[jck_strw]

My wife and I are thinking of pulling up stakes and moving out of the South. Colorado has always been high on my list of places to live. Anyone care to give thoughts (good and bad) on living in Colorado? We're getting ready to plan a week long trip to scout the area sometime in May. What would you recommend we do (activities, restaurants, bars, clubs, etc.)? Not being very familiar with Colorado, we're looking in the Denver area. Good place to live? Surrounding suburbs nice? Any online realtors in the area I could check? Are there other parts of Colorado I should consider?

I realise this is a loaded question and a lot depends on the individual. I just thought I would get some general opinions first.

Thanks.

[phpbb]

When you come in May, be sure to leave yourself some time to tour the rukind.com laboratories and headquarters in boulder.

I shot you an email...

[phreaker]

if you got the money, go for colorado, man. for about the past 5 or 6 years, in late july, my pops and i have been going up to the Estes Park and Boulder Area to camp. we always keep an eye out for real-estate signs with pictures of houses for sale. ever since my parents divorced a little bit ago, weve had financial problems, and have been thinking about moving. were itching to find a way to get the money to live out there in the mountains.

in my opinion, there is no better state in america. then again, ive only been ot about 9 or 10 states.

theres a real nice little town between Estes Park and Denver. its called Lyons, they even have their own music festival. its a small town, but its really nice, and not too far from Boulder or Denver.

[amyjared]

Having been to all 50 states (another reason I am thankful for the Dead!) I must say that I love Colorado. I prefer Boulder to Denver and Crested Butte to Boulder, but the times I spent in Boulder were wonderful. Ah, breakfast at Lucille's. That being said, I prefer the coast (either west or east) as I don't ever want to be too far from the ocean. Just my two cents. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Laytonco]

I have lived in Parker (southern Denver suburb) for about 7 years, after having lived in Charlotte, NC, Raleigh, NC, St Louis, MO, Dallas, TX, and San Diego, CA. This is BY FAR the best place I have ever lived. I chose the suburbs for the 30 acres behind my house with Coyotes, Owls and Deer that hang around. It's quiet and peaceful! Denver is only about a 40 minute drive and is very friendly to the Heads. Jay and his brothers own several Dead bars such as Cervantes, Sancho Broken Arrow, Dulcineas, and Quixotes that host many dead cover bands and original World Beat bands like Juba Juba! who cover the Dead in their own way. Boulder is obviously Dead friendly and is a short drive from Devner. But the whole state is a kind state of mind. It's a priviledge to live in this state and we welcome every kind soul! Hey, come right away...join the party everyday!

[jck_strw]

Thanks to all for the info you're passing along. Keep it coming.

Laytonco--since you lived in Raleigh (where I'm living now, sortof), how do they compare? Please say "night and day"
I'm from Philadelphia originally and Raleigh and I are like a square peg in a round hole. I've lived here for 9 years, so I think I can safely say I gave it the old college try.

In Denver/Boulder/etc. is it possible to find a place to eat that's open after 11pm? There are no diners around here to speak of and the only place that serves food after 11pm is Waffle House and Dennys. Waffle House I'll miss.

[jck_strw]

Does anyone in the Co. area know the names of some good realtors? I'd like to start getting an idea of homes/prices/etc.

Thanks.

[tigerstrat]

The Springs area can be great fun (possibly cheaper than Denver/Boulder/ski-towns).

Fort Collins is a fun college town and has the GORGEOUS (pun-intended) Mishawaka outdoor amphitheatre just up the Poudre R.

Both are within two hours of say, Morrison.

Whatever you do, try to catch Shakedown St. Ted G. and the boys are huge fun... I would also recommend One Kind Favor, not from experience, but I know Scott Schwartz as a top-notch guitarist and singer, from his years in Chicago's Deadbeats and Why Not?

[Laytonco]

Oh Jck_Strw, the differences are endless. Now bear with me as i was born and raised in Charlotte and I don't want to be insulting to anyone. Most people I know who live in NC love it and would never move. but let's be honest, it is the South, the bible belt, and a bit rigid. I actually found Raleigh to be much more open than Charlotte, probably because of the University and Capital influences...maybe even RTP. Now for Denver, you will find a metro area of about 3.5 million, so it's quite a bit larger than Charlotte or Raleigh which both hover around 1 to 1.4 million metro. Plus Denver qualifies as a major market for TV, radio, etc because it is the financial and economic center of the Mountain West. So, we have everything; 7 major league sports teams, several major colleges and universities, the largest performing arts complex in the US outside of NYC's Met, and many many restaurants. Denver's downtown consists of 5 distinct areas running up from the Platte River; the bottoms (residential), LODO (lower downtown - think old warehouses converted to lofts, restaurants, bars), Downtown (office towers), Midtown (High End Residential and really cool bars along Colfax), and finally Uptown (Cherry Creek Shopping District and home of the 4th most expensive housing market in the US. It's funny to me coming from Charlotte, but all of Charlotte's uptown, as they call it, could fit well within 1 area of Denver like LODO. And yes, the restaurants are open after 11PM. That's about when we start to get cranked up around here...and guess what? You can buy beer on Sunday!!! How about that? I have been here almost 7 years and am still in awe. I havent even mentioned the natural beauty of the 14,000+ foot mountains that tower over the city, or the great weather, camping, skiing, etc. If you are ever out, contact me at laytonco at hotmail dot com.

[amyjared]

I second what Laytonco says. I spent many years in Chapel Hill (well, High school, anyway) and went to college in Wilmington and while I have great respect for NC and still have many friends there, I would much prefer Colorado.

[phpbb]

Two sites that will get you started:

http://www.zillow.com/

or a more local one

http://www.coloproperty.com

My freind who lives in Washington Park said that this realtor has 50% of the homes in her neighborhood:

http://resource.realtor.com/Display/?us ... d=12232572

She refered to her as the "guru", but I would have no idea.

Just to set expectations correct:

Although you can buy beer on Sunday, The liquor stores are closed, and I have a hard time calling 3.2% beer "beer". Instead I make sure I buy the real stuff on Saturday.

If beer is a selling point for moving, and I think it should be, there are plenty of Micro Breweries around that keep things interesting.

[jck_strw]

Thanks for the listings. Houses have basements in Colorado! Sweet! I can't wait.

Is beer sold everywhere (ie--supermarkets, gas stations, etc.) or only at liquor stores?

NC just passed a law to have the higher alcohol content beers. This is Budweiser country.

[tigerstrat]

Don't buy beer at a grocery store. 3.2!!! Is that still a law?

[phpbb]

Beer at liquor stores is regular, beer at grocery and convenience stores is 3.2. The microbrew bars and breweries will allow you to carry out 1/2 gallons (except on Sunday).

We just passed a pretty cool law that allows you to carry your wine home if you didn't finish the bottle at the restaurant. I have never put myself in a situation to use it, but its good to know I can.

[phreaker]

jack straw, you dont need home prices. there are woods in colorado, do what Mitch Hedberg does:

"if you ever get lost in the woods, dont try and find your way out, build a house!...Man, I have severely improved my prediciment!"