10 Things To Know Before Moving To Colorado
If you or anyone you know is thinking of moving to Colorado you’d better listen up. No brochure or informational website can give you insider information like a real Coloradan can on the ins and outs of Colorado living. If you’d like to learn information that only Colorado natives know keep on reading. Here are 10 things you should know before packing up and moving to the beautiful and unique state of Colorado.
- Altitude Sickness is Real!
If you’ve never dealt with altitude changes you should know that Colorado is at a very high altitude compared to other states. The symptoms of altitude sickness tend to occur only hours after arrival. You could experience dizziness, headaches, or shortness of breath. But don’t let this deter you from coming to Colorado because your body will learn to adapt. Make sure to take it easily the first few days, especially if you have other health conditions. I’m guessing the crisp mountain air will grow on you.
2. The Weather Can Change at the Drop of a Dime
What I’ve learned throughout my life here in Colorado is to never put all your trust into the weather channels. They’ll predict a sunny 70-degree day in April, but you could wake up to a snowy 30-degree morning. There’s a chance that the snow could melt, and the weather goes up so be prepared. We all make sure to have a jacket in our cars, along with a tank top because Colorado’s weather is unpredictable. So, if you find yourself in Colorado pack a wardrobe for every season & keep it handy… just in case.
3. Coloradans Don’t Sit Winter Out
In most states when the weather gets brisk people tend to stay inside while schools and businesses close for the day but not Colorado. I’ve walked to the bus in 0-degree weather while hiking through 10 inches of snow. It takes a lot for schools and businesses to shut down here. We are well prepared for our common below freezing temperatures and most of us have learned to embrace it. When we get a fresh sheet of snow, you’ll find everyone running to the slopes. All the skiers and snowboarders will call out on a snowy day just to have the chance to ride on a fresh blanket of powder (A.K.A. snow).
4. You Probably Don’t Actually Know what Rocky Mountain Oysters are.
I don’t blame you for not knowing because I didn’t even know until a few years ago. The name is incredibly deceiving. Despite what you may think, rocky mountain oysters are not oysters at all. This delicacy is actually… bull testicles! The organs are skinned, coated in flour, and then deep fried. Sounds yummy right? I’ve personally never attempted to try them but anyone who has eaten them says they taste just like calamari. I think to eat rocky mountain oysters is a choice you’d have to make all on your very own.
5. The Tan Lines of Colorado Residents Can be Odd
With how much snow Colorado gets in the winter season it’s odd to think that there are only 65 days of the year where the sun doesn’t shine on us. That’s right, Colorado gets 300 days of annual sunshine. Because of the many sunny days, we get we also receive some of the weirdest tan lines. Some Coloradans head outside on a sunny/cold day in shorts, long socks, short sleeves, and gloves. Now that can cause some weird tan lines. But these can be easily fixed during our warm summer days when we layout in our backyards next to our blow-up kiddie pools.
6. Don’t Drive on I-25 from 8am-9am or 4pm-6pm if You’re in a Rush.
When I say don’t do it, I really mean don’t do it! With so many people figuring out how amazing Colorado is the rush hour traffic has gotten progressively worse over the years. If you decide to drive in rush hour traffic you might as well tack on another hour or two to your travel time. If you can stay home or wherever you are for a couple extra hours, I would highly encourage that. Not only does it suck sitting in traffic, but we rank 15 on the list of states with the worst drivers. But can we really put all of that blame on Coloradans or is it out of staters that moved here? I guess we’ll never know.
7. Colorado’s Price of Living is Not Cheap
We rank #7 of the 10 most expensive states in America to live in. To put that into perspective it is more expensive to live in Colorado than to live in Hawaii. We also have the second most expensive food prices in America. This is vital information to know in case you don’t have a career lined up in your new home state.
8. The Red Rocks will Knock Your Socks Off
Colorado’s red rocks are a thing of natural beauty. If you ever venture up to Red Rocks Amphitheatre it’s likely you’ll see people working out, doing yoga, or even singing up on the stage. If you’ve ever heard a Coloradan going on and on about how amazing the sound is bouncing off the rocks, just know that they are referring to Red Rocks Amphitheatre. It’s a once in a lifetime experience attending a concert here and I promise the long hike just to get to your seat is more than worth it. Make sure to stay hydrated during that hike however because you are traveling to an altitude of 6,450 feet.
9. Recreational Marijuana is Legal
This is a known identifier of Colorado to people out of state, but you have to know there are rules. You cannot buy weed in every city here. Each city has its own marijuana regulations and you have to abide by those. There are also restrictions to where you can and cannot smoke. Research Colorado’s marijuana regulations in order to stay on the right side of the law.
10. Lastly, the Mountains are West!
If you want to feel like a real Colorado native, you’ll need to know that the mountains are west. This is most Coloradans GPS. We also give directions by saying, “Drive north on Broadway” or “Head south on I-25” and if you didn’t know the mountains are west, you’d be very confused. So, if you find yourself in the Denver area lost and confused just look for the mountains. You’ll find your way around soon enough.
