SLC Vs. Denver (drive, selling, full)

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

I pretty much agree. We were in the Appalachia part of Beaver County when DH said the above. My DD was in a small town in Minnesota for college. I think for those two anyway, it had to do with the rolling hills and the trees. PA and NY are very family oriented, IMO. Not a lot of working moms in Albany, NY, at least where we lived. Many people have lots of extended family there, too. I like the big skies, too. I loved watching the corn grow in Illinois, especially in the summer when the wind blew it. I don't mind driving across Nebraska, which is probably a good thing, since we do it at least once per year.

i know of working moms - or working wives, anyhow - in albany. but they grew up around albany. and will probably stay in albany. not because it's the sunniest place on earth. not because it's the hippest place on earth. not because everyone's beautiful, or they've heard that the smartest, most athletic, best things on earth are there, but because they love it, and their families, and the place. and there's a lot to love. gothic and dutch architecture, brownstones, skinny streets, cobblestones, lakes, sleepy hollow, horse country, the hudson, the adirondacks, their people, their family. and for that, i think that they might, in a way, be the most enlightened, smartest people on earth. only problem with albany's lark street now has a trendy place or two on it relative to what i remember from when i'd seen it years ago. i know, superficial of me, but un-believable. otherwise, that place like parts of boston, philly, NY, buffalo, baltimore...pittsburgh, cleveland, some of the old san francisco, little towns in the middle of iowa or vermont, or pueblo and the old denver or some of the western slope...seems to be the real deal. yes, these places have their problems and suburban sprawl and things. but they don't seem so defined by some of that. (well, there are some "rust belt" things that sort of define some of these...)

i'd guess some of salt lake's like this - i haven't spent enough time in salt lake. i just hope that denver, SLC, etc. keep their eyes open to how they're changing.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Does Salt Lake have any currently operating mass transit?

A very well-patronized light rail system, with legs running from downtown to Sandy to the south and another from downtown to the University of Utah to the east. The heavy rail commuter line to Ogden is scheduled to open in the spring. There are another half-dozen projects in the planning/permitting stages, and most funding has been secured. Salt Lake also has a pretty good bus system across the whole metro area. In how many cities is it possible to ride a city bus to a world-class ski area? You can do that in Salt Lake City (to Brighton, Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird).

The UTA website ( http://www.rideuta.com/ ) tells all about it.

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

In how many cities is it possible to ride a city bus to a world-class ski area? .

in europe, it's not uncommon, actually. trains from international airports to ski areas, and lots of other things, too. americans let themselves become very dependent on their automobiles, and continue to do so more so than some other places on Earth. people here (in colorado) seem to sometimes think that things like fastracks are somehow "progressive"...when these things are things other people - even within the US - have had for ages. not to say those other places might not have their own problems, but...

[Katiana]

The RTD goes to Eldora. While most people in CO would not consider it "world class", it is much better skiing than many of the big eastern ski areas.

[Calmeg29]

Had a friend here from Denver last week- she said "If you dont like kids, man don't move to SLC! CNBC said Utah has third highest increase in country- added 65,000 last year (2007). 40,000 were new births. Dang!

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

The RTD goes to Eldora. While most people in CO would not consider it "world class", it is much better skiing than many of the big eastern ski areas.

good point, pittnurse. that IS a nice thing. though not so extensive as to be a train from the airport, throughout the city, and on out to the mountains that most everyone tends to try to take.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by hello-world

good point, pittnurse. that IS a nice thing. though not so extensive as to be a train from the airport, throughout the city, and on out to the mountains that most everyone tends to try to take.

Well, one could take SkyRide from DIA to the Boulder bus station, then transfer to the Eldora route. Since Eldora has no lodging, one would have to store their luggage while skiing, but it could be done!

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Well, one could take SkyRide from DIA to the Boulder bus station, then transfer to the Eldora route. Since Eldora has no lodging, one would have to store their luggage while skiing, but it could be done!

another good point! i'm not sure how many people in this place would actually do that (the multiple transfer to go skiing with all their equipment and "needs" - "i NEED it to be totally plush and conVENient" ), and still not as convenient as a rail system that runs throughout and on up into the "world class" areas, but you're right. and i like your lateral thinking here! i'm really glad RTD does this, and i hope that they extend it on out I70. y pronto.

[Katiana]

Lots of kids around here take the bus to Eldora. It is MUCH safer than letting a 16 yr old drive up!

[hello-world]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Lots of kids around here take the bus to Eldora. It is MUCH safer than letting a 16 yr old drive up!

that's good. i've considered getting a pass to eldora just because of the bus. and because I70's aweful a good part of the time...