Denver, Colorado, is a real mountainside paradise and is simply on the foothills of out of doors adventures galore, with the Rocky Mountains solely a 30-minute drive away. Nonetheless, there are professionals and cons of residing in Denver that you could be not have realized.
I’ve lived in Denver for a yr to date and I’ve beloved each minute of it. Since shifting right here, I’ve discovered many good issues about residing in Denver, however there are additionally a couple of downsides to residing within the metropolis that I’ve sadly come throughout.
This put up will cowl all the pieces from the nice to the unhealthy, however don’t fear; the nice positively outweighs the unhealthy.
Listed here are the professionals and cons of residing in Denver.
Professionals of Residing in Denver
Listed here are the very best issues about residing in Denver, Colorado.
1. Accessibility to Nature
Arguably the very best upside to residing in Denver is its shut proximity to the outside. This record of professionals and cons of residing in Denver has to incorporate this level!
It solely takes about 15-minutes by automotive or bus, and also you’ll be proper initially of the epic and exquisite Rocky Mountains.
Most individuals transfer to Denver simply to expertise the nice open air in Colorado as a result of it’s actually an ideal house base to discover the state’s finest out of doors points of interest.
So many nice pure locations to discover are solely a brief experience away. Some stunning places close by embody Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, the Flatirons in Boulder, and Backyard of the Gods in Colorado Springs.
There are even out of doors locations proper throughout the metropolis of Denver, so that you received’t should go that far if you happen to don’t need to. Denver is house to greater than 200 parks all through town, and a few of them even have lakes with kayak leases so that you can have some enjoyable.
2. Superb Eating places
This record of professionals and cons of residing in Denver wouldn’t be full with out mentioning the improbable meals within the metropolis. Should you love making an attempt new and modern meals, then you definately’re going to fall in love with Denver.
Among the finest foodie cities within the western a part of the United States is Denver. Whereas it’s recognized for its excellent Mexican dishes, it’s additionally house to conventional meals like Rocky Mountain Oysters, which aren’t, in reality, truly oysters.
One other outstanding delicacy that locals love is inexperienced chilli. This sauce is placed on virtually all the pieces, from burritos to nachos. Plus, many locals even eat it plain by itself. This may be discovered at practically each native restaurant.
If Mexican food shouldn’t be your factor, don’t fear as a result of virtually each sort of restaurant possible is in Denver.
For an actual foodie paradise, go to throughout Denver Restaurant Week. This week-long competition contains tons of eating places collaborating who choose three dishes to function a three-course meal for lower than $50 USD.
3. Nice Nightlife
One other one of many good issues about living in Denver is the improbable nightlife. Many guests are all the time shocked at how nice the nightlife in Denver is as a result of it’s not an enormous metropolis in comparison with Los Angeles or New York Metropolis.
Arguably the very best spot for nightlife in Denver is Decrease Downtown or LoDo. There are tons of nice pubs, bars, golf equipment, and extra on this space, they usually’re just about round each nook, in order that they’re not that arduous to search out.
A number of of the very best locations for nightlife embody Coyote Ugly within the Denver Pavilions, Milk Bar on Broadway, and The Shag Lounge on fifteenth Avenue.
If bar-hopping for nightlife is extra your factor, then don’t fear; Denver is crammed with nice bars. A few of the finest ones within the metropolis embody Gaslamp, The Refinery, and The Ginn Mill.
4. Reasonably priced Lodging Pricing (in comparison with different cities)
For my part, Denver has comparatively reasonably priced pricing in comparison with different cities in the USA. Denver truly isn’t that overpriced for its location, and residing in the course of town received’t essentially break the financial institution in case you have a roommate.
My residence in Decrease Downtown solely prices about $1400 USD a month, and I cut up that value with a roommate. That is considerably lower than what I’d pay for an residence of the identical dimension in a metropolis like Boston or New York City.
In fact, this might range relying on the place within the metropolis you’re in search of lodging. Residing in a neighbourhood like Cherry Creek shall be considerably larger pricing versus residing in Highlands or 5 Factors, so that you positively have to buy round.
Pricing for accommodations within the metropolis centre can be fairly low-cost in comparison with accommodations in different cities. You will get a room with two double beds for round $90 USD at a three-star resort in LoDo proper within the centre of all of the motion.
☞ SEE ALSO: 10 Best Coworking Spaces in Denver
5. Sports activities Tradition
The sports activities tradition is well an upside to residing in Denver. Everybody right here completely loves sports activities, and there are such a lot of completely different native groups to assist and get entangled extra with the locals.
