Chicago vs. Denver vs. Columbus (live, best, compare, places)

[Mr. Answers]

Which city would fit me best...

I am looking for a place that,

- Has a vibrant cultural scene: museums, symphony, etc.
- Great suburbs to live in, great city to play in: zoos, culture, sports, etc. I'm a young guy but I'm not looking for the bar scene or anything like that.
- Great outdoors opportunities: I love to hike, cross-country ski, and just be in the outdoors. It doesn't matter if there are mountains are not--although those are a plus--as long as there are forested areas accessible from the suburbs. So Columbus isn't a negative unless there are no foresty hiking places near-bye.
- A trendy vibe.
- Good schools/family-friendly/wholesome/all-american vibe
- Conservative-ish sentiments and attitudes....but not all redneck and backwards.
- Starbucks/Old Navy/Lexus/suburban culture and vibe. I like white bread--as long as there's a good symphony and scene.
-I want an imported beer/young couple/suburban-ish/go-for-a-hike kind of town.
-I love snow and beautiful midwestern fall time.

So which city would work best?

[iknowftbll]

Wow, you're all over the map!
Chicago seems tough to beat in any circumstance, but I'd take a serious look at Denver if I were you. It seems to meet most of your criteria. Columbus is also a nice city, but I've only passed through and visited relatives there briefly. Someone else will have to sell that one to you.

[thePR]

Your location says O'Hare, shouldn't you know about Chicagoland already? And Chicago fits other than the Conservative suburbs where you can go for a hike. There are a few, not any close that have both.

[Chicago60614]

Well since you already live in Chicago, you might as well get out somewhere new. You only live once, and you're obviously curious about trying something new.

I'd go with Denver, having been to the other two cities. It's fairly unique, the mountains are really nice, cool people, clean, fairly safe.

[LucasS6]

You actually want to live in the suburbs?! If so, what's the difference? They're all the same.

[Mr. Answers]

The suburbs may all be the same--and even that isn't really true unless you're talking about exurban subdivisions thrown down in the middle of the sticks--but the cities are not all the same. I don't plan on spending all my time in the suburbs so I want a metropolitan region that suits me the best.

I like Chicago a lot and I love the suburbs of Chicagoland--I'm just wondering how it might measure up to Denver and Columbus.

[NYC1DAY]

Originally Posted by Mr. Answers

The suburbs may all be the same--and even that isn't really true unless you're talking about exurban subdivisions thrown down in the middle of the sticks--but the cities are not all the same. I don't plan on spending all my time in the suburbs so I want a metropolitan region that suits me the best.

I like Chicago a lot and I love the suburbs of Chicagoland--I'm just wondering how it might measure up to Denver and Columbus.

You said in your original post that your into sports.... then Columbus should be out right from the very beginning

They dont have pro sports team

[Drover]

If you'll consider "none of the above" I throw in my vote for Madison WI (save the conservatism which you won't find until you get pretty well out into the sticks).

[Mr. Answers]

What about Minneapolis--how would it compare?