state by state speak your mind about...colorado

[SwampG8r]

another state i hope to visit
i have never been so not much to say on this one
i have the idea its a very beautiful place
my chef is from colorado he seems ok

[kiva]

1. Much of it is beautiful.

Break it into three north/south strips (not equal in width) and you have plains, mountains, and the edge of the desert.

I miss it.

[CanonRay]

16. Lived there for almost thirty years

first in Denver, then in southern Colorado. A beautiful, fun state. Lots to see and do. Places my wife and I went to in the mid 80's and loved we haven't gotten back to because there are just too many. Best hidden gem: Black Canyon of the Gunnison, IMHO.

[kiva]

34. I live there for 40+ years, mostly on the Western Slope.

Loved Telluride pre-yuppiefying. Silverton, though it the drive was always freaky. I lived in an agriculture-heavy valley and miss the fresh veggies and fruit, especially the peaches *sob*...I am a peach snob.

[CanonRay]

35. My house in the mountains is for sale...off the grid

I can't handle the altitude any longer

[niyad]

46. I am so sorry to hear that you must sell--hope you find a fantastic buyer

[kiva]

52. So sorry to hear this -

several years ago my father, who had lived in Colorado for almost 40 years, had a nasty bout of altitude sickness when he was visiting family in the mountains. He was still able to live at his home (lower elevation) but it did restrict his travels.

I hope you find a good buyer and a place to live that you can come to love.

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Love Colorado. Beautiful scenery. Nice people. 4 distinct seasons. n/t

[niyad]

25. 4 distinct seasons--often, all on the same day here in fundieville.

from the front range west, it is beautiful. from the front range east--looks like kansas.

don't bother with colorado springs--apart from being fundieville, the mentality running this city is somewhere back in the 19th century. john sayles, when he premiered his movie, "silver city" here, referred to it as "the heart of darkness". I just call it a cultural backwater, with very few exceptions. I don't think it helps that it is surrounded by military bases.

[kaiden]

42. Colorado Springs wasn't always fundieville.

In 1936, my father ran away from home in Kansas to move to Colorado Springs, where it was the hotbed of liberalism and jazz. He got his first musicians' union card when he lived there. While he was still alive, he liked showing strangers his union card. I was embarrassed, but everyone seemed to indulge him kindly.

[niyad]

47. you are so correct--I think about fannie mae duncan, one incredible woman. on the other hand,

the creeping fundamentalism has been growing for as long as I have been aware, and lately seems to be accelerating. between fungus (aka focus on the family), new life, amendment 2, and being home to michele malkin, amoung other crackpots--it gets very depressing some days.

[pamela]

3. Love, love, love Colorado!

Definitely in my top 5 states I have visited. Spent a glorious weekend last year camping on the Animus River outside of Durango. Then we spent a few days driving and camping along the Million Dollar Highway. Just gorgeous. Loved Silverton and Ouray- pretty little towns with a wild west feel. Spent time at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and then on to The Colorado National Monument. That was one of the best days of my life. Went to Dinosaur National Monument from there- very cool. If I was on my other computer I'd post a bunch of pictures.

I'll never forget my first cross country road trip. After what seemed like days driving through Kansas, I was starting to think the trip was a mistake. Well, not really, but I was so tired and it just wasn't living up to my expectations. Then we hit Colorado and the Rocky Mountains and it was so worth it. Such a beautiful state!

[XemaSab]

4. I'd really like to go there and spend some time

[gateley]

5. I've only been in Denver for a day/night (en route to Ft. Collins,

and in Ft. Collins I was in seminars all day), but I liked the area I was in. Kind of a gentrified downtown area for tourists, maybe? Beautiful, crisp, on-the-cusp-of-Spring weather.

Would love to return and get to know it a little.

[DevonRex]

6. You will fall in love with it.

Anyone who loves to hike or fish or ski or ride bicycles should come here. Anyone who loves wildlife and birding should too. And omg, photography!

