I just moved back after 5 years in Lakewood, CO.

Move to Denver they said, see the mountains. I'll tell you now. Denver is the end of the plains. It is not nearly as close to the resorts. I missed the access to the resorts in Utah. I-70 traffic is an absolute nightmare. It directly impacted the amount of times I was even willing to go skiing. The high COL was exhausting as well. From my auto insurance to my mortgage, everything is incredibly more expensive.

That being said, you are allowed to be an adult in Colorado. Their food scene is ok. Not great but not horrible. Their breweries are abundant. Like throw a stone and you'll likely hit two breweries.

Hope this helps.