> Denver's the biggest city around...

... for a really big "around". If you go west, the nearest city the size of Denver is the Bay Area. (If you consider that multiple cities, then Tokyo.) North, you have to go over the pole. Southwest, LA is bigger. Phoenix is in the same ballpark as Denver. Going east, probably Chicago or St. Louis. Southeast, Dallas. All of those are a really long way from Denver - at least a full day's drive, or a medium-to-long plane ride.

Pros: If you find pleasure in both mountains and farmland, you don't have to pick...