Where in Colorado do you recommend? Loveland? La Veta? Or???? (Denver: crime, movie theaters)

[JoLovesColorado]

I am soon to graduate RN student from NY and would like to relocate with husband who is a probation officer and 14 year old son. We want to move to Colorado and need advice. Where?... Loveland seems nice. I would like a smaller town but close to Hospitals. Anybody familiar with Southern CO like LaVeta. Our town is very small now in the FingerLakes and Big city is not for us.

[Mike from back east]

Here are some towns (that aren't big cities) and their hospital sites.

Durango, CO, stunning scenery, but a bit expensive.

Montrose, CO

Grand Junction, CO has several hospitals.

Alamosa, CO, in the San Luis Valley, near La Veta. Very cold winters.

Loveland, CO (http://www.bannerhealth.com/Locations/Colorado/McKee+Medical+Center/_McKee+Medical+Center.htm# - broken link) seems to have a hospital, not sure the size of it.

Longmont, CO, just north of Boulder and south of Loveland.

Boulder, CO, a college town and a bit expensive. Many people live in nearby towns and work in Boulder.


There are others. Anything in the mountain resort areas will have very expensive housing or nasty winter-time commutes from bedroom communities.

[golfgod]

To me Loveland has a bit of a "small" town feel. We considered a lot of places in and out of CO before moving. But for several reasons we did not want to be in a small, isolated place. To me, any place more than a hour from a major airport, big city entertainment and big city amenities wouldn't cut it.

We moved here from a small (ish) town in Texas, an hour from Austin. We prefer the size of Loveland and what it offers. We can be in Estes Park/RMNP in less than an hour, Denver airport or theatre district the same, skiing in two hours. I can walk or bike to the grocery and post office, bike to the library, there are constantly new things at the museum, the Rialto theatre seems to have something going on; movie, play, singing or music about 300 nights per year.

The schools are good, there is a variety of shopping, crime is low, taxes are low too.

[JoLovesColorado]

Wow thanks for the Loveland info sounds great. Want to be there now. NY not the place to be.

[james57]

I would suggest the Canon City area. A small town with a hospital. It also has prisons in the area, so possibly work for your husband?? Anyway, just a thought.

ps ALso hospitals in Pueblo and Colorado Springs which are commutable in a pinch.

[Count David]

The Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland is big enough. There's a hospital in Fort Collins too.

[sesamekid]

Canon City would be a great option to consider... St Thomas More Hospital and many elder care facilities abound here. In addition, the Arkansas Valley Surgery Center is located in Canon City. There are always job postings for RN's in the newspaper.

Also many prisons in the area and correctional-related jobs for corrections workers - they hire often as well. In fact, i have two friends who work as nurses in the local prisons!

The population in Canon City is about 25,000.
It is a lovely, lovely little town - within 45 minute drive to larger urban centers like Colorado Springs and Pueblo.

Also, for your teenage son, there is a great new highschool in Canon City with a football field, tennis courts and even a swimming pool next door. it is a wonderful community in which to raise children.

There is also an alternative highschool (Garden Park HS) for kids with special needs or kids who just need a smaller setting.

There is a skate park at Mountain View Park, two movie theaters, several workout centers, rec district sports leagues, and on and on.

[pleopold2]

Montrose has a good hospital and a correctional center close by. Nice town . I live nearby.

[StealthRabbit]

Do Loveland; (good positive community support, good schools, good draw for elderly (future patients), nice arts culture, close to MANY services and college options.

4 significant size and excellent hospitals within 20 miles. Good police Depts in cities and counties, decent schools. and closer to WY (superior 'wilderness' recreation, A LOT less people) Enjoy the area up the Poudre Canyon and on to Saratoga and Snowy Mtns, all very close and not much for crowded. Encampment, WY is a great place to visit.
Snowy Range Scenic Byway

I have a less positive view of Canon City (socially / proximity). Southern CO is quite nice, but quite remote (if you need a big city for anything (like a cheap airport)). So Co is very nice in select areas, but often better to visit than to live (unless you are a rancher / farmer / outdoorsman)

[Katarina Witt]

It can be very difficult to get a job in some of these small town hospitals, especially with no experience. Like it or not, you may have to go Denver or Colorado Springs for a while. It's hard enough to get a nursing job in Denver.