Blog- Thoughts from the English Retreads pit crew on life, being green and eco-friendly and on our products

As 21-year San Diego native, I am the kind of girl who lives to be outdoors in the sunshine, soaking up every ray and doing every outdoor activity possible (including napping on the beach, in the park and on my porch). Each winter I struggle through the brutal days of freezing snow, dreaming of when Mr. Sun will again grace me with his presence. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration; I do live in Boulder which continues to slap me in the face with “I get more days of sunshine than San Diego.” I still find that a little hard to believe… maybe I’m just bitter.

With Spring rapidly approaching, I am filled with the anticipation of busting out my dresses and flip-flops and basking in the glory of the sun. There are a few activities in Boulder that just radiate “springness” to me and I can’t imagine my life without them.

The Boulder Farmers Market
Nestled along the famous Boulder Creek, this superb farmers market combines a few of my favorite things: socializing, eating, and buying local. Opening on April 4 (less than a month!), the Saturday market is THE place to be once the snow starts to melt. I always ride my bike or walk down and spend an hour or two tasting organic salsas, mingling with the merchants, browsing beautiful handmade jewelry and making far too many purchases for myself.

Tubing Down Boulder Creek
This definitely has a close place in the pit crew’s heart because it is how our fabulous owner/designer dreamt up the idea of English Retreads. Heather English took her tube used to float the creek and cut it up to create the original English Retreads Model T Tote. It is actually hanging right beside me on our “re-tired” wall.

Throw on a bikini, grab an old inner tube from your garage and hop in the creek up Arapahoe. A few of my friends had a little difficulty maneuvering their bike while holding onto their tube en route to the creek, so it may be best to walk.

Hiking with the Dog up Mt. Sanitas

Mt. Sanitas at the start of the hike!

Right up Mapleton is the best dog-walking hike that I have found in Boulder. It is about three miles and is a really great workout for both me and the pooch. Make a few pit stops and enjoy the stellar views of Boulder. I like to pack a little snack for the pup and me and sit in the sun for a little bit to take a breather.

Dining on Pearl Street Mall
Pearl Street is always bustling, but the mall takes on a whole new crowd of sightseers, diners and shoppers in the summer. I love the warm summer evenings when I can sit outside, get a little sun, and enjoy some of the fabulous feastings Boulder restaurants have to offer. The Kitchen has an ever-changing local and organic menu with some killer beers. I also love the rooftop at The Rio for some mediocre Mexican food yet delicious margaritas; the atmosphere is always so fun and it is a great way to watch the beautiful Boulder sunsets.

I would love to hear what all you Boulderites do once the warmth bathes our great little town.

Lauren, Blog Maven