Loveland

I recently had the opportunity of spending a considerable amount of time in Loveland and really grew to enjoy it. The people I encountered were all very nice, helpful and easy to make friends with. Although Loveland came across as a relaxing place to live, the people here are vibrant and energetic Coloradans who love their city. There are numerous things to do here, especially being so close to the mountains. Several times I passed by a beautiful lake with beach goers enjoying the weather on the shores which were made for recreational fun. There are numerous lakes and ponds here and many you can take a nice leisurely walk around and enjoy nature and the many water fowl that come to nest here. Loveland seemed very green to me, which I assume is a result of the many lakes and ponds.

As for the housing, there seemed to be a nice selection for a variety of price ranges. One thing I did notice was that no matter what neighborhood I was in, the yards and landscaping seemed to be very well maintained. Granted, I didn't see every neighborhood and many cities do have their downsides, but here I never noticed one. There is a lot of outer lying farm land and open spaces which lend to the beauty of the place and give the illusion that you are much farther from the hustle and bustle of the city than you actually are. Located here are older neighborhoods with average sized homes, newer housing developments with large custom homes, mobile home parks, and apartments - something for everyone.

I never had a problem driving in Loveland, at least not as much as you do in a bigger city. There are some very busy streets which can get crowded during rush hour but I personally didn't feel it was too bad. On one section of I-25 which runs through Loveland they are doing some construction and it did slow traffic down, but that is to be expected. There are also a few spots of construction going on within the city, but detours are relatively easy to get around with not much of a time difference to where you are going.

When it comes to schools in Loveland, they are mostly rated above average compared to the rest of the state as far as state testing standards are concerned. They average is between a 6 and 9 on a 1-10 scale. Looking past state testing scores, there is an overwhelming approval rate for the majority of the schools here based on parent reviews. Like anywhere, there are the one or two who may have a problem, but these people seem to be few and far between.

In addition to the K-12 schools there are many options for continuing your education. There are several community colleges located here and Colorado State University is located just up the highway about 20 minutes.

The cost of living in Loveland is less than that of neighboring Fort Collins and Denver, which is about 45 minutes to the south. There are plenty of shopping options here so there would be no real reason to leave. There are numerous art galleries, golf courses, a sculpture garden, outlet malls and nature trails. Being located so close to the mountains, winter sports are never far away. This city has so much to do and offer it would be a great place to raise kids.