Moving to Denver?

[miko]

Hi everyone.

I just got a promotion with the company I work for but it's in Denver. I need some help figuring out if I should take it and move out there....I'm not that familiar with the area and moving out there from South Dakota will be a big step for me and my wife.

I am in desperate need of the forum to help me out.

 

[dragon12]

What would you like to know?

 

[vahillbilly]

denver move

I came to Denver from Virginia about 8 years ago. I was only going to work out here about 2 years and now i never want to leave. the only problem with Colorado is trying to find enough days off to do the stuff you like!!!!

 

[miko]

What would you like to know?

I kind of like to know where a good place to live is that is comparable to small town living. Are there acreages available close to the city?
Also what is the quality of life in the area?

Thanks for the help too.

 

[FCR112]

Acreage is tough to find in the mtns, big bucks, but available in the plains.

Here's some questions for you to consider:
How close do you need to be to the big city?
Do you want to in the suburbs, How far are you willing to commute?
Do you want to live in the plains, are you cool with wind?
Do you want to live in the Foothills, Mtns, a little more $, a lot more snow, can you deal with fire danger?
Lots of options here. Crazy different weather and climates between the mountains, foothills, plains. All within an hours drive.
There is a LOT of Sunshine here, everybody likes that part

One thing many people (like me) didn't realize until I got out here...Denver is NOT a mountain town. It is city on the high plains close to the mtns. A huge percent of the people here are transplants from elsewhere. Winters in the city area are way way mild compared to the midwest. I miss having natural lakes and rivers nearby, that's what you give up out here but you gain that beautiful view and mtn recreation, it is a trade off. There are small mtn lakes (cold, no power boating, full of trout And rivers that you can raft but not really boat in/ and then there are the reservoirs, which are just nothing like a natural lake, but you can motorboat and fish there.


Also I-70 is a fricken parking lot Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings for pretty much 50 miles west of town during ski season. So be prepared for that.

It's cool though I love it out here, you can easily ride 7 months of the year!
Be prepared for the greenies, imo stay away from Boulder.
PM me if I can help answer any questions or want my number.

 

[dragon12]

I kind of like to know where a good place to live is that is comparable to small town living. Are there acreages available close to the city?
Also what is the quality of life in the area?

Thanks for the help too.

What part of town is the company in you work for? That might help a little in suggesting a place to live nearby. For example, I live in Parker. I am on the southern end of the metro area. I can get to most places in 30-45 minutes driving time. There are places around here that have a couple of acres and are close to town. However, if your work is on the Northern side of town I wouldn't want to live here and commute.

FCR112 made a very valid point about traffic on I-70 on the weekends during ski season. If you get to I-70 and C-470 before 6 am the drive up is good. After 6 am and you will develop a very healthy hatred for Subarus, Audis, and anything with a ski rack attached to it. Usually the drive home sucks every time. If you leave later in the day and pick up dinner on the hill you might be able to avoid some traffic but not all of it. It is somewhat unavoidable like death and taxes.

 

[BackCountryBob]

I live on the west side of town, no smog and less traffic to deal with, excellent Jefferson County schools and health care if you're planning a family, less chance of tornadoes. Money buys acreage but you can get a nice 3 bdrm, 2 car garage on a nice lot you can store your rig on for about $250,000/300,000.

Denver Metro can be sophisticated or red neck--many choices. Unless you're a socialist, stay away from Boulder/Louisville.

We get lots of sunny days with very few mosquitos

Join the Mile Hi Snowmobile Club--we car pool every other week and each mid week on Weds, and overnighters--Rabbit Ears, Snowies, Vail, Grand Lake, Flatops, Grand Mesa--go to www.snowmobilecolo.com and check out Colorado's snow country.

BCB

 

[Chaos]

Moving to Denver

Miko,

Congratulations on your consideration for moving to Colorado, I trust that means your doing something right, instead of, something wrong...

Anyway, the basics of Denver has already been covered by Backcountry, Dragon, FCR and others.

I am actually located in Colorado Springs, roughly an hour south of Denver. Echoing what most of the folks have already said, I only go into Denver if I'm going to the airport, the museum, or to a game. I pretty much avoid it otherwise. Climate is fairly tame and snowfall is markedly minimal. When it does snow it pretty much doesn't last for long. (humidity/sun's intensity)

I can't tell you much about northern or eastern Denver but the further south you head, you run into some very nice communities, some are pricy. The city seems to fall by the wayside very quickly, making for some descent places to live. Depending on your commute desires/flexibility, heading south on 25 or 83 out of Denver, plenty of fine places to call home.

Heading south I never had an issue unless there was bad weather or an accident. In the built up areas it is 4-lane and it meanders down to 2-lane miles and miles south. The comments about 70 heading west, believe what the others have said. I am lucky living in Colorado Springs because heading west on 24 enroute to sledding is pretty much a tame event; except for weather in the passes, just like 70. Just no traffic to deal with.

Everybody already mentioned Boulder, same comment.

Good luck with your decision. Like the others, if you have a question, feel free to shoot me an email.

Chaos

 

[miko]

Guys,
Thanks for all the info. If the area is anything like the Co. forum I will be right at home. My job will be around the southern side of Denver but I don't know much about the town itself so thanks for the help. The only time I've been there was for a meeting downtown. I'm going to fly out there in a week or so to look around the area and look at housing options.

