COLORAD0 LIVING THE HIGH LIFE

Skiing is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Colorado, but the Centennial State has so much more to offer than just winter sports. Of course, you can enjoy the après-ski life in Vail, Aspen, Telluride, or Breckenridge —no lift ticket required. All these mountain towns have excellent dining, shopping, spas, and other ways to pass the time besides hurtling down a mountain.

Denver has several art museums, a 23-acre botanical garden, and a nature and science museum. The quaint Larimer Square historic district, now home to boutiques and fine dining, maintains the city’s Old West roots. Just a few miles away from Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheater hosts world-class musical entertainment in one of the most beautiful concert venues in the world.

Of course, the natural surroundings of Colorado are the real show stopper. In Rocky Mountain National Park, you can spot elk, bears, mountain lions, eagles, and other iconic wildlife. If you visit the other worldly landscapes, Garden of the Gods or Great Sand Dunes National Park, you’ll question how a single state can look so drastically different.

Anyone can find happiness in Colorado; the cost of living is just about the national average, the effective real estate tax is at a rate of 0.51%, and the income tax is 4.55% across the board.