Sometimes you get snowed in and that's when you make huge pots of chili or chicken and dumplings or beef stew and just enjoy being together. Other times it's clear and sunny and you can do your outdoor activities no matter what the season is.

Last week I got pictures of a fox napping right next to my house. He woke up and raised his head and looked right at me and just went back to sleep. Later on he got up and trotted to the fence and sailed to the top effortlessly. He turned and looked at me one more time and then ran away.

Two days later I got a shot of 3 coyotes running through the open space near where I hike. That's right after I got pics of several deer along the trail.

It's one of the healthiest states because everybody is active and that's contagious. It makes you want to be out enjoying nature, too.

[SwampG8r]

7. correction

i have been to denver
but only the airport
and only for 20 minutes

[DevonRex]

9. Did you deplane?

If you did then that counts.

[SwampG8r]

53. yes walked over about 2 gates

[Nostradammit]

8. Grew up there - wish it were the way it used to be

before the developers had their way with the place. The mountains are gorgeous, of course and the state has so many different kinds of terrain, but the Front Range is now pretty much a strip mall running right down the center. Really, really, really dry climate. Like 'dry up your boogers in a minute' dry. Moved to Oregon to escape that dryness and boy, was it effective! Kind of miss the big snow dumps like they're getting right now, though.

And the skiing, my God, the skiing! Did not fully appreciate it until I tried to ski in the Oregon 'wet cement over solid ice' concoction we have here.

The people are generally friendly, though a little of that California plastic-y vibe came with all the refugees from California. Denver tries hard to shed the cowtown image but I doubt if it ever will. Professional sports is the official state religion and John Elway its official deity. Don't ever move to Colorado Springs unless you wish to start your own fundamental Christian mega-church.

There is no ocean to speak of, certainly.

meh - glad we moved.

[quakerboy]

39. Eh. I'm happy enough without the snow

Its not good for much.

Having made the same move, what I miss are the thunder storms. Lots rain up here in NW Oregon, but thunder and lightning are about as rare as snow.

Also, Elway can suck my elbow. He by himself is probably the whole reason I don't care about sports today. Between that and not liking beer, I have nothing to bond with "men" over. I coulda been a redneck good ol boy if it weren't for that bastard.

As to the no ocean thing... When in Colorado, don't order the fish. Just dont do it. You will never be sorry you didn't.

[Arugula Latte]

44. You can always get "mountain oysters"

[niyad]

48. behave

[Nostradammit]

55. My wife and my dogs and I once got stuck in a freak lightning storm

above timberline and we ran down that mountain with our hair standing straight up and lightning bolts crashing all around us.

We eventually found our older dog, who had always been afraid of lightning, shivering under a bush next to a creek about three thousand feet lower than where we started.

I do kind of miss the lightning, though, in a weird way.

I think you and I are spoiled by the food here. Every time we go back to Colorado I am amazed at how difficult it is to get good, fresh food there. Not just fish, I mean anything.

I also think you should be thankful to Elway for keeping you from becoming a redneck good ol boy. : )

[Arugula Latte]

57. We had unbelievable lightning storms when we stayed in the mountains

We lost a few pieces of electronic equipment in power surges, including a fax machine (this was awhile ago).

[quakerboy]

58. I avoided being in the storms

I just like them at a distance. Ive known a few who got hit. I just like it in the sky where I can see it, hear it.

I also really miss the sound of rain. I notice here in Oregon they insulate to the point you would never know it was raining out unless you went out. I remember the sound of heavy rain on the roof in Colorado. Its relaxing. Actually, on brief reflection I think I miss that more than the lightning.

I am sure you can get fresh food in Colorado. Meat in particular. I recall the yards out in eastern Colorado. But growing up in Colorado, after moving there from the coast, my mom tried to keep fish on the menu. And every single time, it was bad to the point of making me ill. To this day, even fresh fish that everyone else loves makes me ill due to the repeated experience of being ill on eating fish.

[Ecumenist]

10. Never spent any time there just passed through. Mr Ecumenist was stationed there and

tells me that he was, next to California, one of the most beautiful places he's ever seen.