Arguably the preferred sports activities workforce in Denver is the Denver Broncos, town’s soccer workforce. They play at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive, which is correct within the metropolis and play primarily in the course of the fall and thru the winter.
For America’s favorite pastime, you’ll be able to head to Coors Discipline to catch a Rockies recreation. Plus, you’ll be able to attempt to take a photograph with the workforce’s mascot, Dinger, who’s a purple dinosaur.
The final nice workforce to see whereas in Denver is the Denver Nuggets, the basketball workforce. They’re a variety of enjoyable to observe and play proper within the metropolis.
If main league sports activities aren’t your factor, don’t fear. There are a couple of state universities proper within the metropolis, so you’ll be able to catch their video games for lots cheaper value too.
6. Numerous Issues to Do
You’ll by no means run out of issues to do whereas in Denver, which deserves a spot on this record of the professionals and cons of residing in Denver. That is positively one of many perks about residing right here.
Regardless of your pursuits and hobbies, you’ll have the ability to discover one thing to do and different folks to attach with. Denver is crammed with tons of actions for all ages, forms of climate, and even funds factors.
In case you’re questioning what among the best things to do in Denver are, listed below are a few of my private favourites:
- Enjoyable in Confluence Park and having a picnic there
- Taking within the view from Purple Rocks Park & Amphitheatre and strolling across the trails
- Trying out the gorgeous masterpieces on the Denver Artwork Museum
- Marveling on the crops within the Denver Botanic Garde
- Procuring on sixteenth Avenue Mall
However, that’s solely the beginning of it. There are quite a few issues to see and do in Denver to maintain you busy.
7. Simple Entry to Touring
Should you dwell in Denver, you simply have the remainder of the USA and the world at your fingertips.
A fast 37-minute prepare experience from Denver Union Station will convey you to Denver Worldwide Airport (DIA), the largest airport within the USA by sq. footage.
From Denver’s airport, you may get anyplace, and infrequently the costs are fairly reasonably priced due to Colorado having its personal funds airline referred to as Frontier.
Significantly, there are sometimes flights for lower than $20 USD spherical journey to must-visit locations like Los Angeles, Salt Lake Metropolis, Albuquerque, and Seattle!
Plus, as a result of it’s a global airport, it’s very easy to get anyplace on the earth from town. Make sure you use on-line websites like Skyscanner or Expedia to attempt to snag offers after they’re the bottom to avoid wasting your self some cash in your travels.
8. Concentrate on Procuring Native
Among the finest elements about Denver is that there’s a big emphasis on procuring native and regional as a substitute of from enormous, business shops.
Even the vast majority of sixteenth Avenue Mall is crammed with extra native retailers, although there are some business grocery shops sprinkled in.
The town hosts farmer’s markets, too, usually proper in LoDo close to Denver Union Station. Throughout these farmer’s markets, you’ll be able to assist native farmers and different native companies by buying their nice gadgets.
Denver has additionally hosted fairly a couple of “store native” promotional occasions the place it helps to promote the native companies in order that they may help get the success they deserve. Denverites (and Coloradans) love procuring native after they can, so take part on the enjoyable.
It is a nice method to preserve the money movement throughout the neighborhood, and it’s truthfully a win-win for everybody who lives in Denver and the encompassing suburban areas.
☞ SEE ALSO: 10 Cheapest Cities in The USA for Digital Nomads
9. Good Climate
No record of residing in Denver professionals and cons could be full with out at the least speaking concerning the climate. It positively deserves its personal level due to how a lot it attracts different folks into the neighborhood.
The climate in Denver is sort of all the time good.
I say virtually as a result of it does get its wet days and winter snowstorms that may add up to some ft, however unhealthy climate days are few and much between.
The wonderful thing about when it’s sunny, even in the summertime, is that it’s by no means actually humid like it’s in different elements of the USA.
Certain, the solar can really feel scorching in your pores and skin, however you’re by no means profusely sweating, due to the shortage of humidity at this elevation.
10. Tons of Public Occasions + Festivals
This level form of goes hand in hand with the emphasis on procuring native, however the metropolis hosts tons of occasions which provides to the numerous tourism think about Denver.
Every week, there’s certain to be some kind of occasion or competition you can attend.
The most well-liked place to attend occasions is at Purple Rocks Park & Amphitheatre proper outdoors of Denver. That is the first live performance location within the metropolis, and it’s an unlimited out of doors area surrounded by purple rocks.
Purple Rocks Park additionally hosts a number of enjoyable out of doors occasions like morning yoga lessons, health exercises, and typically even meals festivals.
