Fort Collins compared to the Denver area... (Loveland, Woodland Park: transplants, low crime)

[Ghostgecko]

I am just not feeling Denver. I've never been in Fort Collins, but am feeling it being closer to the range than Denver. I'm just not into the scene here, am more into hiking.

I'm also very put off by the people here. Very rude, unfriendly, and the dumbest drivers I have ever seen, on any side of the city. I am contemplating going to INDY, but there's no mountains there.

Any transplants from Denver to Fort Collins that could share their opinons would be great...Thanks in advance...

[Josseppie]

I went to school in Fort Collins and liked the town but to be honest the people there were kind of snooty like in Denver to be honest I would consider Loveland instead if you want more of a small town feel yet friendly people....

[iknowftbll]

Originally Posted by Ghostgecko

I am just not feeling Denver. I've never been in Fort Collins, but am feeling it being closer to the range than Denver. I'm just not into the scene here, am more into hiking.

I'm also very put off by the people here. Very rude, unfriendly, and the dumbest drivers I have ever seen, on any side of the city. I am contemplating going to INDY, but there's no mountains there.

Any transplants from Denver to Fort Collins that could share their opinons would be great...Thanks in advance...

Ghost,
Where are you originally from? Just curious. Because I don't hear people complain about people being rude in Denver very often. I think how you perceive people is all relative to where you originally are from. I've lived in the DC area and Northern Virginia, and wow, that is a very unfriendly area. People there will go out of their way to make sure you can't change lanes. I live in San Diego now, and people here are rude, but in a very indifferent style. If that makes sense. And of course, I am generalizing both places. There are plenty of good decent people here and in DC.
On that note, I've passed through Indy numerous times and find people there to be very friendly. But you're right, if you like good hiking, don't trade Denver for Indianapolis! Keep looking, you're certain to meet people there whose company you enjoy!

[tfox]

GG, Considering that the majority of CSU students actually come from Metro Denver, I wouldn't think "the culture" is all that different, and I've lived much of my life in either Fort Collins or Metro Denver. Many of those students stay in the Fort because they like the town, so I'd say a significant portion of FC residents have some tie to Metro Denver. Many of the rest are transplants, but I would guess that the transplants ultimately are from the same pool that relocate to metro Denver. Fort Collins also attracts a fair number of Metro Denver residents who want to live in a smaller town.

For a city of its size, however, Fort Collins has an exceptionally low crime rate with few areas that could be remotely considered "ghetto". Much the same could also be said about the nearby town of Loveland.

As for your comments about driving, I will say that if you live in Fort Collins, you'll never have to get on I-25 unless you're heading to DIA or the occasional trip to Denver. That's a good thing. Even nearby Loveland is generally better off accessed by 287 (College), or Shields/Taft.

[Josseppie]

That is true about not having to use the interstate when getting around Fort Collins however, the traffic on College Ave can be as bad as any street in Denver due to the number of people who have to use it. When I went to school there, in the 90's, it could take me over a half hour round trip just to drive to the mall and back from CSU. With out traffic it would be like a 10 to 15 minute drive round trip.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

That is true about not having to use the interstate when getting around Fort Collins however, the traffic on College Ave can be as bad as any street in Denver due to the number of people who have to use it. When I went to school there, in the 90's, it could take me over a half hour round trip just to drive to the mall and back from CSU. With out traffic it would be like a 10 to 15 minute drive round trip.

Traffic on College Ave is bad, no doubt. I find it rather ironic that Fort Collins traffic engineer is a guy named Eric Brake (no joke!) Still, if you know your way around FC you can usually avoid College traffic by taking Shields, Taft Hill, Lemay, etc to get to your destination. I-25 is rarely of any benefit given that it's about 5 miles to the east of College Ave, unless you are heading to Denver.

[bproven]

Originally Posted by tfox

Traffic on College Ave is bad, no doubt. I find it rather ironic that Fort Collins traffic engineer is a guy named Eric Brake (no joke!) Still, if you know your way around FC you can usually avoid College traffic by taking Shields, Taft Hill, Lemay, etc to get to your destination. I-25 is rarely of any benefit given that it's about 5 miles to the east of College Ave, unless you are heading to Denver.

I agree. Learn the streets find alternate routes. I rarely use College as a main drag to get from point A to B. I'm afraid you could complain about the traffic in almost any city of FC's size or larger... Trust me I have seen MUCH worse in other cities

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Josseppie

...consider Loveland instead if you want more of a small town feel yet friendly people....

Do this, especially if you like less crowded hiking and quicker access to RMNP. Lots of trails on west side of Loveland + walk'n around the Lake can be a nice trip, if you like stopping and chatting with folks who are not into the 'suburbia / urban rush'.

The advantage of Ft Collins is that it is closer to WY (especially snowy range). I find the locals in WY to be friendly (when you find one). Encampment, WY was nice when I dropped by last June. Powell, WY is friendly, as is Star Valley (Afton) except there are some folks bitter about getting chased out of Jackson by the $$$ immigrants.


Folks are also friendly in most small towns in eastern CO. (Including Ault... near Ft Collins). I look for a farming community rather than suburban or vacation destination town. I also like to find towns that have minimal traffic lights (Zero is preferred). That leaves out the 45 minute trip down So College Ave in Ft Collins.

Lyons, CO is another choice for you, and closer to the mountains than INDY !

[Ghostgecko]

Hey again! Thanks for the advice...I will have to check out that area. I've been briefly through Loveland and Greely area, but not for a long enough time to see it.

I'm originally from Indiana, and people are not generally friendly anywhere anymore, but that doesn't give people a bigger reason to be an ass about it. But for some reason, they do just that. You'll never walk past me and engage eye contact without a smile or hello. That's just me. Hopefully I won't lose that.

The other thing that attracts me to Indy is being two hours from Dad and a beer on a Sunday. That beats the current whole day drive from here to Fort Wayne (Yup, I'm also from a FORT!)

[Americana1st]

I cannot imagine going back to Fort Collins after living in Denver.

We, too, cannot "find our life," as I call it, in Denver. However, NEVER would I go to Fort Collins (lived there 22 years) again! I couldn't wait to get out. Never felt I belonged there, either.

People in FC are snobs, to say the least. They simply, shall we say, do not know their place. Clerks at stores act like they're better than you, know everything, and certainly are not service oriented (just to give an example.) We find it so ultra-boring there, mundane, monotonous, unexciting, you get the picture.

We're heading south, into the northern CoSpgs area. We find that entire area down there to be just so much more tolerant (ironically everyone thinks they are not) and friendly, w/ variety and diversity and the Old Way of life, if I may sound so romantic and frumpy.

If you really like hiking, why not think about transplanting to the Springs? You have Garden of the Gods, Mueller State Park (just up to Woodland Park) and Pike National Forest is literally slammed up against the Springs.

We haven't moved to the Springs yet, but we visit often enough and we are seriously looking for a place to live (have a showing tomorrow) and hope to be there within the next few months.

Denver (metro area) is just so...well, mishmash and mixed up and doesn't know what it is or where it's going or anything...I'm not really sure, but I can't get my grounding here either.

Best of luck! See you in the Springs, maybe, huh?