-minute full-body massage with energy work is delivered through crystals. The healing begins with a chakra consultation and an invigorating salt foot scrub, then a blissful aromatherapy massage, detox, and chakra alignment. If your winter skin is parched, you’ll enjoy the HydraFacial Deluxe, a 45-minute non-laser skin resurfacing procedure that uses patented technology to cleanse, extract, and moisturize the face.
Bathe Yourself in Nature
The hotel also enlightens guests to the Japanese concept of Shinrin-Yoku, or Forest Bathing. The philosophy is rooted in the theory that time spent immersed in nature can greatly enhance health and happiness. Rather than focusing on intense physical activity or an epic workout, Forest Bathing embraces slowly meandering through the woods, noticing the sounds and sights of the forest, and engaging all of the senses which, according to the U.S. Forest Service, results in reduced blood pressure, a strengthened immune system, increased energy, stress reduction, and improved mood. St Julien’s concierge will happily recommend nearby Flagstaff Mountain as one of their favorite venues.
Explore the Local Scene
Conveniently close to the hotel are some of Boulder’s most coveted restaurants including SALT, The Kitchen, Frasca, and The Mediterranean. If you like to shop, Pearl Street Mall has some enviable fashion boutiques such as Haven, Island Farm.
