You should probably move to Denver, Colorado.

The Colorado residents would often say, "So why are you traveling here?" My reply would usually be, "It's climate induced tourism."

In actuality, the aforementioned reasoning is truthful in regards to my late August, 2019 one and half week, double AirBnb booked Denver, Colorado based hiatus and escape from the oppressive Austin, Texas summer heat.

Plus, I had never actually hung out and experienced any portion of the Colorado state and lifestyle. I was curious. What was all the Denver, Colorado best living city in America news and proclamations about?

So how did your virgin Colorado trip go, G.V.M.?

Well, overall it went splendidly. I initially flew and arrived in Denver, Colorado with my girlfriend. Her initial desire upon landing was to find an authentic Denver style diner to eat at. We embarked upon Sam's Number 3 for a breakfast style diner meal. After the meal, we both set out to find a legal marijuana recreational dispensary downtown. Folks, forms of marijuana have been legal for Colorado residents to purchase since 2012. The rest of America is behind the times.  Colorado is a futuristic state. Our federal government and hold-out states are essentially late to the tax boosting weed business and revenue party stream. Through google discovery my girlfriend found a nearby downtown Denver marijuana dispensary. This Dispensary was located in a very old commercial office building. We were forced to navigate up 4-5 floors of stairs, before entering this commercial office, rented and used as a dispensary.  We were informed, purchases were cash $$ only. The dispensary experience felt like a trip to the doctors office. We waited. Eventually our customer time arrived. We then entered the glass cased shopping area. My girlfriend legally purchased a joint, and my recreational rare self, decided on a tiny chocolate edible. Then we left legally with marijuana products. It was  that simple.

Next up on the Denver, Colorado experience was our first AirBnb check in. Our place was located on West 6th street & Cherokee, in the Baker neighborhood of south, central Denver. Our ground floor studio was immaculately updated on the interior, yet it was located inside a very old and classic building.  The 1 week rental space and host was helpful. The location was very central to Downtown and core urban Denver, Colorado. I then ate the infused edible chocolate. Next up, now under a  very pleasant and welcoming entire oozing body buzz, my girlfriend and I walked to the nearby Crazy Mountain and Tap Brewery. Denver has numerous, amazing, friendly, and welcoming independently run breweries throughout the city limits. Residents are spoiled by the sheer high quality and volume on in-town local breweries. These are not just Bud-Light bars, but actual In-House, in the city limits Breweries. Denver and Colorado in general is a beer connoisseur's paradise! On this specific afternoon, the Crazy Mountain Tap Room was lightly populated and bartender polite. Post-brewery we returned to the Baker Studio crash pad. 

While perusing in the bathroom, my girlfriend discovered our evening plans. She said, "A Shakey Graves concert is playing at Red Rocks Amphitheater. It's 60 bucks a ticket, but screw it, let's go!" So off we went via ride-share to Red Rocks. Red Rocks is a nature-lover's music venue. It is located west of the city of Denver, on the edge of the mountains. Red Rocks is a natural, historic and inspiring setting. As in the name, there are massive Red Rocks on the north and south sides of the perfectly inclined seating rows. The band's play and emit their bombastic sounds from down below. The audience listens to the music via acoustically elevated sitting rows. My eyeballs witnessing guesstimate is the venue sits between 3,500-6,000 people. Our show's crowd was fun, lively and probably hazily induced, just like us. It made for a very happy, friendly, and easy-going concert experience. Shakey Graves, an Austin-based musician, made me proud! He rocked and he lyrically yelled. At times, he played smoothly along with his band. Yet, a Shakey Graves show's true bewilderment commences with his 1 man band act. Before the entire audience, Shakey simultaneously plays the guitar, sings and stomps the drums below and behind with the heels of his booted feet. It is incredible to watch! When the 1 man solo band act really get rhythmically moving, and speeds up, it is amazing to the senses.

