What city in Colorado for (Denver, Colorado Springs: buying, university, living in)

[BabyBoomers2]

The OP does know that Denver metro and/or Colorado itself, does get a winter and, at times, pretty harsh winter days.

[stablegenius]

I should actually correct this and say that I don't really care for tall buildings or need them. It would be nice to have a skyline. I guess I just want to be outside of a bigg-ish city so I can head in if I get bored. Right now I'm smack in the middle of San Diego and it's just too much. Too many people, too much traffic, just way too much. In San Diego you can't get outside of the city really, not unless you drive very far and even then, there are still a lot of people around. I'd like to be near a city center with options, but far enough away to have some peace. So far the options you've all presented sound good, and I'll need to google and check them out.

[pikabike]

Originally Posted by stablegenius

I should actually correct this and say that I don't really care for tall buildings or need them. It would be nice to have a skyline. I guess I just want to be outside of a bigg-ish city so I can head in if I get bored. Right now I'm smack in the middle of San Diego and it's just too much. Too many people, too much traffic, just way too much. In San Diego you can't get outside of the city really, not unless you drive very far and even then, there are still a lot of people around. I'd like to be near a city center with options, but far enough away to have some peace. So far the options you've all presented sound good, and I'll need to google and check them out.

A suburb of Denver might fit. Do read up on boating restrictions, though—the adminstrative closures off season might be too long for your tastes.

Just should warn you that more than 30 yrs ago I wanted to move to San Diego area. Upon taking a trip there, it was so crowded that I decided against doing so. I moved to the Denver area and lived there for 25 yrs. We left metro Denver because it had grown so much we no longer enjoyed living there. In the last few years, it has really exploded in growth, so you should visit and see for yourself it if is too crowded for you. For us, even living 10 miles from the nearest stores etc was too close.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by stablegenius

I should actually correct this and say that I don't really care for tall buildings or need them. It would be nice to have a skyline. I guess I just want to be outside of a bigg-ish city so I can head in if I get bored. Right now I'm smack in the middle of San Diego and it's just too much. Too many people, too much traffic, just way too much. In San Diego you can't get outside of the city really, not unless you drive very far and even then, there are still a lot of people around. I'd like to be near a city center with options, but far enough away to have some peace. So far the options you've all presented sound good, and I'll need to google and check them out.

If that's the case then, as I suggested earlier, I would check out Southeast Aurora near Aurora Reservoir.

[TCHP]

IMO, Colo Spgs still holds potential. The initial post over there had everyone talking about boating and water contact sports, which is a completely different animal than SUPing.

Southeast Aurora also holds potential.

[stablegenius]

Originally Posted by pikabike

A suburb of Denver might fit. Do read up on boating restrictions, though—the adminstrative closures off season might be too long for your tastes.

Just should warn you that more than 30 yrs ago I wanted to move to San Diego area. Upon taking a trip there, it was so crowded that I decided against doing so. I moved to the Denver area and lived there for 25 yrs. We left metro Denver because it had grown so much we no longer enjoyed living there. In the last few years, it has really exploded in growth, so you should visit and see for yourself it if is too crowded for you. For us, even living 10 miles from the nearest stores etc was too close.

That's interesting that you thought San Diego was too crowded 30 years ago. You should see it today. I can't figure it out, but there's something about being surrounded by so many people that wears on my mood. It's like I can feel the energy of them all. I should also add that I surf every weekend, but I am NOT out on the water all the time, nor do I need to be. If there is some downtime where I can't get on the water throughout the year that is ok. I told my wife we should fly into Co. Springs and then drive down to New Mexico, just to see what that part of Colorado is like, including Aurora. Like you said, Denver may be too much these days.

[maciesmom]

Originally Posted by stablegenius

That's interesting that you thought San Diego was too crowded 30 years ago. You should see it today. I can't figure it out, but there's something about being surrounded by so many people that wears on my mood. It's like I can feel the energy of them all. I should also add that I surf every weekend, but I am NOT out on the water all the time, nor do I need to be. If there is some downtime where I can't get on the water throughout the year that is ok. I told my wife we should fly into Co. Springs and then drive down to New Mexico, just to see what that part of Colorado is like, including Aurora. Like you said, Denver may be too much these days.

Aurora is a suburb of Denver - you are not going to see it on a drive from COS to New Mexico.

[pikabike]

Aurora sits east of Denver, but if OP flies to Colospigs and makes a trip to the Denver area as part of the trip, that would give a good snapshot of traffic conditions on I-25 and E-470. The latter is a toll road, BTW.

Is whitewater SUPing of interest? Golden (west of Denver) has a whitewater park. The mountain recreation on that side of the metro area is great. Housing is not cheap, but coming from SD it might not shock you. The closest reservoirs open to paddling are Lakewood’s Bear Creek Park/Soda Lakes and Chatfield State Park.

[stablegenius]

Originally Posted by pikabike

Aurora sits east of Denver, but if OP flies to Colospigs and makes a trip to the Denver area as part of the trip, that would give a good snapshot of traffic conditions on I-25 and E-470. The latter is a toll road, BTW.

Is whitewater SUPing of interest? Golden (west of Denver) has a whitewater park. The mountain recreation on that side of the metro area is great. Housing is not cheap, but coming from SD it might not shock you. The closest reservoirs open to paddling are Lakewood’s Bear Creek Park/Soda Lakes and Chatfield State Park.

don't know what whitewater SUPing is, but sounds fun! I could probably get into it.

[brightdoglover]

Standup paddling?