[Motown_Johnny]

11. I lived in and around Vail for over 10 years

It is beautiful

and the people were great


I miss it




Ummm.... you have a chef?

[newfie11]

12. We are in Colorado often

We live on the border of Colorado/WY/NE and use the vet in Colorado. Do dog shows in Colorado and are down there often .
Yes it is a beautiful state with much diversity from east to west and north to south. Ft Collins is an awesome little town, Greeley has some of the most beautiful old homes, and like was was already said Silverton and Ouray are very much worth seeing.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. Mountains fuck with my head.

I'm a sea level sort.

That said, Colorado is beautiful.

[GoCubsGo]

14. I lived there for a while.

The worst mistake I ever made in my life was leaving there.

[kentuck]

15. I stopped in Colorado on my way to California...

back in the late 70's... I ran out of money in California and was able to make it back to Colorado and have been here ever since.

It is a diverse and beautiful state. The San Juan mountains in the south is the way I always imagined Colorado looking like in the pictures I had seen. Telluride is a must see - either for the bluegrass festival or for their film festivals. It has the largest waterfall in the state as a backdrop in the box canyon where it sits. Beautiful blue spruce and golden aspen surround you.

There has been a lot of growth, mostly along the Front Range, since the 1970's.

[librechik]

60. kentuck, I had no idea you were here

I'm a native been here forever except for traveling and a sojourn in S Colorado, N Mexico and S America for a few years. I love Colorado, have a hard time w the politics and conservatism. Denver is not a city w a lot of opportunity, but it hardly matters anymore, I am old and the climate is pretty nice.

We've been exploring parts of the state for many years--Telluride is most beautiful. I try to get up there a couple times a year, for the jazz festival etc

[MH1]

17. it's covered in A LOT of snow right now

I have relatives living there and have been to visit several times. Wonderful place. I would definitely consider moving there if a good opportunity presented.

Colorado Springs is fundy mecca but the rest of the state seems sane. They have apparently fairly liberal mmj laws.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Been there, love the dry air, gorgeous scenery.

Have no idea why I never ended up there years ago, when I was doing a lot of traveling, but did get to visit a few times, back in the 70's.

[hootinholler]

19. Fundie Central

Home to the AFA, Haggard ministries and other dominionist organizations.

Beautiful country and Mesa Verde is way cool.

[backscatter712]

20. Not all of the state, or even most.

There's the area around Colorado Springs, which, yes, has a lot of fundie loons there - that's where Haggard and his old New Life Church, the AFA, Focus on the Family, etc. are located.

But Denver is pretty liberal, as is Boulder, which is extremely liberal.

Where I used to live, Fort Collins, used to be red territory, but is now a purple area, turning blue. Also, some of the southern parts of the state, such as Pueblo, have a lot of Democrats.

[hootinholler]

21. Ok, yeah, that was a broad brush

Sorry. But the proximity to the Air Force Academy is troublesome to my peace of mind.

Is weed legal there?

[backscatter712]

28. Yes, there is MMJ in Colorado. n/t

[joshcryer]

40. Colorado Springs has a few dozen weed dispensaries. It's hilarious.

The "Christian Mecca" of the United States is filled with weed dispensaries.

[niyad]

49. the last 8 pages of the local independent paper are filled with mmj ads. the only industry that is

really growing around here, paying taxes, and the uptights want to get rid of it.

[joshcryer]

50. Just as many clinics have popped up, too.

Need a prescription to get the MMJ, so you need clinics to dole them out. It's a booming business.

[niyad]

51. it cracks me up listening to the hysterics about it. personally, I think some of those people would

be better off with a couple of those brownies or some ice cream.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Love it.

[2ndAmForComputers]

23. I want to visit Aspen!

Someday, someday...

[laruemtt]

24. lived at the foot of Pike's Peak

for 4 years in the 70s. went thru a lot of good changes there. went back in 2010, and when i laid eyes on Pike's Peak for the first time in 33 years, i was surprised when i couldn't stop crying. it's home in so many ways.

