Now that the snow is melting and the earth is rotating in our favor once again, we are going to experience yet another marvelous year is important.

Whether you are hiking Pike’s Peak of just want to take a nice walk up the Foothills, you need to make sure that you are prepared for the true nature of Colorado. First of all, having a stainless steel water bottle is vital. Not only is this a safe method of reuse for water transport, but this reduces the amount of water bottles bought in stores and gas stations.  Along with your water bottle, carry along some healthy snacks in your pack to keep your energy high and the body running well. Carrying things on you like cashews, raw almonds, unsweetened dried cranberries and carob chips is a great homemade take along trail mix to keep your energy and spirits high.

Making your way up those trails or sailing down a hill on your mountain bike, you are going to need a great pair of sunglasses in Colorado. The sun seems to just shine a little brighter out here and has a gleam that can burn the retina right out of your head. Make sure that your sunglasses have 100% UV protection and that they are polarized lenses for optimal vision.

As far as your clothing you need to bring a variety when in the mountains. The high altitude weather can turn on you in a jiffy so having things like a sweatshirt, pants and hat packed away in your backpack can be a saving grace on a hot summer day turned freezing thunderstorm.

Do you find that your feet get tired during adventures? Not with Chacos. The best shoe that a foot could ask for! Ask any local Colorado hiker/outdoors enthusiast what there favorite shoe is and this is likely to be it. Chacos offer bridge support that is second to none along with a warranty and comfort that is priceless. These shoes can be worn with jeans, shorts, on hikes, to the store. No matter—they are everything shoes! If you are not a fan of open toed shoes, Merrell shoes are a great hiking and everyday shoe for all the same reasons.

Of course, the most obvious gear that one needs to be a true adventurer is sunscreen. You may be hardcore and bad to the bone, but a nice and quality bottle of sunscreen is the best way to thank and protect your body from those intense UV rays.

Lastly—get a Colorado State Park Pass! This Annual pass will grant admission to you and anyone who can fit into your vehicle into any Colorado State Park. This way you can make a list of your adventures and conquests and live a true Colorado Adventure Summer!

American economy may be at an all time low, and times are surely hard for most of us in America; perhaps it is time to start investing in yourself and what makes you happy. Maybe today, more than ever, is a day to consider a dare-to-be-great situation and start exploring new possibilities! Every great story begins with somebody doing something that seems uncomfortable, scary, and even potentially costly, but if you never step outside of your comfort zone you may never know what you’re worth.

How does 7,546 feet (that’s 1. 439 miles) above the ocean sound? Maybe glorious panoramic views of the glorious visual splendor that Colorado has to offer tickles your fancy. You can take advantage of Colorado’s own Rocky Mountain National Park, which was the 6th most visited National Park in 2009. Hiking, backpacking, fishing, camping, birdwatching, and so much more are waiting for anybody who is daring and caring enough to venture to Estes Park, CO.

For those of us already living in Colorado, why don’t we start using what CO have to offer? Take a risk, live the gamble, and dare to move closer to God’s majesty incarnate. Estes Park, CO has all the luxuries and wonder of any small town and so very much more. Estes Park has over 140 stores and shops that offer local goods as well as national products, and offers more than 120 restaurants. Estes even offers a great single scene, with 40% of it’s local population finding themselves without a life partner and nearly 20% of the population between 18 and 34.

Now is the time, and Estes Park is the place if you are considering relocating your life to a place where you can be a true Coloradoan. Why not move to a place where the most challenging day-to-day choices can be what you love most about the place you live?

It goes back as far as 1936, where a law stated the ban on firearms in national parks, declaring such parks and monuments to being sanctuaries for wildlife. However starting today, bringing your gun to Rocky Mountain National Park will be legal. In national parks nationwide, a provision in a 2009 federal credit card reform law drops the decades-old ban on carrying loaded guns — including semiautomatic weapons. The National Park Service from now on will adjourn to state law when deciding what guns can be carried into a national park, and Colorado among other states has determined this to be officially authorized.

“Firearms prohibited” signs are coming down soon and the rangers of the National Park Service will be trained on making sure they understand what kinds of firearms are allowed. In case you are a hunter, you should know that hunting within the national park will remain illegal and you cannot carry your firearms into federal buildings including the park visitor centers.

Rocky Mountain National Park Chief Ranger Mark Magnuson says “we’ll welcome (gun owners) as we would any park visitor” in response to visitors going to the park with their firearms today.

To read the full story, visit Coloradoan.com. What are your thoughts on this new Colorado law?

 From the moment you decide to move all the way until the day you are settled in your new destination, we are here for you, near far, wherever you are! We take pride in being an independent company and not becoming an agent of large anonymous van line. We also take pride in the name we have received as being one of the best moving companies in Northern Colorado as well as being locally owned. However, don’t be fooled to think that just because we represent Northern Colorado movers that we do not do nationwide moves. In fact, just recently, we unloaded a truck in Portland, OR which was then headed to Edgewood, WA then off to sin city, Las Vegas, NV before ever returning to Colorado.  We are constantly loading trucks and sending them to different places for different people and different reasons.