The next day's couple experience was a day trip to Golden, Colorado. I wanted to go and do the  COORS Beer Factory Tour. "Tap the Rockies, Coors Light." Again we left the Baker neighborhood to Golden Colorado via a pretty short ride share. Golden, Colorado is a very quaint, charming, small, clean and beautiful main street town in Colorado. It is closer to the mountains. The Coors Brewery Tour was akin to being given a factory worker's day pass. We saw the inside of the Coors brewery, learned the long pre-prohibition history of the Coors family and brands. We witnessed the insides, first hand creationist smells, production,  mass packaging and assembly line movement of the finished beer product. I can now view the grocery, convenience store beer aisle with a new perspective. Post Coors Tour, we easily walked around intimate Golden, Colorado. We both got our feet wet in the Clear Creek River. The river water was refreshingly cold in August. The river was being used for recreation by kayak paddlers and tubers this day. We also stopped by the Golden City, Independent Brewery. Thumbs up to Golden all around. Colorado is for outdoor nature lovers, hikers, skiers, snowboarders, health nuts and sporty enthusiasts. It's not the state for indoor hermits. Magically, there is basically zero humidity. It compares to California's weather with a Mountain replacement, in lieu of the beach. Of the 365 days a year, according to the locals I talked with, 300 of those days are filled with pure unfiltered sunshine. I believe them. The summer-time in Colorado is a human friendly and livable environment. Golden Colorado's vibe and small town genuineness was excellent! I would highly recommend visiting Golden. 

The next day, my 8:30 am - 5 pm corporate real job working girlfriend had to leave and fly back to Texas. As you'll see, I would happily remain and linger in Denver, Colorado. My next vivid adventure memory was an afternoon MLB Baseball game @ Coors field between the Colorado Rockies and the Miami Marlins. The Coors Baseball Stadium is an elegantly bricked beauty. My scalper tickets on the corner, were just 20 bucks total. The Rockies in-game experience was welcoming, well attended, care-free and joyous. The team's marginal record and limited history exudes a relaxed atmosphere to the game. Other than directly behind home plate, first and third base, a ticket holder such as myself was free to roam and sit wherever. My favorite seat at this particular Home Run Heavy Game was actually in the outfield. There were 5-6 total Home-Runs by both teams. The Professional Batter's launch angles were working at this game! At one point, Charlie Blackmon, the Rockies perennial successful All-Star was intentionally walked. The cool breezes, atmosphere and entire field views at the stadium were joyous. Not a bad set in the house. Post Rockies game win, the entire crowd leaves the stadium and continues the party in the LoDo, Lower Denver, Downtown neighborhood. There are ample bars and nightlife around the stadium. It's the happening spot in town, when the Rockies play. Larimer Street had lots of action, interesting drinks to choose from and live bands to listen too.

My next memory is that of attending Mile High Stadium for a Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49er's preseason game. This was my first in-person NFL game experience. The pre-season, mostly scrubs playing ticket price for this game was 32 bucks. Again I went down and sat pretty low to the field. The Denver Broncos fans are avid. The stadium has metal, "hollow" stands that reverberate to emit loud noises when fans stomp their feet. A nerdy engineering, yet effective home field noise-making sound enhancement. This ESPN Monday Night nationally televised pre-season game was still people packed. Inside the stadium I learned NFL "Blue Collar" Fans get drunk! The booze and energy level of the patrons was noticeable. NFL fans love to spend money, drink, party, let loose, heckle, and get after it. A fellow season ticket holder and engaging row-mate said the Denver Broncos versus Oakland Raiders games can potentially get adversarial and physically dangerous. He said to be wary and on your guard if you ever attend that rivalry game. He said regular season tickets are even more expensive and are usually sold out. He said he'd never bring his daughter to a regular season game, for overall safety concerns. In-person NFL games can get rambunctious! You get to skip the NFL atmosphere when you watch the games on television. The NFL ticket paying fan interest, booze level and energy is strong.

