Grand Lake

Grand Lake, Colorado is a wonderful small mountain town which lies next to a very large lake, hence the name of the town. There are numerous homes here all spread out and the town is definitely geared towards catering to tourists who come here to fish, hunt, and just explore the great outdoors Colorado has to offer. Although there are only 452 residents, there are numerous bars and cafes in town, many of which are highly recommended. The entire town is considered 'rural' and many of the homes have a great view of the lake out their back door. Driving through town you don't see many buildings that look out of place, as many are built from wood and really blend into the beautiful scenery all around.

Every time I've been to Grand Lake I've had the same feeling. Why don't I live here?? The townspeople couldn't be friendlier, the area is just beautiful, there are so many things to do here, and life just seems to move a bit slower. Although Grand Lake would be a wonderful place to live, it is also a great place to visit. The one drawback of Grand Lake is the cost of living. An average home here goes for about $365,903 which is much higher than the state average (by about $105,000), however, the median household income is lower than the state average by about $5,000.

Many of the residents work in accommodation and food services due to the many cabins and lodging options available to tourists. The next common industry is construction. Although the jobs seem to be here, because they are lower paying, almost 31% of the residents are living in poverty. The rate of unemployment in Grand Lake is also higher than in the rest of the state, although that peaked in 2011 like many areas of the country.

I would recommend anyone who is considering visiting Colorado take a look at Grand Lake, especially those who are into the outdoors. There are also some cute little touristy type of shops in town, cafes and local bars. For those who want a bit of culture while visiting, Grand Lake also has the wonderful Rocky Mountain Repertory Theater which has performances throughout the summer. Overall, Grand Lake is the perfect place to get away to.