Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to get to Boulder from Denver International Airport?

Denver International Airport is approximately 45 miles from Boulder. If you are not renting a car (you should not need one for travel between your hotel and the workshop), we suggest using either public transportation or the Super Shuttle.

Super Shuttle (303.227.0000) is an inexpensive option that can take you directly to your hotel. We recommend booking your ride in advance.
Public transportation from Denver International Airport to downtown Boulder is comfortable and inexpensive. See the Regional Transportation District (RTD) schedule for the AB route. Cash fares are $13 each way or $24 for a round-trip ticket book.

Where and when with the workshop shuttle pick me up? How will I recognize it?

The workshop shuttle bus is operated by the University of Colorado, and will most likely look something like this:

The workshop bus will stop at both of the workshop hotels before driving to the Mesa Lab. Be outside your hotel's lobby at 7:45am for pickup. (Note that depending on which hotel the bus stops at first, you may need to wait five to ten minutes for the shuttle to arrive.)

Eeek! I missed the shuttle to the workshop! What do I do?

The workshop shuttle will make only one trip each morning, so please be at the pickup point by 7:45am. If you do miss the shuttle, you have a couple of options:

Before 8:45 am, your best option is to catch the free UCAR shuttle bus. The UCAR shuttle stop is located about a block north of the intersection of 28th Street and Canyon Boulevard (about one block from the Golden Buff hotel and about three blocks from the Millennium Harvest House hotel). The UCAR shuttle stops at this stop at 8:13am and 8:43am. (After 8:45 the UCAR shuttle switches to an express route that bypasses the 28th/Canyon stop.) You can find a map, along with the UCAR shuttle schedule, here.

UCAR shuttles are 15-passenger vans with the UCAR/NCAR logo in rear side window. Tell the driver that you are attending a Unidata-sponsored workshop at the Mesa lab.
Take a taxi to the workshop. (You'll be on the hook for the cost of the ride.)

Should I bring my laptop?

Please do! There will be many opportunities for hands-on exploration of the techologies discussed at the workshop. Unidata will be providing USB stick drives containing a "virtual Unidata environment" for you to use at the workshop and take home with you.

While tablets are easier to travel with, the software we'll be using for the workshop requires a "real" laptop. The virtual Unidata environment should work on any relatively modern laptop running Windows, OSX, or Linux.

How can I follow along with the presenter?

Some presenters are planning to use specific software packages (either Unidata or third-party software) during their presentation. Check the Workshop Schedule session descriptions for a line that says "(Software:)" for a link to a software package you may want to install on your laptop before the session.

Where can get some dinner?
Pick up a souvenir for my kids/spouse/self?

Boulder has many excellent restaurants, with a wide range of styles and prices. There are numerous good options within a few blocks of the workshop hotels. The TripAdivsor web site might be helpful in finding something to suit your tastes.

The Pearl Street pedestrial mall in downtown Boulder is home to many restaurants, shopping opportunities, and outdoor entertainment of various sorts. The 29th Street shopping district is less colorful, but only a few blocks from the workshop hotels.

I'm bringing a poster for the poster session. How big should it be?

Pretty much any reasonable poster size is fine. We have no specific size requirements.

Wait! You didn't answer my question!

Contact Workshop Coordinator if you have other questions about workshop logistics.