Relocation to Denver (Aurora, Boulder, Highlands Ranch: homes, school districts, camping)

[TM726]

My husband and I are considering a relocation from the Detroit area to Denver. As a fitness professional, the fast food & lazy lifestyle does not leave many prospects for him in terms of job. Are there good prospects for fitness professionals in this area? We are looking for a health conscious area with ample outdoor activities, gyms, and healthy & organic foods. I am a teacher and am curious about the educational system in the Denver area. Currently, I am a teacher at an International Baccalaureate school and would like to continue in a similar school. We also have a 7 month old son and are interested in an area that is family friendly with a younger population. As I am certain the city itself is more expensive, what are the suburbs that are best for young families, but still in good proximity to Denver. What are the best features that Denver has to offer? What is the downside of living in Denver?
Thank you in advance for you help!

[Jerry Bckr]

Well, to start off, Colorado usually comes in at the top or very near the top of people's list of fittest states. Not knowing exactly what your husband does, I think he's in a much better position than if you were considering a state like Mississippi (usually rated near the bottom. Colorado is also rated high for its educated work force, so that should help you. I would guess that as far as the most concentrated area of health consciousness, would be Boulder, but there are healthy people all around the Denver area. We don't make them stay in specified areas.
Boulder is expensive and Denver can be also. Denver has a lower property tax rate but the price of homes is higher than the suburbs. This is only a smattering, but some suburbs that are top heavy with younger people are Highlands Ranch, Ken-Caryl Ranch, Meadows in Castle Rock, either side of E-470 on the southeast side of the metro area. There are many more to choose from, so don't feel you have to get into a certain place to be able to exist. Find the job first and let that be your guide.
Some of the downsides to living in Denver are the increased risk of skin cancer due to all the sunny weather. It's also hard to find lakes to ice skate on in the winter because it's never stays cold long enough to guarantee safe ice. Another disadvantage is that your lighter ware clothes don't last as long because you end up wearing them in the winter as well. It's tough living here but we do the best we can. I keep telling myself I'm going to move back to Wisconsin, but for the last 35 years, I just never seem to get around to it.

[TM726]

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate all of your insight. As challenging as the sun and other cons may be a good fit for us. It's also good to know that you don't make all the healthy people stay in one spot!

[Jerry Bckr]

We still believe in the free range concept here in the west.

[80skeys]

Colorado is one of the most fitness conscious states in the country. Other places that are also fitness conscious are Oregon and Utah.

Alot of people in these states are really into the outdoors - hiking, camping, bicycling, etc.

Just for example: one of the young guys at work told us on Friday that his weekend plan was to summit Mount Snuffels (that's a 14,200 foot peak), starting the hike at 10,000 and climbing to top and back in the same day.

I myself go out just about every weekend to the lake for fishing, hiking, camping, etc. In August I'll be doing a three day backpacking trip in the Weminuche wildnerness in the San Juan mountains. Our total hiked mileage during that trip should be around 25 miles.

This is by no means unusual. Many people here in Colorado do this type of stuff on a regular basis.

[ebeth79]

As an FYI to your IB question... we just moved to the area and we wanted an IB track option for our daughter who is starting her freshman year of high school. The Cherry Creek School District offers this at several of their high schools, she will be attending Cherokee Trail - which is the newest of their high schools, but the IB programs at several others in the district looked good as well. That area may give you a start as far as school districts? we've been here a month and so far we've been happy with the area we chose. Lots of fitness options and family friendly. We are in Aurora, on the SE side near the Centennial boundary. My husband, a triathlete, finds something every weekend to get involved in keeping his fitness level up. I would think as many opportunites as there are for fitness people, finding a job in that sector wouldn't be too traumatic.

[Sheridan1962]

We also just moved into the Cherry Creek school district, and the IB program at Smoky Hill High School is outstanding.