I came back thinking I should spend a lot more time there. What's not to like about the place?
It has cool cities.....Denver is hugely populated, but it's spread out enough not to notice, and it also has a pedestrian-friendly downtown, similar to Portland or Seattle. Colorado Springs must be one of the largest cities in America without a bona fide skyscraper, helping make it visitor-friendly, with a great daily view of Pike's Peak. I also spent time in the Denver-area towns of Golden (a modern day version of a formerly dusty western town) and Parker (a modern day version of a formerly sleepy bedroom town).
It has cool attractions.....The Red Rocks Amphitheater is a marvel of semi-natural modern architecture. The Royal Gorge area is a mecca for active folks, including white water rafting and zip-lining, the latter which I did for the first time ever. And don't forget about the mountains and ski resorts -- even in the summer, including the Breckenridge area that I visited for a few hours.
It has great weather.....The air is light and the sun shines 300+ days a year. Sure, it snows in the winter, but it doesn't get bitterly cold, at least not for extended stretches.
And last but not least, it has free-minded enough people that it allows the sale of recreational marijuana.....This cannot be discounted. Keeping some cannabis / edibles in the house is no different than having a six-pack of beer in the refrigerator. Except that the cannabis is safer and healthier.