If you guys don't mind I will be in touch per PM if I have questions.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Try looking at a place in Castle Rock. Not quite the douchebag mentality of the big city, but still a large enough town that you can get everything you need without driving to the city. The downfall is that the East side of the State is pretty liberal and if you want to ride Western CO, the drive WILL be 4-6 hours, depending on the time you choose to leave. The smart sledders from Denver leave super early to beat the twig fairies up the hill and over and then come home later in the evening. Most find a comfortable breakfast place to hang out at for a while till the sun is shining or the same in the evening to finish watching the game while waiting for the I70 parking lot to clear up some. Driving East at 40mph sure beats sitting at a standstill for hours and hours. Good luck in your quest!

 

[tudizzle]

WOW

Colorado is a great place to live and its the diversity of activities and people that make it so.

Seems some got it all figured out....just what type of people choose to live where...and how to avoid them on the road?

I would look to rent for a year...then spend your extra time exploring all the surrounding areas for the perfect fit. There are good people in all neighborhoods and each has something unique to offer. The key is finding a good fit for YOU.

Southern Denver? It you don't want to live in the city or in high density housing there are lots of great communities all down the I-25 Corridor. I guess it just depends on what is an acceptable distance to commute.



Good luck with the big decisions and I hope you enjoy your new home!


FYI...lots of great sledding that has nothing to do with 70 or skier traffic.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

WOW

FYI...lots of great sledding that has nothing to do with 70 or skier traffic.

Only when it snows a bunch. Isn't your normal stomping ground pretty marginal this year?

And yeah, Dizzle is correct. You have the Blowies and then SOCO (needs snow though).

And just to clarify things, I used to live in Denver. I hated it, I did form my opinion from actual experience. If I had to work down there, I'd look at Castle Rock, Elizabeth or Parker.

 

[trackvs2wheels]

Miko~

Grew up by Watertown, SD on the east side of the state! Like the small town feel of what we had growing up and don't like huge metropolitan cities...hence why I found myself in the Parker, CO area when I first moved out here. Not quite as much of a "small town" feeling as back east, but a great deal better than anywhere closer to Denver, that's for sure! Also met all my current sledding crew when living in Parker...lots of good people around the area.

Now I live in Monument not far from tudizzle and some other sledders on the forum here. Great little town nestled up against some nice looking mountains just to our West Gives me that small town feeling I like and well within a days trip up to some of the best riding the state has to offer!

Good luck and let me know if you need anything...know some decent realtors and whatnot if you're looking to purchase right away.

Ryan

 

[miko]

I appreciate all the support and adivse. I had no idea that I would get so much support from the Colorado forum guys. You guys are great and I can't wait to permanately join YOUR forum

I am flying out there next to look around and try to talk my wife into this big step in our lives. She is sooooo against it and it has to be unanimous to move out.

We will see.

Thanks again guys!!!!

 

[Jermbob]

Do all you can do to not live on the front range. If you like 5 hour trips back from vail when it snows then its your place. Other than that its a good place to live. Everything west of the divide is good to go and you won't regret it.

 

[tudizzle]

Be one hell of a commute to travel from the west slope to work in South Denver?

 

[skibreeze]

Depending on where and when you have to work in Denver will affect where you will want to live. I commute to mostly Southern Denver almost every day and based on the times that I run appts, it's usually an hour or so living East of Monument. I think that Castle Rock, Franktown, or Parker would give you places to get some acreage and close to Southern Denver and closer to the mtns.

 

[CO_MapMaker]

You are getting a lot of good first hand opinions. I moved here from the midwest and it was the best decision I ever made.

I would recommend renting close to your new job location to avoid as much commute as possible. Life is too short to spend in the car to/from work. Take your time finding the location that fits your job and lifestyle.

I personally live on the west side in Jefferson County, which works for me as it shortens my trips up the mtn. If you work down south, Littleton could be a great area to look. If you want a little more acreage, Lakewood is good and Golden would be perfect to me (I live in Arvada). One of my riding partners lives in Parker and has an extra hour each way when we ride together. If you ride down south, this may work for you, but I mostly ride and camp up I-70.

The guys in the mountains fail to mention they only get a very short summer season, which may be what you are looking for. After growing up in 30 below windchills ½ my life, I very much appreciate the climate in the front range. My moto-x buddies hit the track 12 months a year and you can golf most months. There are many days we ride in blizzard condtions and come back to a 50 degree sunny day.

Anyway you look at it, you will end up spending some time on I-70 trying to ride, but you will find living in the front range has many more advantages and activities. I try and ride one day during the week also as this averages out the weekend traffic.

Good Luck!

 

[P Money]

Love it out here!! Lived near downtown for a couple months then bought a house out by the airport, work, and another reaseon was price. South Denver is great but you do pay for it I belive, there are some great neighborhoods out west of Brighton with acreage that personally I would consider. North Denver seems a bit less busy and I like being close to the snowy range as I have some friends up that way. Yeah the front range all sucks with traffic on the weekends trying to ski and ride, but that is the price you pay for this beautiful place!! And I too love the weather being snowy one day and golfing the next!! Like today sunny, mid 60s, going to the driveing range, tomorrow going riding... whats a little traffic for all this. Hit me up if you want any info from the North side of town.
Peace,
P

 

[miko]

Well we are staying in South Dakota. My wife wasn't ready and the vote has to be unanimous so I guess I will still have to drive 10 hours to go sleddin.
Thanks for the help guys. You were awesome in your opinions.