Parrett Trucking

A Trip Through Boulder, Colorado

It’s funny, as a bus driver, I keep discovering more and more fantastic places to live.  If I had my way – I’d have moved to at least 30 cities already that I’ve recently encountered!  But, alas, since I can’t pick up and move, I can at least enjoy the experience of passing through these great towns.

My latest adventure took me to Boulder, Colorado.  What a beautiful, majestic place!  Nestled in the foothills where the plains meet the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Boulder is only one hour from Denver and close to many ski resorts and other attractions.  It has beautiful, crisp days during most of the year, while also enjoying 83 plus inches of snow during the winter.

After doing a bit of research, I found out that Boulder was recently rated the #1 Sports Town in America by Outside Magazine since it offers so much year-round recreational activity including hiking and biking trails, skiing and so much more.

I had one night off in Boulder, so I was able to enjoy a great dinner and a browse through one of the 30 art galleries in Boulder.  Boulder also has four local museums, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Colorado Music Festival, over 300 restaurants, and loads of other culture and entertainment.

I’m certainly hoping to make my way back through Boulder so that I can enjoy some of this bounty again!

Rolling Through Austin

I passed through Austin, Texas this week and I was amazed by the city. It’s not a place where I’ve spent much time, but I couldn’t believe how much Austin has to offer.  First of all, it’s beautiful and there are parks and lakes everywhere.  They have a really cool music scene and I had the chance to check out a few pubs and to enjoy some fantastic underground music.

While I was chatting with a few locals, I learned about Austin’s many “green” initiatives and I was amazed by all of the things that this city has done to promote a healthier, more green environment.  Did you know that Austin will actually pay its residents rebates if they install extra attic insulation or high-efficiency washing machines?  They also have discounts for rainwater collection barrels and they offer low-flow toilet purchases at really amazing prices.

They have advertising all around that promotes a more green living environment and I think that it raises this important issue up higher in the city’s collective thoughts.

Yes, I felt a bit bad getting into my truck after spending time in a city that is trying to reduce the urban footprint!  But, my visit did make me more determined than ever to find ways to be more ecologically conscious and to try to be more green in my life as well.