Which Colorado city is the best to live in?

[Count David]

Until I unexpectedly went there tonight, I was going to say Evergreen too.

If I can have a house in the non-BFE parts of Evergreen that'd be great. If I had to traverse one-car-wide roads up, down, and around curves (for miles), and up what I'll loosely call a "dirt road" just to get home, no thanks.

[docwatson]

Hmm ... a question too broad to answer, but I'll give some positives about a few choices I know:

Denver ... obviously the only bigger city in Colorado. Nice parks, city life (but not like NY or LA or Chicago!), nice historic building stock, neighborhoods of bungalows with neighborhood feel, definitely an up and coming city focussing on quality of life. Drawbacks for me: while you have great biking trails, parks and reservoirs, you're at least an hour+ drive from impressive scenery. Depending on where you're from that's great or a drawback.

Some historic suburbs of Denver - Golden (expensive), Littleton, seem nice.

Boulder - OK its beautiful, and expensive, but you know even if I could afford it, not sure I'd choose it. All of Boulder county (including small-town Louisville, Lafayette and larger Longmont have some of the Boulder coutny vibe).

Fort Collins - unless it's Denver, FC is one of my choices. Reasonable housing prices, reasonable job market, reasonable access to nature, usually reasonable politics, nice downtown, a lot going on related to local agriculture, sustainable lifestyles; plenty of 30-something professionals living there, etc.

If you are looking for smaller towns, Salida (and nearby Buena Vista) is a beautiful place - one of the few towns between the high country and the "lower" elevations, in the Arkansas River valley.

I've never been to Durango, worth a visit I hear.

Grand Junction is always an option if you like more of the desert climate. Seems they have a nice downtown, bike trails along the Colorado river that flows thru town, the Colorado Natl Monument and Palisae wine country next door. Other small towns in this area that I haven't been to. Have only driven thru, though.

Colorado Springs - you know I've only been here once and some people seem to fear its super-conservative nature. From what I gather, though, it's almost as close to nature as Boulder is, with garden of the Gods state park, the mountains, bike trails. And it is a city, and does have a downtown, plus Manitou springs nearby.

Never been to Pueblo.

The mountain towns are antoher category - Breckenridge, Frisco, Leadville, Steamboat, Estes Park, etc. -that I'm sure you can find input on in another thread.

[naturegirll]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

If I had to traverse one-car-wide roads up, down, and around curves (for miles), and up what I'll loosely call a "dirt road" just to get home, no thanks.

Sounds expensive....

[Katarina Witt]

Garden of the Gods is a Colorado Springs city park.

City of Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center
*************************************

Which city depends entirely on your preferences. Come out and visit.

[chamisa007]

Evergreen!

[Count David]

Originally Posted by naturegirll

Sounds expensive....

It looked like a custom-built box-shaped McMansion, at least 6,000 sq ft over two stories. It faced east into a sea of trees, under a moon-lit sky in which you could actually see the stars.

Geographically, it turns out it was only about a mile north of Kittredge, but I got there from I-70. Looked like the kind of area where you can't leave home on some winter days.

[theterrbows]

How about Parker? Looks like a nice town with alot to offer. I have been researching this area because I would like horse property, but also a good area for my 12 yr old to have activities, and close enough to family in Denver. Any thoughts out there would be appreciated.

[docwatson]

I don't know that area well but if you are looking for a pleasant suburb with some things going on, Littleton would also be a choice. It has light rail to Denver, Platte River parks, and a nice downtown.