Is Denver boring? (Boulder, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree: appointed, apartment complex, lease)

[POhdNcrzy]

Just wanna say briefly, Wankel7, I think you are really on target with your post.

Also, FunkyMonk, I lived in Boulder for 15+ years and I can really relate to your observations about Denver.

I think for people like you and me, we're looking at NYC, LA, maybe Miami, maybe Seattle, maybe Chicago. That's about it. Problem with those places is you need major buck$$$$$$ to take advantage of what they offer and to even just survive there.

If it's any consolation, I can really relate.

[newtodenver22]

hi, i just moved here (to the suburbs) and i like the fact that everything is close by (albeit to drive to)- it all depends what you like- it sounds like maybe you moved to the burbs but are more of city type?

[downtownnola]

Originally Posted by delta07

I wouldn't necessarily consider Denver midwest though. It's a Rocky Mt. city. People tend to be friendly, but also keep to themselves. You will find this a lot in the Rocky Mtn. states. Hopefully you haven't had a chance to explore all of Denver yet. I'm sure that once you do, you will find it to be an exciting city.

I agree that Denver isn't a midwestern city. Not at all. Cities like Kansas City, St. Louis and Omaha are midwestern cities and they have a completely different feel than the Denver metro area. Denver is culturally much more of a western city.

I also agree with the poster talking about some of the more "urban" cities like Seattle, Chicago, NY, SF, etc... I absolutely love those cities but they're also outrageously expensive.

[Mr. Answers]

I think your description of Denver is pretty accurate. I think the vibe in the midwest is a little more down-to-earth and homey and the culture is certainly richer and more diverse, while Denver is more cosmopolitan and cutting edge. It's definitely a more suburb, outdoorsy sort of town.

[daniboi81]

I went downtown last night to hang out and the LODO area and the downtown area reminds me of a mini-Chicago...though a lot less $$ when compared to downtown Chicago. The burbs are a sprawl...though I encourage anyone who hasn't been to visit Atlanta to see "real" sprawl...YIKES.

[FunkyMonk]

I love camping and being in small towns. I used to live in a town of 30,000 with no big cities for hundreds of miles. The town had a national forest and camping within walking distance, I loved that. I used to bike through the woods every day and camp out every weekend.

I love camping in the mountains here a lot. But being in Denver, I am not IN those mountains. Those mountains are a day trip away. All I can do is look at the mountains in the distance and go there occasionally.

I also love living in big cities. I've lived in several big cities and had great times. I loved living in all those places. By the way, Denver is NOT big city....... I would call it small city myself. The population density here is way too thin to be considered big city.

As for the light rail, it pretty much gos in a straight line from downtown to the south through a very limited part of the city. If you live to the north, east or west of downtown the light rail is of no use at all.

My problem with Denver is that is falls inbetween being a city and being a country town, but it isn't quite either. It doesn't feel like a big city unless you are right in the middle of downtown. Otherwise it is much more like a suburb.

And it definantly doesn't feel like a cool, small town because of all the sprawl in every direction, the mountains and forests are miles and miles away unless you are way out on the outskirts of the city.

Certain neighborhoods in Denver are really cool. But if you choose to live in the wrong neighborhood, you may be in for a rather colorless experience.

My neighborhood for example. I am surrounded by houses and apartment complexes for several miles on all sides. There is almost nothing interesting within walking distance, not even any shopping besides a 7-11 and a few food places. And there is almost nobody on the streets because everyone drives everywhere they go. People act very private and they act kind of afraid of strangers.

I like Denver, don't get me wrong. I can see what great things this place has to offer. But I think it is only certain areas of Denver that are really good.

I have just never lived in such a suburban type of environment, it takes getting used to. And in my opinion, it offers the worst aspects of a city and a small town, without offering the great things. You are in a concrete jungle like a city, yet you do not have the convienences, street life, or fun of the city.

Denver is not alone on this. Phoenix, Tucson and SLC are all cities i've seen with the same sprawling, suburbia feel to them.

I am going to try to move to a different part of the city ASAP. Where i'm at right now is no good. The Denver area has a lot of great places, but I think that the truely great places are mostly outside of the Denver city limits. Besides downtown areas, Denver itself isn't that great, it's suburbia disguised as a city.

I'm not trying to slam Denver, but this is a Denver forum so i'm just letting all my thoughts flow out. This post might sound negative but it's just my honest thoughts after a month here.

[livecontent]

I have written much on this forum about different neighborhoods in the city and the suburbs that have a good walkable neighborhood with good transportation. I cannot take the time and repeat all my verbose posts.

With the internet it is easier than ever to find a better place to live. You can go to google maps and find all the supermarkets and where they are located. In addition, in google you can see all the RTD bus stops. You can go on street level and see the neighborhood.

