Arvada

Nestled against the foothills just Northwest of Denver, this city has a lot to offer. My wife and I are both Denver natives and have lived in different parts of the city. However, Arvada was our choice to begin raising our family over 13 years ago. The people are friendly, the schools are great and the location offers some of the most spectacular mountain views to Pikes Peak, Boulder Flatirons & Longs Peak. I work with relocation buyers and Arvada is always a top choice - mostly due to the vast open spaces throughout Jefferson County with walking & bike trails and the convenience of commuting from one end of town to another with very convenient access to the freeways to head into downtown Denver or up to the mountains for skiing, fishing, biking, sight-seeing or relaxation. There's something for everyone!

I grew up going to Arvada to visit my Aunt and Uncle every so often. They lived on the west edge of Arvada near the Jolly Rancher factory, which was always fun to go visit. The area they lived in was spread out and had tons of fields to explore and play in. Arvada has grown quite a bit since then and there are tons of neighborhoods to live in. You can find small to large houses, apartment, condos, and everything in between. Many areas of Arvada are very nice, although some of them are older and a bit run down, depending on where you are. It wasn't until recently that I discovered Olde Town Arvada which has been nicely designed and has a ton to offer. There are some really great restaurants and bars there.

Arvada has the benefit of being in a great location. As it lies in between I-70 and Highway 36 there are two ways to get up into the mountains for all types of recreational fun. Although there are numerous areas of Arvada that have a ton of traffic, it seems to be concentrated on the major roads, especially those connecting to the highways, such as Wadsworth. There are also numerous lakes and reservoirs in and close to Arvada which is nice. Although the major roads seem to have an endless array of strip malls, many of the neighborhoods are quiet and peaceful. Shopping and dining is always close, but so are the comforts of home.

The largest industry in Arvada is professional, scientific, and technical services, although many industries are represented here. The median household income in Arvada is over $10,000 higher than the state average, but home prices here are comparable with state averages making the cost of living here good. In addition to this, the schools in Arvada rank very high when it comes to state testing standards as well as parental ratings. It's rare to see so many schools in such a populated area with all high marks.

Overall, Arvada seems to be a great place to live for professionals, singles, and families. There are tons of cultural events and although there are well over 100,000 people living here, it still maintains the feel of a smaller place.

Arvada has a great, clean, comfortable feel to it. The residents are mostly families, young proffessionals and golden agers. It's a great mix for a community that feels safe and provides it's residents with clean streets, a sense of community and lots of open space, bike trails and parks. Although we are only 15 to 20 minutes to Downtown Denver, we don't feel the pressures or the negative impacts of the urban city. You rarely see graffiti on buildings or signs, our proximity to the mountains provides us with great breezes to keep our air relatively clear and we have access to pretty much every amenity of the big city right within our borders. The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is one of the premier venues in the state for the Arts. We have a great mix of family owned restaurants serving great food. Olde Town Arvada is vibrant and has created an atmosphere similar to that of Golden, Old Town Littleton and some of our smaller Colorado downtown areas. It's a throw back to the simpler days. Small mom and pop shops, a brewery, winery, baker, butcher and maybe even a candlestick maker. Lot's of great little restaurants, some with sidwalk dining and a great library and community square for gathering and watching outdoor movies.
If you like the hustle and bustle of the big city, Arvada may not be the place for you. If you enjoy a small town feel that is within short distance of ski resorts and minutes from the amenities of the big city, this is your home.

As far as major Denver suburbs go Arvada is alright. Situated just 10-15 minutes from downtown and along I-70 it is a quickjump to the mountains for skiing or a getaway for camping year round The beauty of the location (besides the obvious mountain views) is that you can avoid Denver traffic for the most part if you are heading west, where all things good Colorado are anyways.

Arvada along Wadsworth is almost an endless series of shopping centers with gobs of chain restaurants and the typical Lowes followed my a carwash etc. There are many many neighborhoods sprawled out in Arvada and many have nice parks and sidewalks, some lakes and ponds. The cost of living relative to downtown or relative to expensive neighboring towns like Boulder is very reasonable in Arvada.

The city of Arvada does a great job of keeping the snow cleared and keeping things looking nice and there is a fair amount of middle class and a kind of lazy afternoon feel on weekends.

There are a few distinct blocks that act as the historic centre of town called Olde Town Arvada. There you will find some small locally owned businesses, specialty shops and cafes and a pedestrian area that is sometimes closed off for functions or activities. You can watch movies at what is called, Flicks in the Square or watch holiday parades or be a part of Halloween trick or treat night.

Although Arvada is on the west side of Denver, Denver International Airport (DIA) is only about 20-25 minutes most down I-70 eastbound. If you are looking to move to the Denver area and will be traveling a lot don't eliminate Arvada just because its "west-side". I personally think Arvada is a lot better place geographically and people wise compared to Aurora and comparable in cost of living to the east-side suburb.

As far as kids and family Arvada has great schools and an amazing rec center, along with lots of bike paths and walking trails. The neighborhoods are big and there are no lack of kids and dogs.