Moving to California – Days 3 & 4

After our long day driving through corn fields and spending the night in North Platte, we were SO READY for some mountains!  It took about four hours to drive to Denver from North Platte, and the whole way we were looking out for our first glimpse of the Rockies.  However, we forgot how totally HAZY the skies around Denver are, so you can barely see the mountains even from the city that is surrounded by them!

Mr. Moose arriving in the Mile High City

Despite the lack of visibility, we had a great time in Denver, catching up with some of my old friends from Peace Corps who I hadn’t seen in over two years!  On our first night in town we headed out to Beauty Bar, where we danced to Motown music and got photobombed.

Maureen and me, and some creepers in the background also posing?

Denver seems to be a city that has something for everyone.  It’s a great place to be young and out on the town, but I could also see how it would be easy to raise a family there.  Our favorite thing about Denver is, obviously, the beer.  So on our second day in town we walked around enjoying some happy hour microbrews and the beautiful weather.

Breckenridge Brewery has an amazing happy hour…1/2 price nachos and $1 off all drafts!

I found this “Bike-a-saurus” really amusing.

Build-your-own fro yo also happened.

We also got to catch up with Zach’s cousin Michelle, who lives in the awesome Five Points neighborhood.

Beautiful view from Michelle’s roof

Michelle was headed off to a pirate-themed bike party.  If only we had had the proper attire and bikes with us we would have joined!

We also talked to one of Michelle’s friends who moved to Denver from Atlanta.  I thought her story was really cool. “I was totally an urban shopaholic city girl.  I wanted to move to New York.  I only came out here on a visit with my sister because she paid for my flight.  Then we went to Red Rocks and I just started bawling.  Surrounded by all those mountains I all of a sudden got how tiny I was and how I really don’t matter.  It was amazing.  I decided I had to live here.”

Everyone we know who lives in Denver loves it, and we can see why.  It’s a big city with lots of life but also super accessible to all the outdoor activities the Rockies offer.  We could definitely see ourselves living there someday.  But for now, the ocean is still calling!