Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Last year, I moved from Las Vegas to Phoenix and it just isn't for me so I'm looking to get out of Arizona. My job enables me to transfer and move to any city in America every year- if I choose to. All my family is in Seattle & Los Angeles so I'd like to stay in the Western U.S so I'm only a short drive or flight away when I need to see them. I'm young, single, energetic, love the outdoors and I hope to discover a city I love within the next few years so I can settle down, meet new people and start a family.
Denver- I hear great things about Denver. I'm told that a lot of the people that move to Colorado fall in love with the state and never leave. The sunshine, mild winters, people, great sports, breweries, hiking trails, neat mountain towns & endless outdoor activities. It'll be something entirely new for me, a place worthy enough to give a chance. I've visited Denver a few times in the last 6 months to check out the areas of town to live in. Impressed with the South Cherry Creek area (more within my price range than downtown, yet close to everywhere) and Westminster (in-between Boulder, Red Rocks and Downtown Denver) Even though the ocean isn't here, I hope to discover a love for the mountains.
Las Vegas- I miss the non-stop excitement, easy access to numerous major cities and National Parks. For me, living in Vegas was almost like having the best of the Pacific Coast (LA/ San Diego only a 4 hr drive away) & Vegas, yet without the CA high cost of living and traffic. After you've called Vegas home, honestly everywhere else is boring. The freedom you have living here never really leaves you. In a 1 year span, I took 93 trips out of state to 12 different states. Vegas is a great city to experience for a year but may not be an ideal place to settle down and start a family. What I came to love about Vegas eventually became the same things that made me leave but every now and then, I crave that excitement which always makes me want to move back....
San Diego- I love California, the ocean and the laid back lifestyle. I feel that if a person can afford the high cost of living in San Diego, it is truely the ideal location in America to live. SD does have it's faults but compared to LA, the year round perfect weather, beautiful beaches, slower lifestyle and quick access to the mountains without the congestion, smog, traffic, crime and stress makes it a much more desirable place to settle down.
Airport- Denver (DIA) Air Quality- San Diego Amusement Parks/Rides- San Diego (SeaWorld, Belmont Park) Beaches- San Diego (Mission Beach, Coronado Beach) Bicycle Paths- Denver (Cherry Creek Bike Path) Breweries- Denver (Coors Brewery, Wynkoop Brewing Co.) Casinos- Las Vegas City Parks- Denver (City Park, Washington Park) Closest Major Cities- Las Vegas (San Diego, LA, Phoenix) College Towns- Denver (Boulder) Concerts/Music- Denver (Red Rocks) Cost of Living- Las Vegas Crime- San Diego Downtown- Denver (16th Street Mall, LoDo) Downtown Skyline- San Diego Entertainment- Las Vegas (UFC, boxing, shows, casinos, nightclubs) Ethnic Food- San Diego (Little Italy) Free Attractions- Las Vegas (free hotels, buffets, slots and access to clubs/ pools) Freeway Traffic- Las Vegas (I-15) Health- Denver Hiking Trails- Denver Hotels- Las Vegas Lakes- Denver (Grand Lake) Local Hangout Spots- San Diego (Seaport Village) Location- San Diego (Pacific Coast) Main Tourist Attraction- Las Vegas (Las Vegas Strip) Mountains- Denver (Rocky Mountains- Pikes Peak, Mt. Evans) Museums- Denver Nearby Scenic Areas- Denver (Rocky Mountains) Nearby Small Cities- Denver (Boulder, Colorado Springs) Nearby National Parks- Las Vegas (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon) Nightlife- Las Vegas (Las Vegas Strip) Pedestrian Outdoor Malls- Denver (16th Street Mall, Pearl Street Mall in Boulder) Population- Las Vegas Public Transportation- Denver (RTD Denver- SkyRide, Light Rail, etc) Rivers- Las Vegas (Colorado River) Scenic Drives- Denver (Trail Ridge Road in RMNP) Shopping Districts- Las Vegas (Town Square, LV Premium Outlets North & South, Forum Shoppes) Size of City- Las Vegas Ski Resorts- Denver (Breckenridge, Aspen, Vail, Keystone) Sports- Denver (Broncos, Nuggets, Avalanche) State Parks- Las Vegas (Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon) Taxes- Las Vegas (no state tax) Summer Temperatures- San Diego Winter Temperatures- San Diego
Do you agree with these choices among city categories? Considering the pros and cons of each city and the fact that I'm not considering moving back to Los Angeles, Seattle or staying in Phoenix, my dilemna is- where should I move to next? Convince me that Denver is all that it's cracked up to be
I don't think state parks in Las Vegas can compare to millions of acres of state and federal parks in COLO and its mountains. You COULD spend a lifetime here exploring them. Not to mention nearby parks in UT, WY and MT.
We have tons of brewpubs in COLO, especially along the I-25 Front Range Corridor from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. COLO is the beer brewing capital of the nation.
Denver also has the Colorado Rockies MLB team, and pro soccer.
__________________
- Please follow our TOS.
- Any Questions about City-Data? See the FAQ list.
- Want some detailed instructions on using the site? See The Guide for plain english explanation.
- Realtors are welcome here but do see our Realtor Advice to avoid infractions.
- Thank you and enjoy City-Data.
I lived in SD and now live south of Denver so I can say for either of those.
Choose Denver: If you love the mountains and don't mind navigating a busy freeway to get to them on weekends; If you want more house for you money; If you don't mind cold, dry and sometimes snowy winter and very unpredictable fall and spring seasons; If you don't mind being landlocked and ww rafting is what you think of when you think 'watersports'; If you like having lots of beautiful open space within an hour's drive.
