Boulder, Colorado · September 27–29, 2026
Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder, 2601 Canyon Blvd (28th St & Canyon Blvd)

Getting Here

Fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), about 45 miles and 45–75 minutes from Boulder.

  • RTD AB1 bus — $10 (Airport Day Pass), ~60–75 min. Board at the DEN Transit Center, Level 1, south end of the terminal. Pay via the RTD MyRide app or ticket machines. The AB1 ends at Downtown Boulder Station; the weekday AB2 stops at 28th & Canyon, across from the venue. Timetable
  • Uber / Lyft — ~$80–90, ~45 min. Pickup at Level 5, Island 5.
  • Taxi / private car — ~$90–150+.
  • Rental car — not needed for the conference, but useful for mountain day trips. Venue parking is $27/day.

There is no longer a shared-van shuttle service between DEN and Boulder.

Hotels

Conference block — book by September 7, 2026 (5:00 PM MST) via the Hilton event link.

  • Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder (the venue) — all-suite, free breakfast and evening reception.
  • Hilton Garden Inn Boulder — 2701 Canyon Blvd, next door.
  • Nearby alternatives: Boulder Marriott, Residence Inn Boulder Canyon (both on Canyon Blvd), Hyatt Place Boulder/Pearl Street, Hotel Boulderado and St Julien (downtown, walkable to Pearl Street).

Getting Around

Downtown Boulder is compact and walkable. The HOP bus connects the venue, Pearl Street and the CU campus (~$2.75 for a 3-hour pass). Boulder BCycle e-bikes and Lime scooters are available city-wide, and rideshare is easy to get in town.

Things to Do

In and near Boulder: Pearl Street Mall — pedestrian downtown ~5 min from the venue, with restaurants, shops and street performers; Chautauqua Park & the Flatirons — Boulder’s iconic hiking area, from easy meadow loops to strenuous summits (Royal Arch, Bear Peak, Mount Sanitas); NCAR Mesa Lab — free science exhibits and foothills trails with panoramic views; Boulder Creek Path — a flat, scenic walking and biking route through town;  Red Rocks Amphitheatre — a historic music venue set between the rocks, with trails around it;  Dinosaur Ridge — real dinosaur tracks still embedded in the rock;  Meow Wolf Denver — an immersive walk-through art installation (~45 min); timed tickets, book ahead;  Georgetown Loop Railroad — a historic scenic railroad (~1 hr); tickets in advance; Table Mountain — North and South Table Mountain hikes in Golden (~30 min);  Pedego Boulder — guided e-bike tours of Boulder.

Day Trips

Rocky Mountain National Park (~1.5 hr, check timed-entry rules), Golden & the Coors tour (~45 min), Denver (~45 min), Peak to Peak Highway (scenic mountain drive), Eldorado Canyon State Park (20 min), Mount Sanitas trailhead (10 min), Carousel of Happiness (~30 min), Estes Park (~1 hr) and Evergreen Lake (~1 hr).

Museums

Colorado School of Mines Museum of Earth Science (moon rocks from Apollo 17) and Colorado Railroad Museum (historic locomotives and rolling stock).

Events

Visit Boulder and Visit Denver list what is on across Colorado during the conference.

Food & Drink

Pearl Street offers the widest range, including strong vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Notable spots: The Kitchen American Bistro, West End Tavern, Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery (cash only), Leaf (all vegetarian), Bramble and Hare, Brasserie Ten Ten, and Flagstaff House (mountainside, more expensive).

Breweries

Boulder’s brewery scene includes Pattern Break, Avery, Upslope, Sanitas and Twisted Pine.

Tips

  • Weather — highs 75–79°F (24–26°C), lows 45–51°F (7–11°C). Sunny and dry with big day-to-night swings, so bring layers and a jacket.
  • Altitude — Boulder is at 5,430 ft (1,655 m). Hydrate well, go easy on alcohol the first day or two, and pace yourself on hikes. Sun and UV are intense: bring sunscreen and sunglasses.
  • Emergencies — dial 911. Nearest hospital: Boulder Community Health – Foothills Hospital, 4747 Arapahoe Ave (303-415-7000).
  • Money — cards accepted everywhere. Tipping is customary (18–20% at restaurants). Boulder sales tax is 9.195% and is added at checkout.
  • Power — 120 V, 60 Hz, Type A/B plugs; international visitors need an adapter.
  • Colorado notes — drinking age is 21. Cannabis is legal for adults 21+, but public consumption is not.
  • Visas — international attendees may need a visa or ESTA. Check travel.state.gov and apply early; invitation letters are available from the Registration Chair.
  • Time zone — Mountain Daylight Time (UTC−6) in September.

Prices and schedules are approximate and subject to change.