Colorado Springs. Why? (house, neighborhoods, schools)

[C2H (ComingtoHouston)]

^^So true about what you said about Dallas. Dallas is so caught up in trying to look good, it doesnt really connect the dots very well in creating soul for the city.

[SWortham]

Like some others, I have quite the opposite viewpoint. I've lived in and around Dallas all 26 years of my adult life. While it's not the same as Houston, there are some similarities. On the good side they have a lot of good job opportunities and cheap housing. And they are both big cities (if you like that sort of thing) with a lot of diversity, and very good restaurants (mmmm). On the other hand, it's very hot in the summer, it rains a lot, traffic sucks, and it's a concrete jungle. And if you're an allergy sufferer like me, they're not exactly ideal places to live either.

Part of the problem with Dallas for me is that I love mountain biking, hiking, and a lot of outdoor activities. While this can be done in the Dallas area, the choices are limited and it's not as beautiful a setting to do it in. On top of that, the heat can make it miserable in the summer, the pollen count in the spring pretty much keeps me inside all the time, and then the winters are typically a humid, bitter cold, with basically no snow (just rain). So the only time I get outside and exercise regularly is in the fall.

That brings me to what I like about Colorado. I've been to Colorado on 5 separate occasions and I've never had anything but very mild allergy symptons up there. That, for me, is a beautiful thing. Then the mild summers with awesome scenery really makes me want to get outside and enjoy it. So Colorado Springs is very appealing to me. Of course, it's really just one of my considerations. I also like the look of Fort Collins and even some of the cheaper mountain towns west of Denver. One thing is for certain, I will be moving to Colorado within the next few years.

[dbmargo]

Everyday at lunch I take a run through Ute Valley park, beautiful mountain views and a nice semi-challenging jog. This park is literally in the back yard of my office. There are endless outdoor activities in the Springs vicinity (Cheyenne Canyon Park, Blodgett Peak, Waldo Canyon, G of G, I could go on and on). In the summer we are within a few hours of all of the beauty Colorado has to offer and in the winter the same (skiing, snowshoeing, etc.). I have been living abroad for the last two years and I have also lived from Florida to Oregon and many places in-between. I always find myself yearning to come back to Colorado. If one enjoys the outdoors and the mountains this is one of the best places to live, if not than maybe you should look elsewhere. But it should be pretty obvious why people love it here so much.

[radarbaby]

Originally Posted by dbmargo

Everyday at lunch I take a run through Ute Valley park, beautiful mountain views and a nice semi-challenging jog. This park is literally in the back yard of my office. There are endless outdoor activities in the Springs vicinity (Cheyenne Canyon Park, Blodgett Peak, Waldo Canyon, G of G, I could go on and on). In the summer we are within a few hours of all of the beauty Colorado has to offer and in the winter the same (skiing, snowshoeing, etc.). I have been living abroad for the last two years and I have also lived from Florida to Oregon and many places in-between. I always find myself yearning to come back to Colorado. If one enjoys the outdoors and the mountains this is one of the best places to live, if not than maybe you should look elsewhere. But it should be pretty obvious why people love it here so much.

Is Col Springs good for raising a family? Also, is it feasible to work in Golden, CO - company office is there. How is the Patty Jewett neighborhood? We're looking at the Casa Verde Cohousing, are you familiar? Are there any cool coffee shops, restaurants, walking streets around that neighborhood? What about apartments, and how much, (we would be bringing grandma and grandpa)? Is there a rail line to Denver? We're in Columbus, GA now and my husband hates it, he thinks it has no charm, but I like it enough. We really want to be in Colorado, though, we love the mountains and are more green, outdoors, eco-conscious than folks here. Are people more like that in CoSp? There aren't many parks in Columbus, GA, are there parks in Colorado Springs? Also, is it a walkable, bikeable city?

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by radarbaby

Is Col Springs good for raising a family? Also, is it feasible to work in Golden, CO - company office is there. How is the Patty Jewett neighborhood? We're looking at the Casa Verde Cohousing, are you familiar? Are there any cool coffee shops, restaurants, walking streets around that neighborhood? What about apartments, and how much, (we would be bringing grandma and grandpa)? Is there a rail line to Denver? We're in Columbus, GA now and my husband hates it, he thinks it has no charm, but I like it enough. We really want to be in Colorado, though, we love the mountains and are more green, outdoors, eco-conscious than folks here. Are people more like that in CoSp? There aren't many parks in Columbus, GA, are there parks in Colorado Springs? Also, is it a walkable, bikeable city?

COL SPGS is excellent for families.

NO WAY is it feasible to commute COL SPGS <--> GOLDEN daily. At least 90 minutes each way. Nasty in winter going over Monument Hill ten miles north of COLO SPGS. I-25 is sometimes closed too.

Rail line exists btw COLO SPGS and DENVER, but it's all-freight. A feasibility study is now working on possible passenger rail, but it will be years away, or never at all.

Patty Jewett area is older part of town, probably not a bad place to live, others on this site will have to speak to that. Streets are flat, gridlike, safe walking, a few old strip malls nearby, not much else. Closer to downtown you'll get coffee shops, eateries, some culture and nightlife.

However, suggest you look at area around Golden, should be lots of good stuff and schools, since its in Denver Metro area, that 5-6 times COLO SPGS. Look in Denver forum, in the index, for Golden threads, or use Search in the Denver forum.

[treedonkey]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Rail line exists btw COLO SPGS and DENVER, but it's all-freight. A feasibility study is now working on possible passenger rail, but it will be years away, or never at all.

Probably the latter, but that is already a much-discussed topic here...

http://www.city-data.com/forum/color...l-study-5.html

and here...

http://www.city-data.com/forum/color...-thoughts.html

COS is area is a good place to live, especially for young families. Golden seems really nice too, and has stellar Mtn acces for skiing a the bigger resoirt, but I'm pretty sure it's also considerably more expensive to buy a home there.

[lalahartma]

I moved here because it wasn't Cleveland and my job relocated me. And I'm turning into an old fart, as well. (Not doubt CoS is helping that along!) I hope to move to ABQ.

[radarbaby]

why is that? what is it about CoS you don't like?

[radarbaby]

Is Compassion International Headquarters North or South of Monument Hill?

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by radarbaby

Is Compassion International Headquarters North or South of Monument Hill?

South of Monument Hill. It's on Voyager Pkwy, about a mile south of North Gate Rd, aka I-25 exit 156. Monument Hill starts at exit 158 (Rte 105) and tops out at 7500 feet at exit 159 (County Line Rd).