Author Topic: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?  (Read 4558 times)

yodella

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Hi All,
My husband and I currently live in the Bay Area, and are considering relocating to the Boulder/Longmont area once our lease expires at the end of May. We are taking a research trip in mid-March. What are your recommendations for things we should see and do as prospective residents?

I definitely would like to check out Mustache HQ but can't seem to find info about visiting/tours, so if anyone can tell me how to set that up I'd appreciate it.

A little about us:

We are working toward FIRE with 1-4 years still to go [large range because it's difficult to tell when/whether the equity from my husband's company (a pre-IPO unicorn) will amount to anything].

I am 38 and he is 35 and we are happily childfree by choice.

We lived in the Midwest up until last May when we sold almost everything, including our home, to experience city living for a bit.

He is into: biking, electronics, HAM radio
I am into: reading, cooking/baking, quilting and other arty projects, theater
We are both into: craft cocktails, house DIY/renovations, language learning, music

The Boulder/Longmont area is under consideration because the COL isn't insane, we have some family nearby, it has good access to outdoor pursuits (especially biking), it has seasons, and a decent job market. The fact that there is already an established FI community in Longmont is a nice bonus.

Our plan would be to rent for at least a year while we get to know the area, and then buy a home if we decide to stay.

Any and all suggestions appreciated. Thank you!

Aegishjalmur

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2020, 04:08:34 PM »

Red Rocks Ampitheatre: https://www.redrocksonline.com/

Garden of the Gods: https://www.gardenofgods.com/

For Bike trails, my personal favorite is the Clear Creek Bike Trail from Commerce City to Golden

https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/ride-colorado/bike-maps-resources/

If you like Breweries: https://www.coloradobrewerylist.com/brewery_city/boulder/

If you like Zoos, then Denver Zoo is awesome(and as an added bonus to avoid the crowds, if you get a family annual pass they let you in half an hour before general opening times from Memorial to labor day).

Denver Botanical Gardens is also pretty awesome: https://www.botanicgardens.org/

yodella

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2020, 07:51:50 PM »
Thank you! We have a family member who works at the Denver Botanical Garden so that's definitely on our list. I'll look into your other suggestions, much appreciated.

joe189man

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #3 on: February 06, 2020, 12:28:59 PM »
I would recommend driving around those cities and the surrounding areas like louisville, laffeyete, firestone, niwot in addition to boulder and longmont. all of these towns are quite different in personality and cost of living. the further north and east you go the flatter and more boring it gets

homes in boulder are $7-800+ and a few miles to the east in Louisville they are mid $600s a few miles could save $200k+

might want to look north also to fort collins - very bike friendly

jeninco

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #4 on: February 06, 2020, 01:23:53 PM »
I would recommend driving around those cities and the surrounding areas like louisville, laffeyete, firestone, niwot in addition to boulder and longmont. all of these towns are quite different in personality and cost of living. the further north and east you go the flatter and more boring it gets

homes in boulder are $7-800+ and a few miles to the east in Louisville they are mid $600s a few miles could save $200k+

might want to look north also to fort collins - very bike friendly

As if -- homes in Boulder are in the $1M vicinity since Googlers started buying them up.

If you're seriously considering the Longmont/Boulder area, I'd suggest finding a VRBO/air B&B and staying in both of those places for a few days. Check out the regional bike routes (https://www.bouldercounty.org/transportation/maps/bike-map/) to see if this might be a reasonable way to get around from locations you're considering. Check out different towns, and different neighborhoods.

There a fairly active arts scene based around CU, and I think there are other regional groups, but you would want to look into that, as well. People to bike with are fairly easy to find :^)

Aegishjalmur

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2020, 01:25:30 PM »
Here is the RTD light rail map:

https://www.rtd-denver.com/services/rail/rail-system-map

Looks like there are plans to build a rail system all along front range I-25 corridor, connecting Pueblo to Fort Collins. Which would be awesome.

I would definitely suggest driving around a bit and seeing what areas you like. Boulder will likely be the priciest area, so you go a little ways out from there you can save some money.

ApacheStache

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2020, 12:21:00 AM »
As if -- homes in Boulder are in the $1M vicinity since Googlers started buying them up.

Yeah no kidding. Boulder's proximity to the mountains and good breweries is great, but I personally don't see the value in paying the exorbitant prices in Boulder. While it's cheaper than living in the Bay Area, there are plenty of other more affordable and attractive areas with close access to the mountains. OP, it's worth noting that most of the Front Range will give reasonable access to the mountains and outdoor activity. You'll have some traffic to contend with but even as far East as DIA (Denver International Airport), you're really never more than 45 min from the mountains.

Also, the winter season starts to kick it into high gear in March, so don't be surprised in you're snowed once or twice during your visit.

Cranky

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2020, 11:29:02 AM »
I was snowed on during the 4th of July fireworks one summer in Boulder.

davidw

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Re: What to check out in Boulder/Longmont on a reconnaissance trip in March?
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2020, 05:22:02 PM »
As if -- homes in Boulder are in the $1M vicinity since Googlers started buying them up.

Yeah no kidding. Boulder's proximity to the mountains and good breweries is great, but I personally don't see the value in paying the exorbitant prices in Boulder. While it's cheaper than living in the Bay Area, there are plenty of other more affordable and attractive areas with close access to the mountains. OP, it's worth noting that most of the Front Range will give reasonable access to the mountains and outdoor activity. You'll have some traffic to contend with but even as far East as DIA (Denver International Airport), you're really never more than 45 min from the mountains.

Also, the winter season starts to kick it into high gear in March, so don't be surprised in you're snowed once or twice during your visit.

Yeah, I'd look around a bit more broadly. We were thinking of going to Boulder, but ended up in Bend, Oregon, which is not cheap, but still significantly cheaper than Boulder, with a similar mix of outdoor amenities, less access to a big city close by.

Depending on your tolerance for being somewhere small, I'd cast a wider net, as there are a ton of smaller places that are pretty cheap, albeit with various defects. Everyone has different tradeoffs they're willing to live with.

yodella

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Thanks all for the input! Our trip kicks off tomorrow. We are staying in Longmont for the first two nights and hopefully checking out a rental home on Sunday.

Are there any Mustachain HQ members who can advise me on the best way/day and time to swing by to check out the space?