Hiking through Forest Canyon Pass, nearly 11,500 feet above sea level, is a little like jumping into an ice-cold pond: It’s sobering, invigorating and takes a little getting used to. When I wasn’t catching my breath because of the altitude, I was taking in the picture-book panoramas of Rocky Mountain National Park.

It’s tough to beat a visit to Boulder, Colo., if you’re looking to get back to nature — easy access to several national forests and one of the finest national parks in the country helps — but you don’t actually have to leave the city at all to experience some exceptionally fine hiking and outdoor activities, as well as some satisfying dining experiences. Boulder is, however, an expensive city. Its real estate costs are some of the highest in the nation, and with Google and Amazon increasing their presence in town, that issue is not likely to go away anytime soon. Fortunately, I was able to get the most out of Boulder for a minimal amount of cash during a visit in July.

I flew into Denver International Airport and, faced with high on-airport rental car costs, opted to make the somewhat long trek via rideshare to a downtown Avis location. My $42 per day got me a shiny new Subaru Outback (it would not be the last one I saw during this Colorado sojourn). On my way north, I stopped in the town of Louisville at Moxie Bread Co, a top-notch bakery that uses organic heirloom wheat. I arrived near closing time, when most of the items were sold out — the friendly guy behind the counter took pity on me and gave me a free coffee. The flaky croissant ($4.50) was excellent, as was a seedy, slightly tangy loaf of millabrod bread ($6).