Denver vs Salt Lake City (airport, move, homeless)

[xeric]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

The Salt Lake CSA encompasses these MSAs: Salt Lake; Ogden-Clearfield; Provo-Orem; Heber (MicroSA) and Summit Park microSA. Population is 2,389,225 (2013 est.) Denver's CSA is 3,277,309. So Denver is close to 50% larger (1 1/2 times the size).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_L...ropolitan_area
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combin...tistical_Areas



Closer to skiing, yes, but what else is better?

Hiking in all directions. Relatively uncrowded to almost empty national forests and BLM areas in close proximity. Southern Utah canyonlands within a 4 hour driving distance. An inland sea to the east. Or to flip things around, Denver has virtually no public lands or hiking options to the east, and limited, overcrowded access roads into the nearest mountain recreation areas.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by xeric

Hiking in all directions. Relatively uncrowded to almost empty national forests and BLM areas in close proximity. Southern Utah canyonlands within a 4 hour driving distance. An inland sea to the east. Or to flip things around, Denver has virtually no public lands or hiking options to the east, and limited, overcrowded access roads into the nearest mountain recreation areas.

The kayaking is better here.

[DougStark]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but SLC gets terrible inversions in the winter which can make for miserable, persistent smog. However, it doesn't have the same nasty upslope weather conditions Denver gets.

Denver's smog is only a fraction of what it was during the 70s.

[Hipchik]

AKA Smog Lake City
NationalJournal
Smog Lake City | POWDER Magazine

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by Hipchik

AKA Smog Lake City
NationalJournal
Smog Lake City | POWDER Magazine

I had never been there until January and I was surprised by the smog. I am sure it is a beautiful city when it clears out. I wonder what that looked like 100 years ago.

[sammy87]

Originally Posted by Timmyy

I had never been there until January and I was surprised by the smog. I am sure it is a beautiful city when it clears out. I wonder what that looked like 100 years ago.

About the same. Its an inversion that traps a low layer of clouds down low. Only difference now is there are industries that are pumping into it and that air can't dissipate.

[123Al]

I live in Bore Lake City and can't wait to move someplace else. It's a very, very slow pace city. Denver has way more to offer in terms of nightlife, downtown etc. Salt Lake's population is not 100% LDS, however, the church still regulates almost everything and the LDS peoples rule the place.

The skyline is dull and hasn't changed in 5 years.

Yes, there are lots of outdoor activities, but you're not going to hike or ski every day. Denver simply wins on any other aspect.

TNX for reading.

[daprara]

few times i was in SLC it was nice but just a little off the tracks. You could figure it could infrequently turn bad. Just not right for a major city to have that feel.

[Ankhharu]

I lived in SLC before moving to Denver this year and in my opinion, Denver wins hands down. I couldn't wait to leave SLC. The inversion has gotten worse in the last few years. The air in general there is bad. No night life, archaic liquor laws. One positive, the closeness to the mountains, outdoor stuff is easier to get too. I hated the housing and apartments there. SLC is significantly smaller with fewer things to do, fewer options. There is definitely a news/information bubble there. LDS church although haemorrhaging membership, still has a strong hold on politics and lawmaking.

[DougStark]

SLC sure has an awesome setting, though, with mountains on all sides and a prehistoric lake on its shores! Denver's setting, besides straddling the beautiful front range, rather bores me.