I haven't been to Sand Flats, but Shafer Trail is easily done in rental 4x4s (Tahoe/Yukon, Suburban/Yukon XL, new Explorers, Armadas, and even Acadias). We take a trip there a few times a year for work (oil&gas) to show new employees what they are looking at in log data in real life, and we rent SUVs (those listed…

Houston is definitely a good bang for your buck city. Our ~150K 4/2.5/2 here in Houston is easily a ~300-400K in Denver, which my wife recently visited. Cost of living is great, and despite the urban sprawl, offers just about anything you can imagine!

You get used to it, and just find a place to live that has what you need close by. My group of friends has gone from everyone living in the near-NW (610-290 area) to all over, and we all joke with each other about what a pain it is to visit one another these days, thanks to the drive.

My wife just flew to Denver from Houston via Spirit, and while it was cheap, I was flabbergasted at the fees they charged for things. She's 5'8", and the seat space (without the upgrade charge) was ridiculously small. Being 6"3" myself, I would have been forced to upgrade (as I just fit in normal airline seat spaces.)…

That's how my family would always order Whoppers (unless Dad screwed up and just said Whoppers). How is this a secret, we were ordering them 20 years ago! haha