Choose San Diego: If you love the ocean and don't mind paying a premium to live anywhere near it; If you don't mind heavy traffic and crowded attractions; If you like nearly-perfect weather in the winter, fall and spring and hot weather in the summer (unless you're on the coast where housing gets really expensive); If you don't mind having to drive a couple hours to the desert to find some really nice open space (unless you have a boat). (note: SD does have mountains inland, but it's nothing like the rockies or even the sierras up north; they are small, dry and fairly crowded in most places.
As for Vegas, I don't know why anyone chooses to live there except maybe for work. I have to go there occasionally on business and can't wait to leave. I'm usually confined to the strip though and I know it's pretty much a regular city outside of the strip. But it's still ridiculously hot most of the year.
I faced that choice a few years ago and decided on Colorado's front range. I would have chosen SD except that I really can't stand the traffic and the unreasonably high housing prices these days. I do miss the beach and the weather at times but I have family there and it's a cheap flight so we usually go there each spring when the weather is really lousy here. If 'San Diego in 1982' had been an option I would have chose that hands down.
Lake Mead is a better lake than anything we have unless you are after cold, pristine, high alpine lakes.
Size of city you put Vegas however Denver and Vegas are about the same size.
Rivers you put Vegas because of the Colorado? Where do you think that river starts? . If rivers are your thing (they are mine), Colorado is much better. Clear Creek just outside of Denver is great. The Arkansas, Colorado, Yampa, Platte, etc...
Vegas actually gets more concerts, but we have cooler venues.
State Parks in Colorado trump pretty much anything near Vegas in my opinion. Also the weather is so much nicer in the summer that they are actually usable.
Southern CA has an awesome beer scene. Denver's is great too.
One thing you did not mention is neighborhoods. Las Vegas is one big suburb. Denver has old established neighborhoods that have lots of character and are walkable. Nothing like that in Vegas.
I am in Vegas a ton and I can't stand that city but I love Denver and San Diego.
Given your job, I'd do Denver this year and San Diego the next. Why not? What a great opportunity to see new places.
Yeah, I’m sure that all the parks in CO will easily trump the ones that surround Las Vegas, I just haven’t experienced them yet to fully appreciate what it offers. I loved Vegas- mainly because I never had to leave to see family and friends because they all came to me. Other than when visitors came to town, I avoided the Strip and that’s why I taking all the road trips to CA, AZ and up to UT in my free time. Moving to Colorado will be a big breath of fresh air after living in Vegas/Phoenix- two of the hottest cities in America. A lot of people tell me how crazy the weather in Denver can be and how quickly it can change.
To otterprods, the point you make about “San Diego in 1982” > present day Denver is interesting and it means more coming from someone who has lived in both cities. My friend actually moved to Denver last year and she calls me every week telling me how it's one of the most amazing places in America- and I can definitely believe it!
Funny that you mention Coors….I’m actually really eager to try out all the beer that the Denver-Fort Collins-Boulder area. And thanks for the corrections. I actually gave Vegas the nod on rivers (in my experience) because of the Colorado river and its proximity to the city- about a 30 min drive away. But I’m sure that Clear Creek and the South Platte are decent rivers too.
I guess I’m a bit biased toward Vegas just because I know everything about it yet don’t know much about Denver. Having to choose any city in the Western United States to live in (besides Vegas, Phoenix, LA, Seattle), I think the top 5 cities in all the research I've done have always been San Francisco, San Diego, Portland, Austin and Denver. But other than than the feeling of being landlocked, cold winters and traffic, compared to many other major cities, I don't really see that many cons of living in Denver.
My friend actually moved to Denver last year and she calls me every week telling me how it's one of the most amazing places in America
I always take it with a grain of salt when anyone describes something as "amazing". Some amazing things are 3D printing, professional ramp bikers, and meteor showers. So when people go describing cities like that it makes me suspicious that they're not grounding their comments in reality.
Quote:
Originally Posted by robbien9
I actually gave Vegas the nod on rivers (in my experience) because of the Colorado river and its proximity to the city
I give vegas the nod on rivers to be cue I've paddled that section of the river below hoover Dam and it was one of the better trips I've ever taken. Also you have Lake Mead right there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by robbien9
But other than than the feeling of being landlocked, cold winters and traffic, compared to many other major cities, I don't really see that many cons of living in Denver.
The main drawback to Denver is that it's a big city, but so were all those other places you mentioned
I give vegas the nod on rivers to be cue I've paddled that section of the river below hoover Dam and it was one of the better trips I've ever taken. Also you have Lake Mead right there.
I've paddled the 280 miles from below Lake Powell to Lake Mead. The section you are describing is boooooooring (but very pretty). Also, Lake Mead counts under the "lakes" category, not rivers.
We have so much more going on in Colorado if whitewater is something that you are interested in.
Vegas getting the nod on rivers is just ridiculous. How's the trout fishing? How's the kayaking? There is one big river that is summarily damned up. Not much else going on there. Meanwhile in Colorado, we are home to dozens of rivers and creeks, all but one of which originate within the state.
Western States that beat Colorado for rivers: Idaho, California, Washington, Oregon, Montana. You could make an argument for Wyoming. There are a few good runs in New Mexico, surprisingly sparse in Utah. Not much going on in Nevada outside of the Sierras, and certainly not near Vegas.
Last edited by SkyDog77; 11-04-2013 at 08:08 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Even though the ocean isn't here, I hope to discover a love for the mountains.
Not Denver
. If rivers are your thing (they are mine), Colorado is much better. Clear Creek just outside of Denver is great. The Arkansas, Colorado, Yampa, Platte, etc...