[Nostradammit]

32. I know exactly what you mean!

Was just there in December and that iconic chunk of granite still lives in my soul. It just looms over everything that happens there, never changing.

[Brother Buzz]

26. That mile high airport they have in Denver can be a bear

especially if you have twelve minutes to catch a connecting flight and lumping three gallons of the finest New Hampshire Grade B Maple Syrup (didn't need no TSA back in those days).

I believe I caught my breath by the time I landed in California.

[RZM]

27. The same thing happened to me, minus the syrup

I had to run to catch my connecting flight (which I ended up missing) and I was having a real hard time with it. I thought that something might be wrong with me. When I finally got to the gate I realized: 'oh yeah, that mile-high thing.'

Great state though. Been there a couple times.

[Paladin]

29. If You're Relatively Young, If You're Maniacally Into Physical Fitness.....

....if you can tolerate lots and lots and lots of really shitty weather (there's 21" of snow sitting in my back yard as I type this), if professional sports are of primary importance to you, if you can survive without anything close to decent Tex-Mex food being available, and if sitting in a backed-up major highway (I-70 during the winter) doesn't ruffle your feathers, then Colorado's OK. You're wise to confine your exposure to the state to short visits. My time in Colorado is drawing to a close, and I'm headed back to my home state of Texas. Thank you, God......

[SomethingFishy]

43. Yeah there is 21" of snow in my yard

but it was also 50 degrees today. And in the 50's and 60's the whole week before the storm. Colorado has more sunshine than any other state in the union. The yearly average temp is 50..

Nothing wrong with the weather here unless you don't like seasons.

Also traffic is no worse than anywhere else. I'm relatively old, not really into "fitness", can't stand professional sports, and don't like Mexican food.

Still I love Colorado.

Oh and I've been to Texas. San Antonio and Austin are nice.

[kag]

62. I'm a native Texan, too, Paladin...

But I've lived in Colorado for almost twenty years now. My hubby and I bought a house in the foothills above Boulder--in the VERY liberal haven of Nederland--and never looked back. His family is in California, mine is in Texas, so we're about half-way in between. Our kids were born here and have lived in the same house all their lives. We love it, and I doubt if we'll ever leave.

I do miss Texas a little. But I get to go back to visit family at least once a year.

For the record, I'm not young (though not too old...yet), not a sports or exercise freak, and don't have to commute on I-70. I, too, have a couple of feet of snow in my "yard" right now, but we have a guy who plows our driveway, my son and husband can shovel the rest, and our cars are four-wheel drive.

Say hi to Austin for me.

[Texasgal]

30. I LOVE Colorado!

It's a beautiful place. I don't get up there often enough!

[donheld]

31. I'm a Colorado Native

I've spent 43 out of 52 years here and can't think of anyplace I'd rather be.

[mrs_p]

33. Been here since 2007

Love hiking or snowshoeing every weekend. Can be a little yellow in the summer, which took some getting used to (I'm from Seattle-Tacoma area originally). Also really, really hot for me in Aug-Sept. But, the winter is absolutely lovely. And, Ft. Collins has an excellent microbrew and sustainability culture. Great place to raise a family as well, but still miss the PNW.

[Bluenorthwest]

36. What a State!

Crazy for Colorado.

[Arugula Latte]

37. I've been there many times, lived there for a summer, and I'm mixed on it.

Parts of it are spectacular, but I'm always glad to leave and get back to the coast. The climate/elevation combo is so harsh. I feel like a parched piece of leather when I'm there. It just dehydrates me completely, and I feel like crap. Also, the Denver area is brown and frankly kind of ugly for much of the year. The eastern half of Colorado is ugly, flat and largely treeless. Also, I hate being completely landlocked there with no ocean to escape to. I was starting to go a little bonkers by the end of the summer we lived there. (I know I'm a little extreme in my reaction.)

