Area with hills and trees? (Denver, Highlands Ranch: neighborhoods, school district, live)

[CA-PA-TX?]

Hello Everyone,
We are considering a move to Denver. I was there once and remember really liking the area around Littleton and Columbine I believe. I also remember going to a PF Changs that was in a really nice shopping area that had a great view of the mountains- anyone clue me in to where this was? If I remember correctly, I didn't really like Broomfield (no offense lol) just because it looked a little too midwest for me. I was there 4 days and was a passenger as we drove all over the metro area- that is why it is all muddled in my head. If I was driving, different story lol.

Anyways, we are a family of 5 looking for a single family 4/3 single family ina neighborhood in the high 200's that is in a good school district and has trees and maybe hills. We are looking for an area that is similar (terrain-wise) to where we grew up in inland San Diego. I am ok with the whole planned community I suppose but don't mind older neighborhoods. We don't really want to be in an urban area- we prefer the burbs as we have the 3 kids and a big dog type family those types of hoods seem to work best for the kids. Where we live now is all old people around us and the kids don't have neighborhood friends...but I digress.

Any advice on some areas to start our search? We do plan on coming out on vacation before deciding to move there but would like to narrow our search a bit. Hauling 3 young kids around is stressful enough lol....oh and I am sure that the commute will be somewhere in Denver downtown area.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

The PF Changs is at Park Meadows Mall at I-25 and County Line Road. I think it is officially in Lone Tree, but also very near Highlands Ranch and Centennial. I don't know about prices in that area, but you should be able to find something in the high 200's with the current housing situation.

Littleton is further west of Park Meadows and north of County Line Road. There are some very nice older neighborhoods and Littleton schools are very good. There are a lot of areas with a Littleton mailing address that aren't really in the city or in the school district, so check that out carefully.