Arguably the very best occasion that’s held in Denver yearly is Denver Beer Week. This occasion gives a complete week devoted to the native breweries within the space, and each occasion shall be beer-related.
Different vital occasions in Denver embody LeakyCon (a Harry Potter conference), Winter Brew Fest, the 5 Factors Jazz Competition, and Denver PrideFest.
Cons of Residing in Denver
As with all over the place, there are some cons to residing in Denver, Colorado.
1. Unhealthy Site visitors
Weirdly sufficient, if you happen to’re travelling throughout the metropolis, the visitors shouldn’t be that unhealthy. Even proper downtown in LoDo, there are hardly any automobiles as a result of everybody rides their bikes or takes public transportation to get across the metropolis.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re travelling in or out of town, the visitors might be so unhealthy that you might be caught in the identical spot for an hour or longer.
This tends to occur each day of the week throughout rush hour, so if you happen to’re making an attempt to journey in or out of town, positively plan properly.
With that being stated, you’ll be able to make the most of the specific lanes or carpool lanes if there are three or extra folks in your automotive. So if you happen to’re travelling with a bigger group of individuals fairly than simply you and another person, then the visitors most certainly received’t even have an effect on you throughout your go to.
2. The Elevation
One of many downsides to residing in Denver is well the elevation. As a result of town is 5,280 ft (1,600 meters) above sea stage, the air right here is so dry, and it’s very simple to get dehydrated with out even realizing it.
Along with changing into dehydrated, you’re more likely to get a scabby or stuffy nostril too, which is unlucky.
Nonetheless, there’s positively a manner round this in order that it doesn’t occur to you. Put money into a humidifier and all the time preserve a water bottle on you always to drive your self to drink water. Attempt to curb the dehydration earlier than it even begins.
At this elevation, getting out of breath additionally occurs loads simpler than you suppose. You might end up simply strolling one block to get someplace solely to be utterly panting after strolling at your common tempo.
So, simply be cautious of your strolling pace and respiration to just be sure you don’t overexert your self.
The elevation is each a professional and con of residing in Denver as a result of the elevation can be why town will get a lot solar.
3. The Metropolis is Landlocked
Denver is completely landlocked, which means that there isn’t an ocean or enormous physique of water anyplace close to it.
The closest place to get to the ocean right here is to take a aircraft out to the coast of California, which truthfully isn’t that costly if you happen to can journey flexibly. Nonetheless, because of this there aren’t an entire lot of water sports activities right here.
With that being stated, there are nonetheless a number of lakes and rivers all through Denver and the encompassing areas, a variety of which go proper close to the Rocky Mountains. So, you’ll be able to nonetheless do enjoyable actions like kayaking, canoeing, and even river-tubing.
Plus, after seeing the Rocky Mountains for your self, you received’t thoughts buying and selling the ocean for this mountainous paradise.
4. Laborious to Get Wherever With out a Automotive
After residing right here for a yr, I can simply say that one of the vital downsides to residing in Denver is that it’s practically unattainable to get anyplace and not using a automotive.
I take advantage of simply public transportation and strolling to get round, but when I need to journey anyplace enjoyable, I’ve to lease a automotive, and people prices add up.
So, if you wish to transfer right here or you’re planning on visiting, renting a automotive is certainly an expense you’ll should think about.
You will get anyplace in only a brief drive, like Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, or a cute mountainside city like Golden.
5. Streets/Sidewalks Aren’t Plowed
This is likely one of the cons of residing in Denver that most individuals in all probability don’t find out about in the event that they aren’t already residing right here. The roads and sidewalks are hardly ever plowed when it snows.
So, if you happen to’re planning on leaving town on a day that it snows, you almost certainly received’t have the ability to. They don’t even plow the highways right here, and infrequently they’re simply shut down utterly when the snow is simply too unhealthy.
It’s robust to stroll anyplace within the snow as a result of the sidewalks are simply piled up with tons of white stuff, which is one thing to remember.
The one good factor is that the snow by no means actually lasts very lengthy right here. We’ve had numerous snowstorms the place we had a couple of ft of snow, and it was virtually utterly gone inside a day or two.
Simply be cautious if you’re visiting the Denver space within the winter. You’ll should be versatile and be ready for any doable state of affairs!
Conclusion
Now you recognize all concerning the professionals and cons of residing in Denver. Fortunately, a variety of Denver’s cons can simply be curbed with cautious preparation, so simply attempt to be forward of the sport and also you’ll be simply tremendous.
Have you ever been to Denver earlier than? What was your favorite factor about it?
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