If you live in Colorado, chances are your group chats, social feeds, and late-night drives have had a single theme this week: “the northern lights” or Aurora Borealis. A rare and powerful series of solar storms lit up our skies for three incredible nights, turning the State and the Front Range where I live into an impromptu aurora-watching festival. And for those of us in Boulder, it felt almost surreal—like the sky was auditioning for a cosmic art show. I spent the second night of the storm in ...

Across campsites and forest trails, a quiet revolution is reshaping the way people eat outdoors. Sustainable camping, once focused mainly on reusable gear and leave-no-trace ethics, now extends to the campfire kitchen, where responsibly sourced foods are taking center stage. Outdoor recreation often has a big impact on the environment. It doesn’t have to be that way. More campers are trading in freeze-dried meals and plastic-wrapped snacks for local produce, ethically raised meats, and homemade ...

Tucked into the quiet residential neighborhoods of northeast Boulder, known as Gunbarrel, Twin Lakes Open Space is a local gem that blends everyday convenience with a true sense of wild Colorado beauty. For those of us lucky enough to live nearby, it’s a go-to spot for a morning dog walk, an after-work run, or simply a slow stroll to reset the day. With two sparkling lakes, originally created for water storage for agricultural use offer mountain views, and a surprising variety of wildlife, it fe...

Nestled in Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks, Long Canyon offers a surprisingly lush escape—a short yet richly rewarding hike that stands in stark contrast to the arid foothill surroundings. Distance: 1.5 miles with significant elevation change approximately 905 feet making this a moderately strenuous yet manageable out-and-back adventure. Difficulty: Rated hard by the City of Boulder with steep sections that are icy during the winter. Trekking poles are recommended and from October to Mar...

My kitchen is a collection of murky mason jars, hanging herbs, and withered mushrooms drying beneath the counter. These things I gather from the world around me; I grow them in my garden and forage them from the sprawling Ozark Mountains beyond my home. Each object has a purpose: they turn to tinctures, balms, lotions, teas, and fragrant perfumes. My products snake into the blood, lungs, and lives of the people I love. They adorn the bodies of my community, are bought and sold and given as gifts...