Need honest opinion of Denver, CO?

My husband and I are looking at Denver as a possible place to move in the next year or two. He is from south Florida and I am from Missoula, Montana and from people we know who have lived there have said nothing but good things. Here is some info about what we are looking for/like:



Sunshine, mild weather, water, outdoors, good schools, breweries... being from Montana, I LOVE mountains and that rustic western feel while. We are fine with cold winters for the most part, as long as there are seasons and the sun shines (we lived in Pittsburgh for a few years where the sun doesn't exist).

I am a nurse and he is a dentist so we are not particularly pinching pennies but dont want to live in a closet in Santa Barbara for fortune, we would love to have a house on a lake or ocean...basically somewhere where we can have a boat and catch some fish, we love micro brew, outdoors, laid back people, pubs, concerts, quaint neighborhoods shopping, night life....We are both very close with our families (his are in Maine and Florida and mine in Montana) so the fact the Denver is a major Airport "hub" is great for us. What do you love/hate about Denver? Based on my info, do you think it is for us?



We are in our late twenties and looking for our dream location so any info would be great!Need honest opinion of Denver, CO?
You are definitely NOT describing Denver!



Denver is a big LANDLOCKED city. There is no ocean here!



I don't even know of any homes on lakes! The only lakes are public.



Water isn't exactly a major commodity in Denver...it's pretty dry. It's not as cold as you think, either...mild weather doesn't explain Denver, either...it's HOT HOT HOT in the summer, with violent Thunderstorms and the occasional actual tornado...LOTS of warnings. Winter is grayish, with only the occasional storm, but when they come, they can shut down the entire city! People don't know how to drive, and removal is severely inadequate.



Sounds to me like you want to live in the Mountains...look at least as far west as Evergreen. They need nurses and good dentists in the mountains, too.
I have been to Denver a ton of times and I have been lost in the areas Denver that most people would avoid.......and I dont know why.....it was great......Denver is one of the best cities in the world!Need honest opinion of Denver, CO?
I live in metro Denver. It's a cool city. Denver has everything you're looking for. Warm dry summers, fairly mild winters and 300 + days of sunshine.
A lot of gang violenceNeed honest opinion of Denver, CO?
Sounds great for you guys, except obviously there are no oceans here.
Love - everything you said, can't think of much to add.

Hate - the traffic, but that is the same with every big city.

From what you want, Denver seems perfect for you, it is for me.

@Dart - What city are you describing? HOT? It hasn't even reached 100 degrees this summer. DRY? Have you been there this year? Summer rain depends on if it is an El Nino or La Nina year, as does snowfall in the valley. Additionally, I've lived in KC and St Louis and snow removal in Denver is fantastic. It can snow 2 feet and the roads are clear the next day. The storms you are talking about are the afternoon monsoons and rain, yes, violent no. Tornados are only on the eastern plains.
So I've lived just outside of Denver my entire life (a town called Broomfield) and I think it has everything you are looking for. You might want to consider living in a suburb outside of denver if you want waterfront property and outdoors stuff. I like the city feel of life but cities like Boston and Chicago feel like too much for me thats why I like Denver its slightly smaller and less crazy. As far as weather goes it varies. This summer has been unusually hot and rainy at the same time. Winters aren't bad but that can vary too. So to narrow it down.

Love: Not to big, good shopping, nice enough weather, an hour drive from the mountains, nice people

Hate: Traffic, pollution, sometimes unpredictable weather, a lot of homeless people, some drugs and crime

Really the things I hate about Denver can happen in any city. I think you would be very happy in Denver or in a smaller town outside of Denver. Good luck. :)
The only drawbacks I can see is that there are not a lot of houses located on actual fishing lakes. There are a fair number of lakes but they tend to be located in parks - national state or county with land around them and no houses. This way everyone can use them. Many are large enough for small boats. You can certainly live near the lakes, and a state park pass is one of our first purchases each January. Some lakes also have marinas where you can dock the boat.



I think Barr Lake has a few houses on one end, but it is under the Airport flight pattern and most of the rest of the "lakefront" properties are on man-made ponds.



Other than that, it sounds like Denver Metro might be a good fit.