On the more positive side, the view of the front range as you're approaching Denver from the east (the airport is out in the boonies) is pretty awesome. It couldn't be more clear that the plains abruptly end and the Rockies start there.

We lived in the mountains outside of Denver and frankly there people scared me. A lot of them seemed like rightwing survivalist types. Boulder is cool and a pretty college town, and the city of Denver is pretty liberal as a whole. Colorado Springs/Castle Rock is a scary area with the four Cs: conservatives, christians (fundies), cowboys and cadets. ... I'm not a sports person, so I don't really like the sports-obsessed culture in Colorado.

The climate is insane. It can snow in June, then melt and be hot the next day. It can start snowing in early September, like, the first week of September. As I said, insane.

I was told before we moved there for the summer that we would fall in love and never leave the state. In reality, I was so eager to go.

[JSnuffy]

38. I would have been at Columbine HS...

... if we had stayed but my folks moved out shortly after my birth. Haven't been back...

[AverageJoe90]

41. Lovely state. My family went there last year. =) nt

[joshcryer]

45. Lived here most of my life, I think it's a nice represention of US demographics.

[limpyhobbler]

54. A lovely song by Stephen Stills.

[Blue_In_AK]

56. Colorado has some very beautiful scenery.

I love the mountains and the wildflowers in the summer. I lived there in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park when I was 8-15 and then in Denver when I first got out of college. Now I have a daughter there, so it's a good excuse to go visit sometimes.

[quakerboy]

59. I don't know why

Ive never lived near Denver. Ive never even spent the night in Denver. Ive only been through a dozen or so times.

But the Denver skyline is one that I recognize immediately, every time. Even If I am sleep deprived, waking up after a 6 hour sleep in the passenger seat, after having driven 16 hours straight, and not supposed to be in Denver but the other driver took a wrong turn, I still recognize the city immediately. From a bus, from a car, from a plane. I know Denver when I see it.

[LeftofU]

61. I've lived all over the US and in Europe.too.

And i will live no where else but Denver.

[Greywing]

65. Native of Denver here

I've lived in elsewhere in the US and overseas but everytime I did I couldn't wait to come home to Denver. The air, the blue sky and yes, the high altitude. I'm here to stay.

[Initech]

63. I love Denver. I have some great drinking stories involving that city.

Denver is a great city - the Napa Valley of beer.

[ellie]

64. I am moving there in two weeks

My husband landed a job in Denver. We used to live in Boulder years ago and loved it.

[Little Star]

66. Yep, add Colorado to the vacation wish list!!!

Yikes, there is a lot of outdoor activity for people a lot younger than I! It seems like it may be a paradise found if you like to do a lot of outdoor activity.

For myself, I would want to take in the natural beauty of the state by taking scenic drives. There sure seems to be a lot of that for the asking in Colorado! This paragraph from the tourism website just about sums up what I would be looking for in a vacation:

NATURAL BEAUTY
Discover Colorado’s stunning natural landscape. From the highest sand dunes in North America to 54 mountain peaks over 14,000 feet, Colorado has one of the most unique and varied natural landscapes in the entire nation. As you travel through the state, you’ll see emerald green forests, fields of vibrant wildflowers as far as the eye can see, picturesque mountain lakes, abundant grasslands and rich red rock formations. You’ll find many places to enjoy Colorado’s vast natural beauty. There are four national parks, five national monuments and 42 state parks waiting to be explored. If you’re looking for a beautiful drive, Colorado is also home to 25 scenic and historic byways, noted for their distinct qualities. They include ghost towns, ancient ruins, alpine tundra, some of the oldest trains in the West and much more. Wherever you go in Colorado, have your camera ready for pictures of the postcard-perfect beauty.


Official Colorado Tourism Website:
http://www.colorado.com/Default.aspx

[Renew Deal]

67. Colorado is a great state that I have only visited once

I went to Denver and then drove south. I loved the food. I'll never forget the train on street level in Trinidad, CO or the Garden of the Gods or the varying sunset times depending on the nearest mountain.