Moving to Colorado in 8 months

Just trying to get some opinions from the Colorado locals.

Question is where in Colorado?

My wife and I are flying into Denver for 6 days in August. I have a rental car with unlimited miles for the entire time. Where should we visit and possibly look to live? Any suggestions welcome!

Just my wife and I, no kids. I'm a network engineer and shes a nurse. I'm not really tied to my current career, but would like to stay in IT for a few more years. The wife can pretty much work at any medical facility. We are both outdoor people, not really into city life. Going to rent, preferably a house, for a year or so until we find something permanent.

BTW, going to the 311 show at red rocks August 19th, anyone going?

Towns to see so far:
Boulder
Fort Collins
Greeley
Estes Park
Evergreen
Conifer
Vail
Avon
Castle Rock
Gunnison
Durango
Pueblo
Colorado Springs

 

It all depends on where you like to live the west is mountian towns smaller, you also have bigger metro areas like denver and colorado springs or if you like it flat you can look out east we have a little of everything here in colorado
Also you might get a better response if you dumped this in the CO bs Page

 

Durango

 

The mountain areas/towns are of the most interest to us, metro areas, not so much. We are primarily looking at the western part of the state.

I'll drop a comment in the BS thread on Monday, thanks man!

Never been to that part of the state. Can't wait to check it out! Is that where you live?

 

Fort Collins is good. There are SMALL mountain towns, but finding a rental might be tricky. Bellevue is a small town just west of fort Collins, I've had friends that lived up there and loved it. They basically lived in slightly updated cabins though.

 

No, I'm in Woodland Park (West of Colorado Springs). I like it here because I run a lot and there are great trails on and around Pikes Peak. I mention Durango because I think the San Juan Mountains area is an amazing place to be.

 

Thanks for the information. Fort Collins has our interest and we will be stopping through. I need to do some more research on tech jobs in that area.

Never been to the southern part of the state, really looking forward to checking it out, especially in the summer months. I really hope we can make it out to Durango.

Thanks for the info guys, going to drop this into the BS thread to see if I can get more advise.

 

If you like the wine scene Grand Junction is a nice city with plenty of small towns around it to live in. I personally like Paonia south of the Grand Mesa. Great valley and nice wineries.

 

This is true. That and peaches. Just got our third free big box if you have connections haha...

I live on the west slope and have a good friend who goes to college in Pueblo. If you plan to stay in CO I would buy a house if I were you, I know I am a college inexperienced kid who hasn't bought a house but am renting in GJ for college but house prices are way low right now and you could make some good money if you let the value build back up haha.


Vail's a really nice area and I really like the medical facility there. One of the guys is team doctor for the U.S. ski team and they treat athletes all the time.. Very cool IMO haha but thats just me.

 

I will tell you the west side is like a different state. Looks different, different mentality. I like gunnison, durango, and montrose. I live in montrose. Pm me if questions.

 

On the east side, I would say fort collins gets my vote.

 

Were you born and raised in Colorado? Just curious because what you are suggesting is like the Denver of the 80's. I liked Denver when it was a bit more sleepy and small townish. That's why we moved to the Old Town Littleton area. Still in the metropolis but has that small town feel. Heck right now they are hosting a week long event that totally reminds me of a small town like Montrose.

 

Only lived here since 2007, from MI originally. But I am not a big city guy. Heck I consider Montrose big, lol. But in my eyes the front range is one big city from springs all the way up 25 to Wyoming. I love where I live, but I would have pulled the trigger on a location farther north, but the wife doesn't like long winters. I am happy where we ended up though. There are not many places that I would trade where I live to be there.

 

Ft Collins is in the front range and not in the western part of the state.

If you're looking at the front range, Boulder is killer.

It's a big small town that offers everything.

Great outdoor living, modern amenities, great music scene, microbrews, great restaurants, great school system (if you are planning on having kids) and easy access to the mountains.

 

Thanks a bunch for the info guys!

We know what areas we are going to visit at this point:
(some places we are obligated to visit to see family and friends)
1. Lakewood (2 nights, concert)
2. Evergreen Area
2. Boulder (1 night, see family)
3. Ft Collins
4. Loveland
5. Estes Park
-Traveling through Roosevelt, Rocky Mountain, and Arapaho Forests/National Parks. HWY's (34 - 40 - 9)
6. Vail (2 nights, see friends)
-Traveling through Glenwood Springs and Gunnison Nation Forest. HWY's (133 - 92 - 50)
7. Gunnison
-Traveling through San Isabel and Pike National Forests. HWY's (50 - 285 - 24)
8. Colorado Springs
9. Castle Rock (1 night)

Do the driving routes between Loveland and Vail, Vail and Gunnsion, and Gunnsion and Colorado Springs seem like the best scenic routes?

 

Having lived here my whole life I don't know highway numbers. But you are coming in at the right time and most of CO is scenic. So you should be good. What concert are you going to see?

 

It's funny how varied opinions are on Boulder. Personally I stay away from there.

 

lol, ditto

 

if time permits from Gunnison I would go to montrose, then durango (the stretch between montrose and durango via 550 is arguably the most scenic in the country) then from durango to springs. I know this is a big loop, but it is worth seeing, especially if you are looking for your future home area.

 

Fort Collins. Period, the end. PM me
For info. The best place I've ever lived. Ever. And all of Colorado is awesome.