I live in Jefferson County--one of the 64 counties in Colorado, and the one that has the slogan that we are the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains." It is easy to see how it got this name when you see the high peaks of the Rockies in the distance in our area! I can travel the world, but I doubt I'd find any place that can surpass the beauty that is here, and I'd like to tell you a little more about where I live.
My neighborhood in Jefferson County is nestled up to the foothills of the Rockies. The foothills range from 7,000 to 8,000 feet; the Rocky Mountains are higher--up to 14,000 feet high.
But we also enjoy many bright blue sky days and mild temperatures, even in winter. Our climate is changeable on the Front Range, but for the majority of the year, it is very pleasant.
Today, we had another snowstorm....wet and heavy snow that brings a lot of moisture, unlike the light powdery snows of winter. It will melt quickly when the temperature returns to normal spring weather. I am looking forward to a beautiful wildflower season, because in Colorado, "April snow brings May flowers"! Smile
Just a few days ago, we were playing soccer with our grandsons, wearing short sleeves in 70-degree weather....
...and today everyone was shoveling snow!
But there is a quiet beauty to the snow...
...and it makes our neighborhood look so beautiful!
I always enjoy seeing our neighborhood deer frolicking in the snow...
...they often come down from the foothills during a storm to look for shrubs to eat. In this storm, they enjoyed eating the blossoms that fell from many of the flowering trees.`
I often see deer in my own backyard.
It's nice to look out my windows and be entertained by my visitors.
I love that scenes like this still exist in Jefferson County...
...although in the three short years I've lived here, I am also seeing Jefferson County grow by leaps and bounds, with much more development in progress. I've watched this nearby neighborhood grow, and grow, and grow in size.
The Jefferson County government headquarters is located in Golden, Colorado, and the building design is based on President Thomas Jefferson's home, called Monticello. Jefferson County is adjacent to a section of Denver County where Denver is located--the capital of the state of Colorado. There, we have access to world-class museums, state-of-the-art health care facilities, arts and entertainment, sports, fine restaurants, and recreational facilities.
One of the best things about living here is the Jefferson County Open Space Recreational Areas, which covers more than 54,000 acres, includes 28 regional parks, and boasts a trail system that spans 230 miles! The beautiful South Valley Park is within walking distance of my home, and I have walked its trails many times. My husband and I are slowly exploring as many of the other parks as we can, finding beauty in each one.
This short YouTube video tells you more about Jefferson County.
I think you can see why we enjoy living in the Gateway to the Rocky Mountains! I'd love to know what you love about where you live--tell me in the comment section below.
Posts
