Smaller towns/ suburbs near Denver ? (Arvada, Highlands Ranch: cul-de-sac, hair salon, loans)

[davidv]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

Denver is basically a big megalopolis. There are suburbs like Littleton, Arvada, WheatRidge, Golden, that have maintained some sort of identity, but they are really just visually extensions of a larger population area. You can't tell where one ends and the next begins. When you say "30 minutes of a metro area", do you mean a large airport, shopping malls, cultural facilities?

There have been lots of discussions here about what makes a great school, and basically the "best" school districts are considered to be Cherry Creek and Douglas County.

Add Boulder Valley Schools and Littleton Public Schools to this list.

All districts have great schools and not-so-great schools. Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Littleton Public Schools, and Boulder Valley have quite a few great schools and very few not-so-great schools.

Jeffco and Adams 12 are more 50-50 with their schools.

Denver Public Schools, Aurora Public Schools, Adams County school districts 1, 14, and 50, Englewood Public Schools, and Sheridan Public Schools are more miss than hit with their schools.

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

You may consider Highlands Ranch (see other threads on this forum); not really a "town" but you will find great walkability and plenty of rec centers and family-oriented activities. Also discussed a lot are Stapleton and Bradburn. If you do a forum search, you'll find enough information to keep you reading for a while.

I have never thought of HR as being very walkable. It has a walkability score of 42 (car dependent). Check out the map on the link to find the most walkable areas.

[Katarina Witt]

^^I think a stay-at-home mom (or dad) could do a lot of walking to errands and such in HR if s/he wanted to. Most working people do have to leave the area for their jobs.

[LifesPeachy]

Thanks everyone, you certainly gave me a lot of good stuff to research!

[2bindenver]

HR can be very walkable. 4 King Soopers, Whole Foods, Safeway, Walmart plus eateries, gas and service shops.

People that have needed walkability have moved near Quebec & Lone Tree; just south of C-470; near HR Parkway & Uni. Near Broadway & HR parkway to Lucent, Wildcat & MacArthur Ranch, & Wildcat & Hr Parkway.

The clocktower is going up at lucent & HR parkway near town center.

Hundreds of mile of open space trails, parks, tennis courts and 8 pools....

[TechMike]

Golden might be to your liking.

Right at the edge of the foot hills. Small town feel. Walkable downtown. Great transit access.

[Snikt]

I don't know if I'd call HR walkable. You might have access to a few stores and some plazas, but that's about it? No light rail nearby either

I personally like the very edges of the metro area since it feels more isolated. I'm moving to Kipling/C-470 which is pretty much as south west as you can go, it's still part of the megalopolis so you can drive 20-30 minutes and be in downtown Denver but also isn't as busy and right near the mountains

[leosmama]

NOT Lakeside. Maybe Edgewater, or for a more mountainy feel something like Evergreen or Conifer.

[leosmama]

Originally Posted by Katiana

^^I think a stay-at-home mom (or dad) could do a lot of walking to errands and such in HR if s/he wanted to. Most working people do have to leave the area for their jobs.

I am a SAHM and cannot fathom walking anywhere with my 2 kids in tow in HR. we live in the highlands and our neighbors moved to HR a year ago and said they didn't realize how good they had it as far as walkability goes. They have to get in the car to go everywhere.

[leosmama]

Also....Boulder fits your criteria.

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by leosmama

NOT Lakeside.

YOu must be an employee of the Lakeside Amusement Park to live in Lakeside as the corporation owns the entire city.

But, Mountain View is next door.
Small. 20 square blocks at best.
Conveniently located. Love the smell of exhaust on Sheridan Blvd.