 Let’s just put it this way, our trucks get around… In a good way of course! Whether you are moving to Colorado or relocating from Colorado, we want to be your nationwide expert movers.  So, sit back and relax, just tell us when and where and we will take care of the rest. Trust us to take care of you.

Since we’re based in Fort Collins, CO we know a thing or two about our neighbor city that is just down I-25 from us. If you’re moving to Denver, or are considering moving to Denver, here are a few things to help and a few things to do while you’re there.

Planted at the base of the Rocky Mountains, one mile high in the Colorado sky, Denver’s access to the good life can’t be denied. According to The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED), Metro Denver has a population of 2.7 million people, with a growth rate that has consistently outpaced the national rate every decade since the 1930s.

You’ll find that Denver is growing, and is also a very active city. With the mountains, hiking trails, bike trails, rivers, lakes and sports arenas so close, it’s almost impossible not to get physical! And, with over 300 days of sunshine, it’s hard to sit inside and let a beautiful Denver day go to waste. Be ready to be outside!

Downtown Denver has a lot of amazing restaurants, night clubs and retail stores. With the mountains about 45 minutes away, you’ll find that you have a lot of options of things to do. It’s hard to get bored in this city. And, Fort Collins is about 40 miles north of the city, so make sure you come up and check out what we have to offer. Voted Best Place to Live by Money Magazine, you can’t go wrong in Fort Collins, CO.

If you need help with your move to Denver, please contact us  we’d be more than happy to help.

Moving to Denver? Here are a few helpful resources:

 http://www.denver.org/metro/moving

http://www.city-data.com/forum/denver/

If you’re moving across the country, relocating to Colorado, moving to Wyoming, or transferring to the east coast, we can help assist in your long distance move with our van lines. We are headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, but we move people across the country. We do national (and international) residential relocations and commercial moves. We even did a move to Nova Scotia, Canada! Check out our pictures from that move, it was an incredible experience. 

Van lines make it easier on you, the consumer and/or business owner when having to move your home or office long distance. We are certified and so are the people that work for us, and you can trust that we will bring you peace of mind for your long distance move, all in one piece. Have you and your wife decided to retire and move to a mountain city to ski all winter long? Are you and the family relocating to be in a warmer state because you don’t like the cold winds of Chicago? Has your office transferred you to a different office and now you need to move across the country to continue your job/career? If any of those moving situations apply to you, or someone you know, let us be your van line company. To get a free moving quote for our van lines, please contact us.

Whether or not you live in Loveland, Colorado or you are just spending the day there, there is something unique that this city has to offer to all, Benson Sculpture Garden.   As you may know, Loveland has been described as the “sweet heart city with a love affair for the arts”. As art has become the backbone of this city’s tight knit community, the Loveland High Plains Arts Council has been the major source behind the progression of display for the arts, particularly sculpture. Due to the undeniable amount of attention and admiration for local sculptures artwork, a group of 5 sculptures envisioned an outdoor exhibition and sale as a unique environment for artists across the country to showcase their work as a way to generate funding for a sculpture garden. The garden located in Loveland, Colorado has illuminated its beauty and uniqueness since 1985 and continues to host its renowned event each summer known as Sculpture in the Park, where over 130 pieces of artwork are selected to be on display. The artists selected are asked to provide newly produced work so the park represents different styles to ensure the park maintains a unique flare. Benson Sculpture Park is a great place to take out of town guests or just a place to enjoy a nice stroll with your sweetheart, whatever the reason may be the park offers a natural, relaxed, unique environment for just about anyone to enjoy. So, while the sun is still out warming all the beautiful fall colors, we encourage you to check out this must see park in Loveland, Colorado.

If you are thinking about moving or relocating your business to the state of Colorado, there is one thing we must warn you about, the weather! Most people assume that Colorado is always snowing and freezing cold, however this is far from the truth (except for today of course). Unlike many states, Colorado does have four seasons. It may come as a surprise but Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine but that does not mean that is does not and will not get cold, in fact, we have weather that even the weather forecasters  have a hard time predicting. One day will be beautiful blue skies and the next will be a winter storm warning with school closures, take this last week for example. If you are moving to Colorado, we warn you to prepare yourself for all occasions because you will probably experience all four seasons in just one week. Rest assured that the people of Colorado seem to always find ways to enjoy their days outside whether it is hot or cold. However, moving in the hot heat or snowy conditions may not sound like a fun idea, but that’s where we come in. Let us help your transition by being the movers you turn to when moving to Colorado. Not only will we help move you into your new home, we’ll help you ease into the idea of the ever changing weather patterns. So we wanted to warn you of the weather in Colorado, to say the least, our weather patterns are unpredictable and keep you on your toes but that is what keeps Colorado an active place and don’t worry, we have outdoor activities for any weather occasion that may come as a surprise.

There are an unfortunate number of untrustworthy moving companies which pervade our industry and give it a bit of a black eye. There are, however, a number of ways to make sure you are hiring a moving company in Colorado with a good reputation, a history of successful moves, and protection for you and your property during the moving process.

We’ve compiled a list of things you should consider when searching for a moving company, inspired by suggestions from AMSA, the Better Business Bureau, and MovingScam.com:

Ask friends, relatives and co-workers about a reliable moving company in Colorado. A first-hand recommendation is far more reliable than ads from companies themselves.

