What is the best way to get from Denver to Fort Collins?

Relocating to Austin or Fort Collins (or Denver)?

• We are a bi-racial (black & white) gay couple looking to relocate to either Austin or Ft Collins/Denver. We live in Boston and are trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. We are looking to buy a house, start a family and build roots. We are both into the arts, outdoors (we have 2 dogs) and a community-oriented place. We enjoy good weather and an open and diverse place given that we are a bi-racial gay couple (women). We have friends in Ft Collins who are trying to persuade us to move there but we have also heard good things about Austin. However we have also heard about Texas being very conservative which makes us wonder if we would be able to leave Austin and still feel comfortable. We understand that Austin is a bit more liberal than the rest of the state but any more information on this perspective would be great. Can anyone shed some light on the comparison of the 2 cities and which you'd prefer to live in based on the information we've shared? Thx

• Answer:

  Austin has always been a more diverse community than the rest of Texas. It has a tradition of alternate lifestyles that goes back to the 60's, very diverse politically, musically, and otherwise. Both Denver and Austin are thriving metropolitan areas so I assume that getting 'away from the hustle and bustle' means that you are going to choose a satellite community somewhere out in the suburbs. In Austin, at least, there are many different types of communities, the ones to the north tend to be more conservative than the ones to the south but all are more open and accepting than all of Texas outside of Austin. Most of the places I have vacationed in Texas, tubing, boating or hiking were also very accepting, it is really just the very isolated communities that remain as throwbacks and Texas is so big that they are not hard to avoid at all. Though I don't personally live an alternate lifestyle, I find that most people have become much more accepting of them there. I would really recommend visiting. Take a week and go explore the nightlife and the hill country both. They have plenty of outdoor activities, Zilker park in southwest Austin being only the start but a really great start anyway with open air concerts and also plenty of hiking and biking (think dogs, :D). Out around Austin there are great places to go outdoor activities too. As a native Texan I would just like you to keep an open mind, especially about Austin and its surrounding communities. I found it a beautiful place to grow up and plan on ending up back there eventually myself. The climate there is great pretty much year round where as Denver gets hit with some really bad snow storms. I'm not sure of the communities in Denver since I live in C/S currently but its nice here too. Personally though I would choose Austin, particularly the parts around town lake and the southwestern parts. Lots of beautiful things to do and see. Yours truly, an expatriate in Colorado Springs......I hope this helps you with your life decision since this one is one of the biggest ones you will make in a lifetime ....GOOD LUCK