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To a small degree I'm with you, but I think you're over-analyzing. The mountains do add their Denver's grandeur, but not to the degree you'e suggesting; neither does legal weed and "progressive" politics, lol. Some of the most crime ridden, expensive, lowest home ownership rates, homelessness rates, areas have been politically "progressive" (ie liberal leadership) for decades. Too, if what you're saying is true, there would be more of a pattern nationally with other fast-growing areas in terms of mountains. Again, the mountains add, but isn't the big deal-breaker you're suggesting it is. Just my opinion
Yes, but those "crime ridden, expensive, lowest home ownership rates, homelessness rates, etc" areas are mostly expensive because they are desirable, those social malignancies notwithstanding. SF is the poster child of everything you described but it's still a "desirable" place, or at least desirable enough to push the housing prices through the roof. Some may call the housing market there a stick up without a gun, but the fact remains that nobody is holding a gun to peoples' heads and telling them they have to chalk up $1m for a ****ty condo with no amenities.
That being said, I did state before that I think Denver's location within the US gives it an extra bump as it makes it a regional capital of sorts. In this regard Denver gets full credit for beating other cities who might have competed for that title. The Rockies, however, make it a very nice region to be a capital of, as opposed to a more mundane place such as the Great Plains.
I said yes because I like the city--culture, vegetation, weather, neighborhoods, etc. But on the other hand I don't think it's all that much better than some of the midwestern cities. It reminds me a bit of the Twin Cities and Kansas City.
If the mountains were suddenly removed and you had the current metro left, I think it would still be a desirable area. A better question would be "Would Denver have become such a desirable place if the mountains were never there to begin with?"
There's a lot going on in Denver when you take away the mountains if you ask me. I'm new and have barely gone up since I moved, mainly because I like being a homebody on the weekends. I like snowboarding but not into the whole rock climbing / camping thing.
I could see it being compared to Minneapolis in some respects (although the people are better in CO), but imagine if you took the lakes away from MSP? There would be nothing.
There's a lot going on in Denver when you take away the mountains if you ask me. I'm new and have barely gone up since I moved, mainly because I like being a homebody on the weekends. I like snowboarding but not into the whole rock climbing / camping thing.
I could see it being compared to Minneapolis in some respects (although the people are better in CO), but imagine if you took the lakes away from MSP? There would be nothing.
While the lakes definitely help, I think Minneapolis has a lot else to offer, possibly more than Denver.
I'd be interested to hear from you and others about specific things in Denver that make it attractive and enjoyable without the mountains. Only been to Colorado Springs and national parks myself, so don't know much about Denver personally. Also, how does it compare in specific areas to similarly sized cities like Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Saint Louis.
While the lakes definitely help, I think Minneapolis has a lot else to offer, possibly more than Denver.
I'd be interested to hear from you and others about specific things in Denver that make it attractive and enjoyable without the mountains. Only been to Colorado Springs and national parks myself, so don't know much about Denver personally. Also, how does it compare in specific areas to similarly sized cities like Minneapolis, Cleveland, and Saint Louis.
Really? I've been up there enough times to know that Minneapolis is a clean city but it's also VERY cold and if you aren't into ice skating, hockey, or ice fishing in the winter I'd imagine you'd be pretty disappointed.
Denver itself is certainly great for bars, biking, parks, etc. The usual findings plus a lot of festivals and events that seem to be on every weekend. Denver is more geared up for tourism whereas Minneapolis I just don't think is very warm to outsiders.
Really? I've been up there enough times to know that Minneapolis is a clean city but it's also VERY cold and if you aren't into ice skating, hockey, or ice fishing in the winter I'd imagine you'd be pretty disappointed.
Denver itself is certainly great for bars, biking, parks, etc. The usual findings plus a lot of festivals and events that seem to be on every weekend. Denver is more geared up for tourism whereas Minneapolis I just don't think is very warm to outsiders.
You've missed out on a lot more, but let's focus on Denver.
Good to hear Denver has so many festivals and events. Those definitely do a lot to make cities vibrant. I'd be curious to hear of any in particular that are most unique to Denver and it's culture/history or set it apart.
You've missed out on a lot more, but let's focus on Denver.
Good to hear Denver has so many festivals and events. Those definitely do a lot to make cities vibrant. I'd be curious to hear of any in particular that are most unique to Denver and it's culture/history or set it apart.
You've missed out on a lot more, but let's focus on Denver.
Good to hear Denver has so many festivals and events. Those definitely do a lot to make cities vibrant. I'd be curious to hear of any in particular that are most unique to Denver and it's culture/history or set it apart.
Having lived in Minneapolis for over 21 years I can attest the two cities are far more similar than they are different. I agree with the previous poster, if you take away the lakes and parkway system from Minneapolis, you'd have a close scenario.
Is Denver still desirable without the Mountains? If you're an urbanite then sure, but certainly not to me.
Like many who move the front range, Denver to me serves only as a base camp, and the city itself is secondary.
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