So G.V.M did you get any culture and arts in? Well yes I did. I attended 3 Museums. They were the Denver Art Museum, the Colorado History Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver. The Denver Mint was closed on the day I tried to gain entry. My favorite Museum of the 3, was the Colorado History Center. I learned the divisive and confrontational Native American and Settler history of the territory and state. The History center highlighted the Gold Rush, Mining, Skiing, Unionist and Brewing pasts of the state.

As I researched the continuing 100 degree plus heat in Austin, Texas, I consciously decided to continue the Denver, "No Humidity" vacation. This second Airbnb was a 1 full bedroom Attic in the Berkeley, North Highlands neighborhood of Denver. This North West Denver neighborhood circa Sloan Lake, the Highlands, and Berkeley was  yuppie filled, classier, cleaner and overall nicer than the grimy, edge, bum littered, alternative feeling Baker neighborhood. The Highlands neighborhood was located just west of RiNo and Lo-Do, in Downtown Denver. The Highlands neighborhood is walk-able, bike-able and had ample commercial places to eat, drink, and be merry. While in my 2nd Airbnb area, I got a foot pedicure, I explored, I went to more breweries, I biked around, and I stopped in used book stores. West 32 street specifically had plenty of neighborhood stores. The most happening bar with a Rooftop Skyline view of Downtown and fashionable pretty ladies was called, Avanti. The Rhino (River North) neighborhood in North Downtown Denver is the artsy "Williamsburg BK" of Denver. RINO, a once warehouse only zoned area, has been re-zoned and is now diversified with ART, MURALS, breweries, eateries, new Residential Luxury Apartments, restaurants, and more! RINO is the growing hip and cool neighborhood of Denver.

On a random Friday afternoon, I took an actual BUS from the Union Station in Denver to Boulder, Colorado for 5 bucks. It was a roughly 25 minute bus excursion. The University of Colorado, and their Buffalo Mascot college campus is expansive and top tier. I visited the Student Co-Op and bought 150 bucks worth of gifts to ship back home to my nuclear family. The Boulder University Campus was spacious and the buildings had similar red shale exteriors. The collegiate fall class attending students appeared ambitious. A large volume of the co-ed girls were stunningly beautiful! Hmm, is it time for my 2 year graduate school to commence? The main commercial street in Boulder is called, Pearl Street. While in Boulder, I ambitiously and somehow successfully hiked Mount Sanitas nearby. It was a serious 4-5 hour hike and workout. It was an intense hike and trail highlighted climb. My Mount Sanitas physical trek upwards was steeply inclined  for 2 legit hours on the way up, with breath breaks sprinkled in. Upon Summit completion and respite, the walk down was 3 hours back to the town of Boulder. I'm still amazed I reached the Mount Sanitas summit! Post climb, my legs and thighs were sore and feeling it. Upon leaving Boulder the next day, my intrinsic review is that the town was over-priced and over-rated. It was NOT the cool hippie Birkenstock destination I thought it be. It did resemble a small, rich, over-hyped and word-of-mouth marketed white person town. I'd grade Boulder, Colorado with a C-plus.

To wrap this segment up, I personally think you should move to Denver. The Weather is cooler and moderate. The humidity is non existent. The locals informed me the sunshine alleviates the snow in the winter. Denver Colorado is expansive, easily bike-able, has been numerous nearby natural mountains, ample parks, plenty of housing, and friendly people. Real Estate Property owner taxes are on the lower end of the government taxing spectrum. Did I already mention marijuana is legal? This article hasn't even mentioned the peaceful residential living glory of the Cherry Creek and Washington Park neighborhoods. Denver, Colorado is rightfully a legit top tier American city! The Coloradans are a welcoming breed, and it's cheaper than living on the coasts. Grab your sun-shades, a jacket and a cheap airline ticket and just go. You'll enjoy it!