Things to check out in Denver when contemplating moving?

[RyeDaddy]

Contemplating a move to Denver, CO. It'll take 2 years for me to transfer up there, but I've decided to go give the work facility a look next week to make a final decision on whether to uproot or not.

I'll be heading up there on Monday and leaving Thursday morning. I want to see areas to live, and some general sights. I have no real itinerary so it'll be 2 days of just driving around the city and feeling it out. I'm more interested in life on the east side of the city because I'll be tied to living that way because of the airport(I'll be working there), but definitely want to see the best of Denver even if it means driving a bunch. I imagine the most interesting scenery is on the western side of the city by the mountains, but would love to get a view of quiet life on the plains also. Any areas to look at for settling on the east side within a 40 minute drive of Denver International?

I already am planning on eating at the Cherry Cricket for a burger, and dropping in to Mile High Shooting to meet the people I've gotten good service from. Anywhere else to go or eat that I need to check out? When you're into our hobby, any place I should drive out and see? Going without the family on this getaway, so no hours to keep.

Also, originally was thinking of settling in Loveland up north because we loved the place when we stopped there once on the way home from Yellowstone, but I think the drive will be too much with shift work. What say you?

I don't mean for this to become a debate on differences between CO and TX or anything like that, just looking for some help on what to do to get a feel for what living there is like. Hard to do in 2 days without much direction. The wife and I are into skiing, trout fishing and shooting. Only have one of those in TX, and long range shooting requires tons of driving here.

 

[roggom]

The east side of the 25 is good to go for the most part. I would stay out of Denver proper, not to derail the thread, just look up the gun laws.

I live in Firestone, and most of Weld county has grown, but still rural enough that there is very little crime. Pretty much everything is brand spankin new from clinics, schools, shopping centers(in the tritown Frederick, Firestone Dacono).

Erie, Firestone, Frederick, are still growing. Everything from 110K prefabs to $500K homes.

Loveland is nice, but a little pricey for older homes. There are tiny little quaint towns in between like Berthoud, Mead and Johnstown as well.

I was raised in Michigan (Saginaw) and bounced around all over while in the military. I am very glad I ended up here. I have to say it has been one of the safest place I have ever lived.

There are pockets of bad areas, but most are in places that were established a long time ago, i/e parts of Longmont, Brighton, Ft Lupton etc. ( I am only referring to areas near me)

I used to live in Aurora back when Lowry AFB was still open, fuck that place.


BTW Mile High Shooting supply is in Erie. You can also head up North a few exits and hit Trigger Time Gun club ( Longmont), they have some nice goodies as well. Cabelas is down near Thornton.

Not too many events next week, although the Nuggets play Portland on Tuesday 25th at the Pepsi center.

If you like to get out, this place has everything you would want. Hunting, Fishing, 4x4 , tons of parks (really cash in on that Lottery Money). Every sport from baseball, basketball, hockey , lacrosse, soccer etc. Rodeos, Stock show, car races, or go Lose all of your Money at the Casinos in Blackhawk.

 

[Nisils14]

Denver metro suburbia is pretty quiet for the most part. Some decent areas to consider that's immediate of DIA is Thornton, Northfield, Henderson, broomfield. Further west there's Arvada, Lakewood, and Golden. Anything thats in Douglas County is pretty much good to go, mostly upper middle / upper class there. Look out and stay alert in east Denver (pretty much anything that's on east Colfax), North Aurora, and Commerce City. If you're looking for burgers, There's a few I like. Sam's No. 5, Crown Burgers, Crave, Park Burger, Reuben's Burger Bistro. Cherry cricket is pretty good but I like the other places better. I'm still trying to figure out which ones I like worth mentioning, and I grew up here. If you feel like a little nightlife or barhopping there's LoDo (LOwer DOwntown) which is about 14th and Market. Colorado also has a lot of microbreweries, so if you fancy yourself a beer connoisseur there's many to divulge in. Tommyknocker, Breckenridge, New Belgium, Left Hand, Oksar blues, Avery just name a few. There's also the Coors factory in Golden, they run tours there all the time. You couldn't go anywhere better for skiing, lots to pick from (A-Basin, Breckenridge, Winter Park, Vail, etc). I don't really go for trout myself but most of it is gonna be mountain towns. There's a lot to do here so there's a little bit of something for everyone here.

 

[Phezzik]

Just my .02, I grew up in the western mountains of Colorado, lived in Denver (Lakewood and Thornton) while I was in school, and now I'm living in Loveland which is beautiful and pretty quiet, but a 45 min commute to north Denver (on a GOOD day). But this state has turned into a giant steaming pile of bullshit, and although it is beautiful and I'll miss it, I'm out in two weeks. I hate what this state has become. The worst part is it's all mostly minor stuff, but it always starts small. But that's just me.