Not just about the money: ‘You can be at peace’

Former Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Murphy Phanhdone has covered some ground: He grew up outside Chicago and has lived in Florida and California. But it took just one five-day vacation to sell him on the greater Denver area.

“There are so many things the Denver metro area has to offer. You can be in the city and it can be 90 degrees, and you can drive west for 45 minutes or an hour and it's snowing,” he said. “You can leave the city and the people and just be in the trees, out in nature. In 45 minutes, you can be at peace.”

An IT project analyst in the project management office of the DaVita kidney care organization — one of Military Times’ Best for Vets: Employers 2016 — Phanhdone lives in Aurora, another high-ranking Best for Vets destination, just a 45-minute train ride from his job.
Some of his favorite Denver draws? There’s VFW Post 1, where he serves as junior vice commander. It’s an active post, with programs in art and yoga. He’s also a big fan of Denver’s art district on Santa Fe Drive, a lively cultural zone boasting more than 60 galleries, restaurants and shops.

Ultimately, though, it’s the people who make the place.

“I can’t tell you how often I see people just walking down the street smiling, having conversations,” he said. “You can go into the park on any given day and you find people who are so inviting, who just want to talk to you.”