I left California for Denver and it's the best thing I did

A California native left San Francisco for Denver, Colorado. The weather, traffic, and lack of diversity surprised her, but she's happy.

• Julia Davila moved from the Bay Area to Denver, Colorado.
• She loves her new state but noticed some differences that surprised her.
• Davila misses the California beaches and coastal hikes but she's happy that she made the move.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Julia Davila, a 25-year-old project manager who moved from San Francisco, California to Denver, Colorado. It has been edited for length and clarity.

Growing up in California, my family always went on weekend hiking trips. We visited places like Yosemite National Park and made wonderful memories on smaller hikes, too. I've always loved the outdoors, trails, and exploring, and I knew I wanted to do more of it. 

I also knew I didn't necessarily want to stay in California; instead, I wanted to expand my horizons and see something new. So, during the pandemic, when I had to return home from college in Minnesota, I decided on Colorado. 

My partner is from Colorado, which made the transition easier. After lining up a job in the sustainability field, I packed up my stuff and made the move to Lakewood, a Denver suburb.

When I got here, I began exploring different mountain towns, and I learned how to hike in snowy conditions — something I didn't learn in California. 

Now that I live in Colorado, I love it for many reasons. Everything here is super pretty, and there's always something to do, like winter hikes through the snow. I have an endless list of places to explore.

But there are three things about moving to Denver, Colorado that were surprising to me personally.

1. The lack of diversity

I grew up in the bay area of California, which is very diverse. There are people from all ethnicities and backgrounds, and this diversity is also reflected in the food options. I was used to going to really good Asian restaurants and picking up a bag handmade dumplings to cook at home.

But Denver feels predominantly white. There are also a lot of breweries here, and I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but it does feel different from what I'm used to.

2. The busy I-70 traffic

I'm also used to traffic in California, but the traffic in Denver surprised me. More specifically, it's the I-70 that becomes packed — and it's crazy.

There are a ton of people who do day trips and head to the mountains. I learned that if you're heading to the mountains for a day of skiing, you will want to leave at 6 a.m., if not earlier.

If you don't leave early enough, you might be stuck in at least two hours worth of traffic. Then, on the drive back home, there's even more traffic to sit through. To me, it just felt so surprising how many people were actually out on the road that early.

3. The quick changes in the weather

I heard people talk about how quickly the weather changes and how you could experience all four seasons in one day. I thought it was an exaggeration until I experienced it for myself. The sky might be a beautiful blue, and within 10 minutes it's thunder storming. Then, in another 10 minutes, it's sunny again.

There was a time where I was hiking and the weather was warm enough to wear a tank top and shorts, then halfway through my hike it started raining and hailing. By the time I finished my hike it was warm again. This is very different from my experience in California. Now, I know to always pack a rain jacket in my hiking backpack and to always be extra prepared.

Overall, I'm happy I made the made the move

While I do miss the beaches and coastal hikes that California has to offer, I'm happy that I made the move to Lakewood. Moving has opened up numerous opportunities for me, such as starting a hiking group where I've met new people and made friends, many of whom are also Colorado transplants.

I also have a lot more fun as there's always a new mountain town to explore. It's been such a positive experience and I'm really happy that I made the move.

If you moved out of state and would like to to share your story, email Alyshia Hull at ahull@businessinsider.com.