Vail, CO

I worked there for 4 years as staff. They do not have pediatrics dept there but they do get kids in with injuries and they do have a mother/baby/L&D dept. I would probably take a travel assignment or seasonal assignment there but I would absolutely not ever work there as staff again. They changed over administration in the past year and it is horribly managed on an administrative level. They talk a nice game but in the end it is all talk. There is a nice core of employees that work there but they keep their nose down and out of trouble as much as possible. For the area they pay well but that is eaten up very quickly by housing. Look at what housing costs are, it is absolutely ridiculous right now and only getting worse in the entire area.

The scenery is beautiful though which is why I would say do it as a traveler to get that experience. Winter is great for snow sports but it is cold and snowy, very snowy, for 4-6 months from the end of oct until april usually. The summer is great but short, august.... I would not give up the experience or friends I made there but if I could do it over again I would do it for an assignment or two during the prime times to be there.

Also, it is very busy tourism wise, all year there are people coming in and enjoying the area and it gets extremely crowded now. They set a new record for visitors every year for the past 4 years. My first two years there were fairly nice in the offseason where it was quiet just before and after the mountain was doing winter/summer business hours, then summer was fairly mellow too. Now it is crowded and busy year round.

Also, there are great childrens hospitals in Denver. If your husband could get an assignment or job in Summit County at the Centura Health hospital there, it is about 60 minutes drive to Denver Childrens in good weather...... Again, the pay is not great in Denver with the contrast of housing costs.