A good neighborhood for me is within walking distance of good basic stores like King Soopers, Walmart etc. It has to be on a major bus route. Light Rail is nice but Denver has a good bus system and in many areas provides more options than the light rail, especially at transfer stations.

A good park in the neighborhood, I also want. That is easy because Denver and the suburbs have so many parks, trails and open spaces. Many of these parks are available with public transit, even in the foothills. In the past, I have taken the bus to Evergreen, Nederland, Boulder Canyon and taken the bus back home. Today, I can easily get on the Light Rail and end up at the trails, waterways at the Mineral Station, with access to the whole Platte River Trails and Chatfield Reservoir--and again take the rail and bus home.

Well, some people would want nightclubs and that type of entertainment. Granted that would be in select neighborhoods and certainly Downtown. However, I am too old for all that and I prefer concerts, opera, theatre etc. but the these Downtown amenities are easily available by public transit from most metro areas and getting better with the bus and rail built out. These distant amenities are easily accessible by public transit, become my extended neighborhood. Yet, there are many walkable neighborhoods, all over the area, where on can walk to coffee shops, bars, restaurants etc.

Yes, at times I want boring places, quiet places, parks and trails where I can be at peace. I have written much on Arvada and the boring and peaceful neighborhoods. Years ago when I worked a hard job all week, Downtown, all I wanted was to return to the tranquility of my boring neighborhood. I know that many hard working people also feel the same--it is our refuge, our place to
Livecontent

It is time for me to go to bed, so tomorrow I can face another bright, sunny, boring, happy, day in Colorado.

[FrozenShores]

I think I may have another way to look at this.

First off I agree, Denver is not a big city. The four big cities in America are Chicago, New York, LA, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Medium sized cities are Houston, Dallas, Boston, Philly, DC and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. Denver, as a whole, still doesn't match up to the medium sized cities.

However, I would have to say that Denver's downtown walk-ability rivals, if it is not already better than Houston, Dallas, and Miami. Between Capitol Hill, Uptown, Golden Triangle, The CBD, Lodo and Lower Highlands, Central Denver has so many miles of walkable urban environments that I can't walk them all in a week. So in this respect, Denver at least can compare to medium sized cities. And the street life in these areas is definitely comparable to Miami(only without the chicks in bikinis.)

With respect to the proximity to nature, I don't see how Denver is so far away that you can only go occasionally. For instance, the 700 acre Apex Mountain park with trails that change altitude by nearly 2000' throughout their 8 miles of trails is only a 15 minute drive from downtown Denver. And if you're looking for high country, a 45 minute drive will take you to Echo Lake park which is more than 10,000 feet up on the continental divide. A nine mile drive from there will take you to the top of Mt. Evans which is Denver's closest 14'er.

So don't worry, just do a little research and you'll find Denver has much more to offer than you think.

[downtownnola]

FunkyMonk, what part of town are you living in right now? I have a feeling that may have a major bearing on your experience thus far. What part of town are you thinking of moving to?

[POhdNcrzy]

Downtownnola said:

"I agree that Denver isn't a midwestern city. Not at all. Cities like Kansas City, St. Louis and Omaha are midwestern cities and they have a completely different feel than the Denver metro area. Denver is culturally much more of a western city."

YES, one think about the Denver-Boulder area in particular and also the ritzier mountain resort towns of CO, is the "California-LA-West Coast" cultural connection. Having lived in Los Angeles and Boulder (15 years), I really understand this now. To me, this is an appealing aspect of Colorado, the cutting-edge hipness that filters through.

ALSO, you mentioned San Francisco. Yes, duh, I forgot the Bay Area on my list of

Super-Hip-Urban-Expensive areas (SHUE):

NYC
LA
SanFran-Bay Area
Miami
Seattle
(Chicago)

Chicago barely makes the SHUE list IMHO, Did I miss any others places? I don't think so....

For me it's all boiling down to TWO main choices in life:

A) Do I move back to Boulder-Denver area?

Cons: I will have to "create" my artistic, wild, hip, conscious world from the ground up myself, but there are plenty of like minded people in Boulder-Denver who will come "along for the ride". Also, much of the "hip" infrastructure is already in place.

Pros: Cost of living is not yet TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS. Best lifestyle in the world, outdoor athletic living in sunny, mountainous paradise without all the horrible, daunting downsides of the SHUE (super-hip-urban-expensive) areas.

B) I move to one of the SHUE (super-hip-urban-expensive) areas and SOMEHOW try to "make it" although accomplishing that is pretty much extremely difficult to do in the SHUE areas nowadays.

Cons: All the daunting challenges and downsides of life in the SHUE areas. If you don't make $100k per year your life SUCKS terribly in the SHUE areas (whether you're willing to admit it or not).

Pros: Well, if you figure out how to make minimum $100,000+/year living in the SHUE areas, THE OPPORTUNITIES AND LIFESTYLE ARE AMAZINGLY GOOD.