Small Town Feel w/ in 45 miles of Denver Children's Hospital? (Aurora: middle-class, insurance)

[marchesefam]

Hi all!

Hoping you can help... We currently live in the greater Phoenix,
Arizona area and we are looking to relocate.

A little about us:
We are in our early 30's, the parents of a special needs (heart
defect) daughter who is adopted. We are looking for the idyllic
"quaint" area. I grew up outside of San Francisco but went to high
school in Sheboygan, WI and my husband grew up in Jackson Hole,
Wyoming. We like the smaller communities and we're looking for a small
town feel with some amenities. I'd like a community where one can get
involved, one with good schools, a middle-class cost of living, and
very safe. My daughter will require numerous heart surgeries over the
course of her life, so we're looking at the top 25 pediatric
cardiology facilities and searching a 45 mile radius around the area.

In Arizona, kids can't do sports in the summer because of the heat. No
kids play outside, and after 5 years in my current home, I still don't
know most of my neighbors. I'd like a town where kids play outside,
the neighbors know one another, the town goes to the high school
football games.

My husband is a claims adjuster for a large insurance company and
works from home, so we're very flexible. I am a stay-at-home mother,
so being able to do things with my child is important.

I enjoy a milder climate, but I'm flexible.

I appreciate your help!

[2bindenver]

Erie, Dacona, Brighton...

[karpiel]

Idaho Springs or Georgetown.

[Jerry Bckr]

I would have to say Idaho Springs and Georgetown would put you beyond your 45 mile limit. It's hard to describe to people that have never lived here what it's like. It isn't like Wisconsin, and I know, because I grew up in East Troy. Thankfully, it isn't like Phoenix which is really spread out. Last time I was down there visiting our kids, I had to drive 71 miles to cross town to visit a nephew. Denver is much more compact and may be a big city but it doesn't feel big.
Most housing is along what we call the Front Range, which is an undefined strip of land that starts at the foothills and extends to the east about 40-50 miles. Different people will have different opinions about how far east it goes, but it runs parrallel to the hills. It's in this strip of land that the majority of people live. If a town was small once, it isn't now. For one thing, there wasn't that many towns. Things are more spread out in the west. In Wisconsin, you have a small town about every ten miles or so. Not here.
No matter where you live, I think you'll find the people to be friendly and compared to where you and your husband are from, you'll find this climate to be much better than what you're experiencing now.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Jerry Bckr

I would have to say Idaho Springs and Georgetown would put you beyond your 45 mile limit.

I agree, especially since Children's has moved to Aurora. It's 30 miles to there from my home in Louisville. Even Nederland is probably 50 mi.

[swittacker]

I would suggest Parker or Castle Rock. It's more on the outskirts of the city, but you don't have to worry about being stranded in the mountains with your daughter if I-70 closes during the winter, which will happen from time to time. There are several good schools (Regis Jesuit, Smoky Hill, Ponderosa, Douglas County, Castle View, Grandview). I am friends with many graduates of Regis Jesuit High School and I can tell you the community there is very supportive of their children and schools and it's a great place to raise a family. Most importantly, The Children's Hospital in Parker is no more than 30 minutes from any of those schools, five minutes from some of them. It's not quite "small town", but it does have beautiful scenery and a great community atmosphere.

[Katiana]

Louisville would be another good choice. It's 30 miles exactly from my house there to the Health Science Center campus where TCH is. Also, there is a satellite TCH at I-25 and Highway 7, probably 8 miles or so away. Louisville has maintained its small town character to a large extent.

[Nav]

Elizabeth would also be a contender. Quaint historic downtown (built in 1890's) friendly people, a love of nature over suburban pretentiousness. Most places on an acre or more, not ruined by developers and tract housing. Conservative views and a protective home town feel.

Nav