Why Choose Colorado Springs? (Denver, Boulder: travel, rental car, rental)

[bashep]

I think if you are a handy person and can fix up the house, it would be good to buy out there. Also, if you don't mind the commute, depends what your line of work is.

[CoolColoradoDayz]

Originally Posted by richkat

Mike - so true!! What an excellent post. As a multiple cross-country relocatee looking to move again, your post was delightfully thorough. We have used the tools you mention many times. So good to analyze just what it is you're looking for. Having gone from California to Oregon to Ohio (job transfer) to Florida, we're conflicted between the sunshine of Texas and back to the coastal but dreary Northwest but you're making Colorado look pretty good. The idea of snow has eliminated the area before but we'll have to rethink it. We're in high tech - will have to look for jobs there.

Thanks,
Kat

It generally doesn't snow that much here in CS. That's more so in the mountains. This last winter though, was an exception.

[mes3fils]

Originally Posted by lorearch7

Here is all the information you might need, this site gives you maps of the proposed path. It is on hold, but I think it will come some day, I live in Yoder and we are far enough south it shouldn't affect us. I hope this helps.

Front Range Toll Road or Highway Robbery?

What is this all about? I checked out the link and sorry but don't get it.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by mes3fils

What is this all about? I checked out the link and sorry but don't get it.

It's important to realize there are two different toll roads being considered. The one referenced above (the SuperSlab) and the Colorado Springs toll road (I think that is the name.) The latter is a proposed toll road which will start around Interquest & 25 (probably where Powers will connect with I-25 bisecting Flying Horse), down Powers to Woodmen, Woodmen east past Marksheffel then south down a new road (Banning Lewis Parkway????) continue south then heads west again until it reconnects with I-25 south of the COS airport.

Colorado Springs toll road gains momentum Colorado Springs Business Journal - Find Articles

Colorado Mulls Privately-Funded Toll Road | Planetizen

The Denver Post - Plan rings eastern Springs in toll roads

[Maynerd]

My two cents on living in Colorado Springs:

Employment: There's a lot of defense-related employment. If you've got a security clearance, that's a plus. Medical and services jobs are plentiful. High Tech is a dry well.

Cost of Living: Housing is certainly cheaper than in most metropolitan areas. You can get a nice, suburban three or four bedroom house for around $200K. Established neighborhoods run cheaper than new homes. Other than that, pretty typical.

Crime: No more than other metropolitan areas. Violent crime rates seem to be pretty low.

Schools: Cheyenne Mountain and Academy School Districts are very good. District 11 (most of Colorado Springs) runs hot and cold. Some schools here are better than others. Palmer HS and Coronodo HS have outstanding programs.

Recreation: Outstanding system of parks. Garden of the Gods, Palmer Park, and Cheyenne Canyon Parks are incredible. Everybody thinks about skiing when they think of Colorado. Unfortunately, it's a couple hour drive to the slopes from here.

Culture: Some outstanding privately-owned restaurants. Chain restaurants like crazy. Not a lot of concerts/other arts, but Denver has them all and is only an hour away.

Sports: SkySox (the Rockies' AAA team), Air Force Football and Basketball, CC Hockey. Again, all the Denver teams not too far away.

Political Climate: Yes, there are a lot of religious institutions here in town. No, nobody is spouting fire and brimstone -- it's just there. Use it if you want to; if you don't, that's OK, too. Yes, it's a conservative Republican town. No, they won't hassle you if you're a liberal or a Democrat. The Colorado Springs Independant (local semi-underground paper) is as liberal as you can get.

Traffic: People who've lived here for over 10 years will complain about the traffic, because it's much worse than it used to be, but there's realistically no traffic at all if you're compaing it to NYC, DC, Boston, LA, Denver, etc.

Climate: Our best-kept secret. Sure it snows, but less than the New York Metropolitan area, and it can snow today and be 75 degrees tomorrow. It can also be shirt-sleeve weather even in January.

I've lived in New York, New Jersey, North Dakota, California, Texas, and Colorado. I chose Colorado Springs as my home.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Maynerd

My two cents on living in Colorado Springs:

Employment: There's a lot of defense-related employment. If you've got a security clearance, that's a plus. Medical and services jobs are plentiful. High Tech is a dry well.

