Looking for something like this (Denver: neighborhood, live in, eat)

[livecontent]

I wanted this thread to get on topic but since the doc has not responded, I can add to this little discussion.

I agree with what Vegaspilgrim has said. Most people in the Denver Metro area do not go to the mountains on a regular basis and some have never been there.

I can answer part of that because I rarely go to the mountains. When I was younger, I did more, when time permitted during the busy time when I worked, but I would never say extensively--I was just too busy and Denver Metro had many outdoor areas that were convenient and nice. Initially, I lived in Boulder, so recreating along the foothills was quite satisfy. As, time went on, the extensive parks, trails and open space, in and adjacent to Denver were all that I needed.

Now, that I am older--I just can not handle the dangerous driving on I-70; the aggressive youth and the arrogant consumptive behavior. I find, some of the canyons more accessible and easy to get to open spaces and parks. And again, the Denver area has so much going, as far as out door recreation areas that it is not necessary to go far into the mountains. I do not ski. I grew up near Buffalo, NY and I have seen enough of snow.

I think the big positives of Denver is not the Mountain Scenery that you can see or you can get too--it is that Denver and the suburban cites are fabulous cities with a tremedous park system. great additional attractions, clean, safe, walkable and has everything that I want and need. This is part of what Vegaspilgrim is saying.

The mountains are nice but I always find the plains awe inspiring and scenic. There is something about looking out into the great expanse--it is to me like looking out to a ocean or lakes with no shore in site--it gives me the same feeling.

In addition, I am somewhat turned off by some of the mountain communties that have been established in the fake opulence of the new rich. The towns of the great plains are just "plain", and simple and that to me is very attractive--that to me is the West, the west of my imagination.

Livecontent

[NickMan7]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I question the extent of your world travels if you think Denver is the showcase model of a "spectacular setting." Colorado Springs, just an hour south, is much more scenic than Denver with better, closer up mountain views. Salt Lake City has better scenery. Seattle and Portland are much greener than Denver AND have spectacular mountain views. LA has high mountains (the San Gabriels) AND the pacific ocean. San Diego is in an spectacular coastal setting with the city sprawling across an extremely rugged terrain of mini canyons, mesas, cliffs and mountains everywhere. Desert southwest cities like Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas don't have mountains as impressive as the Rockies, but unlike Denver, they are all surrounded by mountains on all four sides, instead of just one side. The Sonoran desert in southern Arizona in which Phoenix and Tucson are built in is an extremely colorful desert, much more visually stimulating than the high plains. However... I still think Denver is the best city of all these to live in, and it has nothing to do with natural scenery; it's because the city itself, even leaving the nearby mountains aside (which are great, don't get me wrong) is a great place to live. As they say, you can't eat scenery. Some of the most beautiful, rugged mountain scenery in the world can be found in third world countries in south America. Does make La Paz, Bolivia and Quito, Ecuador "great cities" just because of the scenery?

Vegas"luva", I want you to know I think your posts offer wonderful insight and I highly respect your opinions, however, I don't believe the topic (or any of my statements) had anything to do with COS, Seattle, Portland, SLC, LA, Phoenix, Tucson or any others. My intention was never to deem Denver the "king" of all natural settings. I'm just saying that many people, whether they move here for work, play, family or through no choice of their own, would consider Denver's setting more than bland. I think Seattle and Portland (not Phoenix or LA or even SD) are stunning, as well as COS and SLC (I was SHOCKED how amazing the mountains in SLC were when I visited) - I never said they weren't. I just don't think Denver's setting is anything to throw a stick at. It could be a lot less attractive.

I feel that this topic (setting-wise) is one reason many people live here - which is what I'm trying to get at. Does everyone love the mountains? Of course not. Do many of Denver's residents love them? Of course. I don't think one has to make numerous trips to the mountains every year to appreciate the beauty that surrounds the city. I, myself, would visit the mountains more if I didn't have other obligations here (I haven't been in several years)... but I sure love seeing them every morning on my way to work!

As Live points out, there is a certain beauty in the plains, as well. I don't for one second think the plains are ugly or featureless. I find them overwhelming and serene. To spend some time there (which I do) opens your eyes to things you're unfamiliar with. It's a great place.

As I stated before, I whole-heartedly agree that MANY places the world over are spectacular in their own right (whether it's the vibe of the city or the place in which the city lies). Everyone sees the places in this world through different lenses. I don't claim to be a world traveler for a split second (because I'm not), but I don't have to be to feel that Denver sits on some very beautiful country. If this were a comparison between Denver and _______, then I would likely stand corrected - there are numerous places I think are more beautiful than Denver.

I'll stop here, as you have your opinion, which I completely respect (and am not trying to change), and I have mine.

[vegaspilgrim]

The way you just put it makes a lot of sense, nickluva. I agree, there's no need for "x vs y" comparisons, we can appreciate Denver's natural setting on its own terms.

[backspace2]

Having lived in SLC, I say with confidence that the people in SLC are not friendly.Denver is a friendly, polite town. SLC people resent newcomers. And there is a definiterudeness that you would never find in Denver. One thing I also like about Denver isthe car culture. I love driving my car around the metro area. I think it's a beautiful place.

