Boulder Magazine

A rogue accounting agent and his colleague teamed up to approach tax, assurance, and advisory services from a new perspective words McKenzie Watson-Fore In 2008, Matt Fargo got in trouble for sponsoring TechStars. At the time, he was working inside a national accounting firm, trying to convince leadership that Boulder’s scrappy, venture-backed startups deserved more than being treated as “rounding error clients.” The idea didn’t land well.

A neighborhood café extends Skratch Labs’ real-food philosophy beyond the athlete Story Rainbow Shultz From a company rooted in products made from scratch, Skratch Labs Table is a logical—and delicious—next step for the well-established Boulder brand Skratch Labs. Originally founded by Dr. Allen Lim and Ian MacGregor, the beloved Boulder brand was created to offer athletes natural sports drink mixes made without the artificial ingredients common in instant hydration products.

Intimate stays, destination dining, and artisan finds perfect for a romantic escape Story Lexi Marshall Colorado’s mountain towns have long mastered the art of romance—think fire-lit dinners, snow-dusted streets, and boutique shops filled with locally made treasures. For couples looking to turn a date night into a full-fledged escape, these two destinations deliver intimate stays, memorable meals, and artisan gifts that feel personal rather than predictable.

Limelight brings Aspen-famous Ajax Tavern to Boulder Story Kate Jonuska  » Photos Brock DuPont Located in The Little Nell at the bottom of the Silver Queen gondola and serving upscale tavern food slope-side, the original Ajax Tavern has long been one of Aspen’s hottest après-ski destinations. This year, however, the hottest Ajax Tavern is now on The Hill rather than the mountain, after opening last September as a part of the new Limelight Boulder on University Hill.

Mountaineer and wildlife photographer Ian Wright offers a glimpse into his life of adventure By Chloe-Anne Swink Growing up in New Mexico, Ian Wright climbed mountains since the timehe could walk. High peaks drew the now professional wildlife photographer to Colorado, the awe-inspiring peaks of the Colorado Rockies and the San Juan Mountains called his name. It was no surprise that after moving to Colorado at 25 years old, he succeeded in summiting all 58 14ers in the state. Not once—but twice.

A Mediterranean mother-daughter vacation aboard Viking Cruises Photos and story by Irene Middleman Thomas We felt so noble, convincing ourselves that climbing the stairs between decks instead of using the elevator would erase the effects of four or five desserts, a gelato bar and afternoon high tea. Not true, of course, but we don’t regret one delicious bite. My adult daughter, Amanda, and I were luxuriating on a 13-day Mediterranean Viking Ocean cruise, visiting ten ports in five countries.

Conquering the Cache La Poudre with A Wanderlust Adventure By Christopher C. Wuensch All who wander are not lost—some seek an experience they’ll never forget. For them, A Wanderlust Adventure has a raft ready and awaiting a run down the thrilling rapids of Colorado. Very few outdoor activities are quite as synonymous with Colorado summers than whitewater rafting, and with good reason, as more than 107,000 miles worth of rivers annually carry more than 600,000 rafters on journeys of a lifetime.

Explore mountains, lakes and rivers on Colorado’s scenic byways Words and photos by Matt Maenpaa What words are there to describe the beauty of Colorado that haven’t already been written? From the sprawling, windswept beauty of the eastern plains to the lush pine forests and snow-capped mountains, red rock canyons and stark deserts, this state really has everything. The real trick is figuring out how to see it all in just a lifetime.

Navigating Yellowstone away from the crowds By Irene Middleman Thomas We have elk in Colorado. We have bison, black bears, foxes, deer, wolves and thundering waterfalls. We do not have 10,000 mind-boggling, other-worldly thermal features, including 500 active geysers, bubbling mud holes, sky-scraping fumaroles and hot springs blanketing meadows as far as one can see. But Yellowstone National Park does, boasting more of these natural wonders than anywhere else on Earth.