CO with young kids (3&7) absolute best place for them?

[yortyort2001]

It has been a while and here is the update. We went to look at numerous houses and have narrowed it down to 3 houses. One in each: Evergreen, Genesee, and Longmont. The three different houses we would be equally happy in for different reasons. My only concern is with the children being young (and now a third one on the way), will the winters make like prohibitively difficult on a daily basis being 'up the hill' in Evergreen and/or Genesee, or is it just on the odd occasion when the weather becomes intense? I really like the idea of being closer to Breckenridge and Vail for skiing. But, I would appreciate some experienced views on how difficult the winters can get, how often, and if young children can still have plenty of activiities in those conditions? I hope this makes sense...... Thanks in advance for your help!!

[GeorgiaTransplant]

Originally Posted by yortyort2001

It has been a while and here is the update. We went to look at numerous houses and have narrowed it down to 3 houses. One in each: Evergreen, Genesee, and Longmont. The three different houses we would be equally happy in for different reasons. My only concern is with the children being young (and now a third one on the way), will the winters make like prohibitively difficult on a daily basis being 'up the hill' in Evergreen and/or Genesee, or is it just on the odd occasion when the weather becomes intense? I really like the idea of being closer to Breckenridge and Vail for skiing. But, I would appreciate some experienced views on how difficult the winters can get, how often, and if young children can still have plenty of activiities in those conditions? I hope this makes sense...... Thanks in advance for your help!!

There is potential winter conditions essentially everywhere in the Denver area, but it's only 'bad' about 3-4 months out of the year (IIRC), and even those 'bad' days are not usually all that bad. Traffic department is really on it compared to states that are not used to winter conditions; I guess it's all that practice. Get an inch of snow in Richmond, the city grinds to a halt.

I lived in Longmont for a couple of years, and I REALLY liked it. Although there was snow and winter weather, it's pretty flat, and very easy to run down the Diagonal to Boulder to get more cultur-ey things. Denver was a haul, but if you're only going occasionally, not a super bad one.

[bongo]

As a teacher, I have heard good things over the years regarding Jefferson Co. school system. I admire you for making education a main focus for your children. Congratulations on the new addition. Keep us posted as to your final decision.

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by yortyort2001

My only concern is with the children being young (and now a third one on the way), will the winters make like prohibitively difficult on a daily basis being 'up the hill' in Evergreen and/or Genesee, or is it just on the odd occasion when the weather becomes intense? I really like the idea of being closer to Breckenridge and Vail for skiing. But, I would appreciate some experienced views on how difficult the winters can get, how often, and if young children can still have plenty of activiities in those conditions? I hope this makes sense...... Thanks in advance for your help!!

Mountain winters are a lot harder on the adults than the kids! The adults have to contend with driving in snow, logistics of groceries and necessities, paying the heating bill on time, etc. Kids just have to go out and play in the snow and have fun!

[yortyort2001]

Hi All,

We have just closed on a house in Boulder and very much looking forward to the move. Unfortunately, it wont be until August, but i think it will come around soon enough.

[brightdoglover]

Best wishes on your move, and please keep us posted as to your experiences, if you will?
I love the Flatirons, although it has been many years since I walked out of someone's backyard and just started walking up at them. I assume there has been... a lot... of development since then. Still, they are beautiful.

[StealthRabbit]

congrats on making a choice, and Boulder should be a fun change from Tokyo.

Just curious... If elementary school is important to your family, why did you not choose to move to Singapore, while you are so close? To do it over again... I would do Singapore from primary 1 - 8, then 2 yrs of homeschool while traveling the world, then a US state that offers free college instead of High School. We did similar, but ended up moving to Europe and cutting our Singapore schooling options short. Our US friends who remained in Singapore Public Schools, brought their kids back to US in High School, and they got full rides to great colleges, and now have really good international careers.

The free college instead of HS was GREAT for our kids, and saved them tuition expense (since they 'self-funded' college)

I did Northern Colorado for my own schooling, but could not talk my own family into returning. I have stayed abreast of schooling options and have several friends teaching in Colorado, but find plenty of issues. Fortunately Boulder has plenty of options. I always send young families to WY, as they have really good schools and excellent funding.

[yortyort2001]

Hi Stealth,

Singapore for school.....really? We lived there for almost 7 years from 2002-2009. I did not have a very good impression of the local schools. They are very repressive and just crank out test scores. Also, they are not the most accepting of foreign students. Everyone that I know that is not local sends their kids to one of the international schools. Unfortunately, even for my 3-year old at the time the cost is around $25,000 per year.

Please don't get me wrong, I am not trying to be offensive. It is just the Singapore methods are not in line with the kind of education I want for my children. Having said that, it obviously has merit as well.

As far as college goes.....jeez, that is way to far ahead of me. I am just trying to get this move and transition sorted out . But your ideas sound really good.