[RangerDuke08]

Originally Posted by weverjames

I am currently living in Chicago, Illinois. I am looking for options to move in next year. I will be finishing my residency and looking forward to start working as a doc. I am considering Colorado and Florida.
My question would be if there is a community/suburb in Colorado with the following features:
-Good transportation: I mean, served by buses and light train. Is there any part in Denver/Colorado that is served by both? This is important, since my wife does not drive a car.
-A downtown: I am looking for a community (or suburbs) where you can just have a walk around and have access to restaurants, boutiques, grosery stores, banks, maybe an old fashioned movie theater and a whole food market. An area that is nice and active, that brings life to the community. It does not need to be big, or top in the nation though. However I would prefer living in an area with a small downtown than in a community where you have to drive for everything or where the only thing to do is driving to the mall every weekend.
-safe, good schools.
-open mind/educated people, respectful and tolerant with hardworking people and legal immigrants that came to cover jobs where there is a shortage and try to give back something to this country.

If someone from Chicago is reading this, I have tried to describe communities as Oak Park/forest park. If you ask, why don't you just stay there? Well, there are some issues that I don't like here:
-cost of linving: I want to be able to get a good size home, maybe with a yard.
-traffic, traffic.
-I love nature and maybe there is a more scenic place in US than Chicago. For regular people that does not live in Downtown Chicago and has to work hard every day, if you are not around the lake, the rest of the city is all the same.
-weather: I could take the winter if it would be sunnier.
-safety for rising children. in the future we will want to have children and I don't think Chicao is the safest place to rise them.
Any help with my questions would be very appreciated, since i have never been in Colorado (however I read good things about it)

I'm not much of a Boulder fan, but if your going to be a doc, money shouldn't be an issue, Boulder is pretty convenient, clean, lots of highly educated, very liberal people.

[Mikieo415]

Originally Posted by livecontent

In addition, I am somewhat turned off by some of the mountain communties that have been established in the fake opulence of the new rich. The towns of the great plains are just "plain", and simple and that to me is very attractive--that to me is the West, the west of my imagination.

Livecontent

I don't think anybody could have said it better!

[Katiana]

Boulder and its little suburb Louisville would probably both fit the bill. Much as I love Louisville, Boulder might be better for someone who doesn't drive. Louisville has a cute little downtown, but there's not much there besides restaurants and the library. It has a flat area spreading out from downtown that is very bikeable (sp?). There is a grocery store in that area, also the rec center and some parks. I don't know how good/bad the intracity bus service is, as I have not used it in a number of years. It used to be quite good, and there is Call 'N Ride, which livecontent knows more about than me. It is a door to door bus service, which I imagine could take one around to the shopping centers, e.g. Kohl's Dept. store. Bus service to Boulder, to the bigger shopping areas, is excellent.

I would say that Louisville is much more kid-oriented. Here is a quote from another post of mine on a different thread: Louisville does a lot of the little "small-town" ish things like an annual Pet Parade in conjunction with its Labor Day festival; free hot-dogs and chips cooked by the City Council on the 4th of July, etc. My kids got to march in the Labor Day Parade with their gymnastics team and the December Parade of Lights with their Girl Scout troops. One of my daughters got a small college scholarship that was for city employees/volunteers (she coached gymnastics for the rec center.) She got to go to a City Council meeting to receive it.

Boulder is not as kid oriented; it is more CU student and young adult oriented, though it does have a lot of kid things as well.

[weverjames]

Its me again.
I read most of the post here. A lot of debate here. What should you expect from one of the states with the highest level of educated people?
I know the best way to know a place is to visit it. Unfortunately, I don't have time enough to travel. When the times come, it usually is a 1 day visit for interview/contract sign (of course if both parts agree).
I still don't know where in Colorado I would work (interested in Denver area).
So far what i understand:
Pros of Denver
-Educated people
-ethnic and culture variety/tolerance?
-weather (compared to Chicago)
-good transport system
cons (you can correct me if wrong):
-cost of living (if I will be the only source of income in my family)
-Party town??
-bad traffic?
-no trees or water body mass??
Could you get a 3 bedroom house in a good area with the features a descrfibed previously with an income of 170k/year and still being able to save some for children education and retirement?

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by weverjames

Its me again.
I read most of the post here. A lot of debate here. What should you expect from one of the states with the highest level of educated people?
I know the best way to know a place is to visit it. Unfortunately, I don't have time enough to travel. When the times come, it usually is a 1 day visit for interview/contract sign (of course if both parts agree).
I still don't know where in Colorado I would work (interested in Denver area).
So far what i understand:
Pros of Denver
-Educated people Yes
-ethnic and culture variety/tolerance? Yes, some. Not as much variety probably as Chicago. Little overt racism.
-weather (compared to Chicago) Absolutely!!!***
-good transport system Yes, again, not as good as Chicago's
cons (you can correct me if wrong):
-cost of living (if I will be the only source of income in my family) Probably no higher or much higher than Chicago
Party town?? Not really. In certain areas of Boulder, around DU, LoDo
-bad traffic? Not nearly so bad as Chicago (BTW, yes, I have spent a good deal of time there. Never lived there.)
-no trees or water body mass?? Lots of trees in the city and burbs. Not many on plains. Plenty in mtns. A few good-sized lakes in mtns.
Could you get a 3 bedroom house in a good area with the features a descrfibed previously with an income of 170k/year and still being able to save some for children education and retirement?

Yes. We did it on much less.

[esya]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Another issue in Denver is that many of the better large hospitals are actually moving out of the near-downtown area and into the suburbs, CU med center and Children's hospital being two lately.

.

Well I was thinking that, and had moved some medical care to Aurora (University of Colorado's med center), but recent experiences with St. Luke's Presbyterian, and some coworker experiences in Arvada area make me think that might not be completely true. Unless you want state of the art maternity wards [and having experienced them in the 80s I don't see the big deal. Having a baby is having a baby]. Sadly Rose's is not a place I would want to go to again soon.

Also you have the Spaulding Rehab center in Englewood, it's nationally recognized.