Visit www.movingscam.com to make sure the mover you’re considering doesn’t have a sordid past! To find out which movers have deservedly bad reputations, MovingScam.com has a blacklist, an active message board, and a ton of helpful information.

If your move involves travel within the State of Colorado, don’t do business with a mover that is not registered with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC requires all movers to be registered, which in turn means they must have vehicle, cargo, and general liability insurance. You don’t want to use a moving company Colorado doesn’t list as having this kind of insurance. Hint: Look for their PUC # number placed prominently in their phone book advertising.

Check with the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) at www.moving.orgto find out more information about a company, and to see if the company is an AMSA member, or better yet, if they are an AMSA Certified Mover. Exodus is one of two in Colorado who are!

Make sure that you’re considering a moving company which Colorado’s Better Business Bureau lists as a member. Check the Bureau’s website at www.bbb.org. By the way: did you know that Exodus moved the Mountain States BBB in Northern Colorado?

Avoid Internet-sourced movers. Internet brokers are anonymous and can often be hard to track down when you have a dispute or dilemma. Many victims of moving scams report that they found the ‘virtual company’ online. A website (like ours!) is commonplace for businesses, but make sure to find a local, professional mover with a stellar reputation – a hometown firm that moves people nationwide, and who will give you a reasonable cost of moving estimate. (Beware low ball quotes that are “too good to be true.” They probably are!)

Make sure the company will not subcontract out your move. Clarify that the mover who gives you your cost of moving estimate will be the mover who shows up on moving day—if another mover appears, fire them on the spot!

Don’t be afraid to ask for as much information about your mover as possible: get Department of Transportation (DOT) license numbers, dates of operation, owners’ names, and references—which you should then follow up and call.

Make sure your mover does regular drug testing and full background checks of all their employees. And this should be mandatory: determine that they are on the payroll! You don’t want temporary, untrained labor borrowed for your job and then have them take off for parts unknown – with your stuff!

Get solid estimates, read the contracts line by line, and compare them.

Adequately cover your goods – most companies have several valuation options to cover your belongings.

At Exodus Moving & Storage, we’re very proud that we meet our own stringent standards for excellence. We’re not afraid to be held up against the competition, because we know our reputation and quality of service stand up to the test.

There are an unfortunate number of untrustworthy moving companies which pervade our industry and give it a bit of a black eye. There are, however, a number of ways to make sure you are hiring a moving company in Colorado with a good reputation, a history of successful moves, and protection for you and your property during the moving process.

We’ve compiled a list of things you should consider when searching for a moving company, inspired by suggestions from AMSA, the Better Business Bureau, and MovingScam.com:

• Ask friends, relatives and co-workers about a reliable moving company in Colorado. A first-hand recommendation is far more reliable than ads from companies themselves.

• Visit www.movingscam.com to make sure the mover you’re considering doesn’t have a sordid past! To find out which movers have deservedly bad reputations, MovingScam.com has a blacklist, an active message board, and a ton of helpful information.

• If your move involves travel within the State of Colorado, don’t do business with a mover that is not registered with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The PUC requires all movers to be registered, which in turn means they must have vehicle, cargo, and general liability insurance. You don’t want to use a moving company Colorado doesn’t list as having this kind of insurance. Hint: Look for their PUC # number placed prominently in their phone book advertising.

• Check with the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) at www.moving.orgto find out more information about a company, and to see if the company is an AMSA member, or better yet, if they are an AMSA Certified Mover. Exodus is one of two in Colorado who are!

• Make sure that you’re considering a moving company which Colorado’s Better Business Bureau lists as a member. Check the Bureau’s website at www.bbb.org. By the way: did you know that Exodus moved the Mountain States BBB in Northern Colorado?

• Avoid Internet-sourced movers. Internet brokers are anonymous and can often be hard to track down when you have a dispute or dilemma. Many victims of moving scams report that they found the ‘virtual company’ online. A website (like ours!) is commonplace for businesses, but make sure to find a local, professional mover with a stellar reputation – a hometown firm that moves people nationwide, and who will give you a reasonable cost of moving estimate. (Beware low ball quotes that are “too good to be true.” They probably are!)

• Make sure the company will not subcontract out your move. Clarify that the mover who gives you your cost of moving estimate will be the mover who shows up on moving day—if another mover appears, fire them on the spot!

• Don’t be afraid to ask for as much information about your mover as possible: get Department of Transportation (DOT) license numbers, dates of operation, owners’ names, and references—which you should then follow up and call.

• Make sure your mover does regular drug testing and full background checks of all their employees. And this should be mandatory: determine that they are on the payroll! You don’t want temporary, untrained labor borrowed for your job and then have them take off for parts unknown – with your stuff!

• Get solid estimates, read the contracts line by line, and compare them.

• Adequately cover your goods – most companies have several valuation options to cover your belongings.

At Exodus Moving & Storage, we’re very proud that we meet our own stringent standards for excellence. We’re not afraid to be held up against the competition, because we know our reputation and quality of service stand up to the test.