Moving to Fort Collins, Colorado

CooperSmith's Pub & Brewing, Fort CollinsWe are packed and are leaving tomorrow to head west. We will stop to visit family in Ohio on the way to Colorado.

Fort Collins is home of Colorado State University, New Belgium Brewery, and was Money magazine's best place to live in 2006 (2nd in 2008). Looking forward to being back out west and seeing the mountains again. Goodbye Virginia!

Fort Collins, Colorado: The Best Place To Live

Population:  128,000
Home price: $215,000
Prop taxes: $1,700
Pros: Outdoor lover's paradise, good schools, very little stress
Cons: Tech dependent economy

Founded as a military outpost 60 miles north of Denver in 1864, the city is now home to a thriving tech industry (HP, Eastman Kodak and Agilent Technologies have a big presence here) and the main campus of Colorado State University. It is situated 5,000 feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountains, with restaurants (particularly in the Old Town section), nightlife (including four microbreweries) and culture and natural attractions like the Horsetooth Reservoir for boating and swimming. There are 60 miles of hiking and biking trails and most major roads have bike lanes. Although the tech crunch hit the city hard, the city is forging ahead with two new schools in the southern part of town. It already boasts the highest ranked high school in the state, and students in the district beat the state averages in all subjects at all grade levels.

Check out the 90 best cities: July 17, 2006: The "Today" show's Ann Curry talks to "Today" financial editor Jean Chatzky about Money magazine's top small cities, and the criteria used to determine a city's desirability.

Watch video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/13902390#13902390