Whether you’ve lived in Boulder for 20 years or two, chances are you’ve probably never seen the town like a tourist. Get a different perspective of our great town by spending your weekend on one of Boulder’s many unique and exciting tours.

1. History Tour

You’ve seen the Banjo Billy bus roaming the streets of Boulder and you’ve probably heard it, too. They have tours every week that detail Boulder’s long history of mining, Native Americans, peace pipes and tattoos. They even have a ghost tour that travels to various haunted spots in town, including CU’s Macky Auditorium. The best part of this 90-minute tour is riding around in the old-school bus that is tricked out with couches, recliners and saddles. Visit the Banjo Billy Bus Tour website for more information.

2. Bike Tour

Ever done a pub-crawl? How about on a sixteen-seater bicycle? MyHandleBar gives group bike tours to Boulder’s best bars. And while you can drink at the bars, you can also drink on the bike. This giant bicycle has a bar built into it so you can sip and ride at the same time, but don’t worry about a group crash, there’s no actual bike riding done by any of the drinkers, just smooth sailings to the next venue of the night. If you’re into beer, check out the Boulder Brewery Biking tour to get a taste of Boulder’s best brews. If you’d rather have a cocktail, try the Boulder Bar Bash that takes you to places like Sundown Saloon, The Rio and The Kitchen Next Door. Rally a group of your friends and go to the MyHandleBar website to book a tour.

No trip to Boulder is complete without a visit to the Celestial Seasonings tour for free tea samples. Tours are offered Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CU Independent/Kai Casey)

3. Tea Tour

Boulder is the famous home of Celestial Seasoning’s Tea and they give factory tours every day of the week. You get to see first-hand the process of tea manufacturing. Plus, there are always loads of free samples and these 45-minute long tours don’t cost a dime. Check out their website to find out about tour times and to make reservations to see “the world’s most advanced tea production plant”.

Get a taste of Boulder beer at the Avery Brewery Tour. Tours are offered weekdays at 4 p.m. and weekends at 2 p.m. (CU Independent/Kai Casey)

4. Beer Tour

One thing Boulder is known for is beer. There are many breweries around town that offer tours, but Avery Brewery is a Boulder tourist favorite. They offer tours at 4 p.m. every weekday and at 2 p.m. on the weekends. Tours begin in the Tap Room and travel through each room as you learn about the beer making process. It’s free and no reservations are required. Visit the Avery Brewery website to learn more.

5. Dining Tour

Even though Boulder’s downtown area boasts over 100 amazing restaurants, it’s likely that you and your friends get stuck eating at the same few “college” places every weekend. Check out one of Local Table Tours’ many dining, cocktail and downtown tours for a real taste of Boulder. You’ll visit some of the city’s most creative and delicious restaurants sampling appetizers, drinking and chatting with the chefs. Tours run on Fridays at 3 p.m. and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. Go to the Local Table Tours website to reserve your spot on the next tour.

Contact CU Independent staff writer Natalie Proulx at Natalie.proulx@colorado.edu.