Cost of Living: Housing is certainly cheaper than in most metropolitan areas. You can get a nice, suburban three or four bedroom house for around $200K. Established neighborhoods run cheaper than new homes. Other than that, pretty typical.

Crime: No more than other metropolitan areas. Violent crime rates seem to be pretty low.

Schools: Cheyenne Mountain and Academy School Districts are very good. District 11 (most of Colorado Springs) runs hot and cold. Some schools here are better than others. Palmer HS and Coronodo HS have outstanding programs.

Recreation: Outstanding system of parks. Garden of the Gods, Palmer Park, and Cheyenne Canyon Parks are incredible. Everybody thinks about skiing when they think of Colorado. Unfortunately, it's a couple hour drive to the slopes from here.

Culture: Some outstanding privately-owned restaurants. Chain restaurants like crazy. Not a lot of concerts/other arts, but Denver has them all and is only an hour away.

Sports: SkySox (the Rockies' AAA team), Air Force Football and Basketball, CC Hockey. Again, all the Denver teams not too far away.

Political Climate: Yes, there are a lot of religious institutions here in town. No, nobody is spouting fire and brimstone -- it's just there. Use it if you want to; if you don't, that's OK, too. Yes, it's a conservative Republican town. No, they won't hassle you if you're a liberal or a Democrat. The Colorado Springs Independant (local semi-underground paper) is as liberal as you can get.

Traffic: People who've lived here for over 10 years will complain about the traffic, because it's much worse than it used to be, but there's realistically no traffic at all if you're compaing it to NYC, DC, Boston, LA, Denver, etc.

Climate: Our best-kept secret. Sure it snows, but less than the New York Metropolitan area, and it can snow today and be 75 degrees tomorrow. It can also be shirt-sleeve weather even in January.

I've lived in New York, New Jersey, North Dakota, California, Texas, and Colorado. I chose Colorado Springs as my home.

Excellent Post. Thanks for the details. I can't disagree with anything you said.

Culture: Some outstanding privately-owned restaurants. Please tune us in to this. Tell us about your ethnic recommendations, without driving to Denver. Saw stuff off Tejon.

I saw something interesting in Manitou Springs, but I have never been there:

Tajine Alami Moroccan Restaurant

[Maynerd]

Originally Posted by Charles

Please tune us in to this. Tell us about your ethnic recommendations, without driving to Denver.

Fine Dining: The Blue Star, anything at the Broadmoor, the Craftwood, the Cliff House, Peppertree, Briarhurst.

Italian: Antonio's, Paravicini's

Indian: Mirch Masala

German: Uwe's

Moroccan: Tajine Alami (floor pillows!)

Mexican: The Mission Inn on North Academy (get the Mission Burrito Grande!)

Vietnamese: Lemongrass Bistro

Greek: Jake and Telly's


That should get you started. I'll give it a little more thought and to the list later. Let me know if you visit any of the above -- I'd like to hear your impressions.

[CoolColoradoDayz]

Originally Posted by Maynerd

My two cents on living in Colorado Springs:

Maynerd, thank you for giving an honest an fair assessment of our town, as some obviously look through a different set of fogged glasses.

[CoolColoradoDayz]

Originally Posted by Maynerd

Fine Dining: The Blue Star, anything at the Broadmoor, the Craftwood, the Cliff House, Peppertree, Briarhurst.

Italian: Antonio's, Paravicini's

Indian: Mirch Masala

German: Uwe's

Moroccan: Tajine Alami (floor pillows!)

Mexican: The Mission Inn on North Academy (get the Mission Burrito Grande!)

Vietnamese: Lemongrass Bistro

Greek: Jake and Telly's


That should get you started. I'll give it a little more thought and to the list later. Let me know if you visit any of the above -- I'd like to hear your impressions.

Let me add Thai food to this list - Wild Ginger on W. Colorado.

[SoCalDude]

Mike you Rock great info.!

I ask you and others to please give me feedback concerning a weekly commute from CS to San Diego. Due to the high price of homes in SoCal and and very few high paying jobs in CS, I am considering a weekly commute (fly) to San Diego (Monday) and back on Thursday night..Is this an crazy thing to consider or do you know of others doing it?

Also are the winds really that bad in CS?

Thanks in Advance..