Picturesque retirement towns along the Front Range.

[StealthRabbit]

If Longmont is an option, look to southern or west side.

I have retired friends living in Gunbarrel, Niwot and, Lyons.

But I prefer Loveland, EP, or Laporte. Many more nice walking and biking trails. Much closer to mtns (and WY), less crowds and traffic (fewer employees and students commuting, soccer mom's shuttling kids).

For a city... COS has some pretty nice areas with views and decent access to mtns. (Without the crowds of northern front range).

Being near NM mtns could be a plus, much smaller crowds there.

Depends on op desires and needs during the decades of retirement.

While Colorado was nice when not so crowded, and still decent for biking. It is a long ways to great kayaking, the ocean, and international drives and flights.

[vunderbar]

Louisville is walkable, relatively close to Denver, quite close to Boulder, it's quiet, safe and has views. That said, it's pricy and there's a shortage of houses on the market.

[ponyupgrl]

Are you wanting to live in town or near a town? A lot of times the prime mountain view type locations aren't in an actual town / city, but a ~10 min drive. What kind of a lot size are you looking for?

[wilberry]

Golden, I like Golden near the older part.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by vunderbar

Louisville is walkable, relatively close to Denver, quite close to Boulder, it's quiet, safe and has views. That said, it's pricy and there's a shortage of houses on the market.

Yes, there are some really nice views in the northwest part of Louisville. Actually the best views are probably outside the actual city limits. We lived in Louisville for a little over ten years. Most of the daily needs are either right in town or across Hwy 36 in Superior and Broomfield. The old downtown area is nice, but not terribly big.

If housing budget is indeed "very flexible", as the OP stated, there is always Boulder. Sure there are downsides, including a large university population and a nimby attitude toward development. But if a person's primary criteria are living in a walkable area close to scenery and trails, it is hard to beat (leaving housing cost out of the consideration).

[Gorges]

Berthoud

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Gorges

Berthoud

Good choice for a small town.
"The Garden Spot of Colorado"

Very nice scenic mural on their grain elevator!
Worth the side trip, as was the fried chicken place "Wayside Inn", now gone.

If you can deal with metro, Louisville is quite nice for a prairie town with a potential mtn view, and quite close to Denver / Boulder / DIA (DEN).
And... You can still beat the Denver masses to RMNP or WY.

For more mtn access head south of COS or to western slope. (Or northern NM, very nice Mtns with few crowds.). As a retiree, consider finding a spot near a hot springs. Busy on weekends, available for you during the week.

[bontrager]

Originally Posted by Dean Trails

The only town we know well is Colorado Springs but my wife says it seems to have too much traffic.

Really depends where in the city you live. I don't think COS has any more traffic than any other city of it's size. Nowhere near Denver metro. Traffic on I-25 is not the greatest during rush hour, but otherwise it flows pretty well. I live on the Southwest side and the only time I deal with traffic issues is during school drop off/pickup. Spend a day in DC and you'll see what bad traffic is really like.

[Dean Trails]

Originally Posted by ponyupgrl

Are you wanting to live in town or near a town? A lot of times the prime mountain view type locations aren't in an actual town / city, but a ~10 min drive. What kind of a lot size are you looking for?

We could go for about an acre. Over that and it might be difficult to maintain. Thanks your comments,

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by Dean Trails

We could go for about an acre. Over that and it might be difficult to maintain. Thanks your comments,

There's a handful of homes along El Dorado Springs Dr, just south of Boulder. They're on bigger lots. Views are outstanding from that area. One downside is lots of traffic on that road, though.

Paragon Estates is just past the NW edge of Louisville. Most of the houses in there are older. When we lived in Louisville I believe there were still a few empty lots, but not sure what the situation is today. At any rate, there are some really nice views from some of the homes in there and the lots are bigger than typical suburban development.