The Central Colorado region is one of the most popular in the country, not only for vacationers but also for people of all ages to relocate to. The reason is easy to see, because it's all around you here: the majestic Front Range of the Rocky Mountains is one of the most beautiful spots not only in the United States, but on the planet. The mountains spring from the rolling foothills to the east with startling abruptness, rising as high as 9,000 feet above the mile-high plateau on which Denver is situated. Each of the major communities in the region is linked to a particular summit: Denver and 14,264-ft. Mt. Evans; Boulder and 14,259-ft. Longs Peak; Colorado Springs and 14,115-ft. Pikes Peak. The Front Range runs from the northern to the southern edge of the region, and fills the western half. In that half, there are few roads and fewer towns, but lots of scenery and recreational opportunities. The population is concentrated in the foothills to the east. Denver is the region's major metropolitan area; more than half of all Coloradans live in the area. Denver is the political and cultural capital of Colorado as well, and prides itself on being a thoroughly modern city in outlook and amenities, from parks and recreation to restaurants to its tolerance for a diversity of lifestyles and ethnicities, and its generally laid-back atmosphere. Boulder, to the north, is the home of the University of Colorado, and is even more determinedly cutting-edge and trendy than Denver. Colorado Springs, to the south, is a far more conservative city, home to a large military presence. But like every other community in the region, it draws a large part of its personality from the great natural beauty of its setting. [Less...]