Colorado

Located in the Upper Arkansas River Valley in the central part of Colorado (100 miles west of Colorado Springs), Salida (population 5,300) is surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, with Monarch Mountain looming at the southern end of town.  It is sandwiched between three national forests, 20 minutes from Monarch Ski Resort, and is part bohemian ski village and part working class mountain town, an unpretentious but hip place where ski bums and river rats mingle with retirees, vacationers and artists.  The lifestyle is laid back and primarily outdoor-oriented, with camping, kayaking, biking, bouldering, jeeping, rafting, fishing and golfing being daily activities.    Until about 5 years ago no one outside of Colorado knew much about Salida, but then a national magazine named it as a great place to live and the outside world started taking note of this high altitude hamlet.    Salida has a mature demographic with 45% of the population age 45 or better.   The cost of living is 5% above the national average, and the median home price is $195,000.  Homes range from loft-style condos to turn of the 20th-century carriage houses to ranchettes outside of town limits.  Crime rates are below the national average.  There is no public transportation, and there are just two roads in and out of town (2-lane U.S. 50 and 2-lane U.S. 285).   The nearest airport with commercial traffic is 45 miles away.
	Old fashioned in many ways, Salida has a reputation as a friendly place ("Colorado cool" without the attitude is how one resident put it).   Dating from 1880, it has a history as a railroad hub, a mining center and a ranching town, and its cute downtown is a time capsule of that early era (and is the largest historic district in Colorado).   Century-old red brick buildings with colorful awnings and banners house coffee shops, galleries, studios, restaurants, retail shops, banks, ski shops and outfitters.  The town is laid out on a grid, and the Arkansas River, a popular venue for rafters and kayakers from around the state, runs along the east side of town.  The river, a very busy spot during summer months, is paralleled by a lovely river walk with cafes and outdoor tables overlooking the water.
Fourteen fourteeners (peaks at least 14,000 feet tall) surround Salida, giving mountain climbers plenty of local challenges, and nearby ghost towns and old abandoned mines beckon to history buffs.    There are even a few wineries.  During the winter, a shuttle runs to Monarch Ski Resort where up to 400 inches of snow each season make it a powder-lovers' Paradise.  And after a day of skiing, soaking in one of Salida's hot springs is very close to a mystical experience.
While outdoor adventure generally takes center stage here, this easy going village also boasts a bit of culture.  Salida Aspen Concerts presents classical concerts; Stage Left mounts a full theater season, and the Alpine Summer Concert Series, led by a 40-piece orchestra, takes place from June through August.  The Salida Art Walk celebrates the local art community with more than 40 art galleries and restaurants participating each June. The basics of everyday life are also here.  There are some good restaurants, a large supermarket, an organic grocery, a movie theater and a Wal-Mart.   The Salida Regional Public Library has wireless internet (which can be accessed on the front steps if the library is closed) and is in a small, early 20th-century granite building that was partially built from funds donated by New York philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
The Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center is a 25-bed hospital that has been around for 125 years but is in a new building (2008).   It is a full-service facility, a Level IV trauma center and meets national averages in all specialty areas.  Medicare and Medicaid patients are accepted.   The next closest hospital is in Canon City, 40 miles away. The Senior Center of Salida offers congregate meals ($4 to $6) three days a week and has blood pressure clinics, hosts AARP potlucks, has free wifi and more.  The Upper Arkansas Area Agency on Aging provides further services such as legal advice, home delivered meals and in-home services. Salida sits at nearly 7,100 feet, so summers are short and cool with high temperatures in the 80s.  Winter temperatures are in the teens, 20s and 30s.  There is very little rain and practically no humidity, but there is a lot of snow, 5 to 8 inches per month from October through April.  The sun shines 265 days of the year.

Recommended as a Retirement Spot? Yes, but... Have a town in mind for retirement?  Write to us and we will review it in a weekly issue!

Salida is very cute, with much of its original architecture intact, and it is friendly, unpretentious and an outdoor recreation Paradise surrounded by amazing natural beauty.   It is, however, isolated, has a small hospital and experiences long winters, factors that should be weighed carefully before making a permanent move here.

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