Retiring from Florida Keys and looking at Evergreen, CO area. (Denver: houses, neighborhoods) - Colorado - City-Data Forum

LindyLou45 · 07-23-2009, 01:48 PM

We are tired of the humidity and extreme heat and are looking for a medium size city ... like Denver. However we don't want to live in the city but have access to it. We also want our family to have the skiing access within a reasonable drive. We looking for a community / town atmosphere that we remember from living in the northeast. You know, where there is truly a town center and not just a strip mall on a highway. We like the feeling of green and are not really crazy about the desert look. I've been researching the Evergreen area but after reading this forum I think there is a significant wealth of knowledge about this area among you folk. We have rented a house in the Vail valley for 2 months so we can do our research and enjoy august and September in the mountains. But we think the Vail valley will not have enough for us as far as entertainment in the summertime. So we are looking to be closer to Denver for theater and shopping and all that middle size cities have to offer. Sorry for long winded note ... any advice?

Mike from back east · 07-23-2009, 01:57 PM

Look in the index for threads on Littleton. It is one of several towns on the west side of Denver that should suit you, and it has a stop on the light rail line. There are other suitable places that other members will tell you about.

wanneroo · 07-23-2009, 04:00 PM

Having in lived in Vail for many summers I think they have TOO much to do! There is always something going on.

piperspal · 07-23-2009, 04:43 PM

I make it to Evergreen about a once a year. My last time through was September '08 and while I like the town a lot; I wouldn't really say
it has much beyond one or two commercial streets. Not even really "off" the main drag - they are sort of part of the main drag.

My niece has a home in Littleton and it's an easy hop in any direction to get to Denver or to the mountains - north or south.
Castle Rock is a nice area a bit farther south - though with C470, you can be on I-70West in no time.

I am surprised about Vail though - I am always hearing about all their festivals and summer activities.

LindyLou45 · 07-23-2009, 05:18 PM

Thank you for info.
We don't know Vail in summer ... just going for first time this year. I'm sure you are correct and we just don't know.

LindyLou45 · 07-23-2009, 05:20 PM

Spent better part of afternoon chasing the Littleton lead. Thank you. Looks very interesting.

sunsprit · 07-23-2009, 05:56 PM

As a 30+ year Vail owner ... the absolute "best" times of the year there are the summers and fall.

If you're into outdoor activity, mild summer daytime temps (altitude is why), concerts at the Ford Amphitheater, outdoor high altitude gardens, hiking, golfing, tennis, bicycling, camping, Farmer's Markets, Art shows, fishing (streams and area lakes), boating on Dillon Res (just over the hill) ... you'll not have enough hours in the day to do all the stuff at your immediate reach in/around/near Vail. And you still have the core Village area with the restaurants/night life ... if that's what you want to do.

There's a lot more to do in and around Vail in the warm weather months than there is during the winter when the focus is on snow sport activity.

Jerry Bckr · 07-23-2009, 06:24 PM

Check out Golden.

wanneroo · 07-23-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunsprit

As a 30+ year Vail owner ... the absolute "best" times of the year there are the summers and fall.

If you're into outdoor activity, mild summer daytime temps (altitude is why), concerts at the Ford Amphitheater, outdoor high altitude gardens, hiking, golfing, tennis, bicycling, camping, Farmer's Markets, Art shows, fishing (streams and area lakes), boating on Dillon Res (just over the hill) ... you'll not have enough hours in the day to do all the stuff at your immediate reach in/around/near Vail. And you still have the core Village area with the restaurants/night life ... if that's what you want to do.

There's a lot more to do in and around Vail in the warm weather months than there is during the winter when the focus is on snow sport activity.

Ditto that. Winter was always ok, but I never really got into it except for summer. Always enjoyed the summer. Winter is very narrowly focused on skiing.

Also a lot of restaurants thanks to the great weather set up outside, which I always enjoy dining outside.

Nothing like being down at 4 eagle ranch eating steak and watching the setting sun reflect off the new york mountains.

whoisjongalt · 07-24-2009, 06:55 PM

I don't think you'd be bored in Vail but if you want to live closer to the city, Evergreen is a great choice! It's 30 - 45 minutes to downtown Denver and it's about 70 miles to Vail. It has a nice little downtown, beautiful lake, good roads, and some really nice neighborhoods. Decent houses seem to start around 350k.