Spotlight on: Nederland, CO

Seeing the charming hamlet of Nederland for the first time might take your breath away: driving into town, you’ll be treated to the visual splendor of the gleaming reservoir, majestic peaks, and colorful metal rooftops that speckle the valley. 

What was once a sleepy mountain town is now a bustling community with a weekend tourist crowd reminiscent of a popular vacation area. The local ski mountain, Eldora, became part of the larger ski pass products in 2013 and the town sees a lot more visitors than it used to. The mountain has added high-speed lifts and other improvements to keep up with demand. While skiing is enjoyable at Eldora during the winter, Nederland also has a lot to offer in the summer, with miles of backcountry trails for camping, hiking, and mountain biking.

In town, you can wander through a majestic gem and crystal shop, ride the historic Carousel of Happiness, explore the historic mining museum, and of course, have a great meal at various restaurants. For the weekend adventurer, stop in at Decent Bagel for well, a more than decent NY bagel. It’s the perfect place where everyone in the family can find a breakfast nibble they enjoy. One of our favorite places to dine post-hike is Busey Brews, a lively BBQ joint serving up house-smoked BBQ. You can’t miss it, just follow your nose and the crowds down through town. Tres Gringos is a non-traditional, Mexican-style restaurant that is a must-visit. Their hand-pressed tortillas, small-batch salsas, and bold margaritas always have us wanting more. 

As expected in a historic mountain town, Nederland has its share of quirky mountain homes that lean rustic. There is nothing cookie-cutter about the housing here and you can be sure any home you find is unique. The neighborhood south of the reservoir, Big Springs, features views and privacy with quick access to town. A-Frame cabins mingle with newer, more modern, custom homes with expansive views and multi-car garages. The center of town has walkable neighborhoods with smaller mining cabins and some renovated single-family homes. Further on the outskirts will yield rustic homes on acreage, affording all the privacy one could want in mountain living.

Spotlight on: Superior, CO

Perched on an expansive hillside on the southern tip of Boulder County sits Superior, CO, home to 30,000 residents. Most of Superior was built in the last 20 years or so, and the majority of homes are 2-story traditional builds with nice yards. The Superior neighborhoods were developed to include some incredible parks and open space trail systems, as well as two pools for Superior residents only and two highly-rated elementary schools. Some of the homes are located right along open space and have mountain views, and commuting is easy with the close proximity to US-36.

Restaurants in Superior have an endless opportunity for diners and places like Tequila Mezchal make the most of it. Located along Colton Road, the restaurant is unassuming but their mole enchiladas are anything but! It’s a favorite of families and commuters alike. Parma Trattoria is another favorite that is seemingly always bustling with families, co-workers, and friends gathering. Their authentic Italian menu boasts pasta that will make you lick the plate, a fresh mozzarella bar to please a crowd, and of course, filled-to-order cannoli the way Nonna would make. Boss Lady Pizza is another crowd-pleaser, serving up NY-style pizza by the slice or by the pie. Try their spicy chicken taco pizza - you can enjoy it on their large outdoor patio or at their counter; available for delivery and takeout, it’s a go-to for all of Boulder County.

The neighborhoods are like the restaurants: easy to please, and popular with families. Rock Creek has mostly 2-story homes from the early 2000s and is attractive to families with kids and dogs due to large yards and appealing floor plans. Nearby, Rock Creek Ranch has modern townhomes that are within walking distance of restaurants and shopping. The original Town Superior used to have older homes, but sadly the Marshall Fire destroyed them in late 2021. Still, the town has been remarkably resilient and thoughtful in its rebuilding efforts and has been working to develop a Downtown Superior shopping area, currently anchored by the Sports Stable. The surrounding downtown neighborhood features highly efficient attached homes, townhomes, and condos that are all relatively new builds.