15 Amazing Things to Do in Fort Collins, Colorado
15 Amazing Things to Do
Old Town Square
Starting with arguably the best part of Fort Collins. Old Town, Fort Collins is a lively downtown area that offers plenty of shopping, delicious restaurants, and incredible nightlife. It is located just east of South College Ave and west of Riverside Ave. The architecture and streets of Historic Old Town bring a beautiful display in design. In fact, the co-designer of Disneyland’s Main Street USA, Harper Golf, grew up in Fort Collins and used Old Town Square as the model for Disneyland’s Main Street USA building designs. Old Town is perfect during the day with families and fills with college kids at night, you wonβt be bored.
Fort Collins Trolly
The Fort Collins Trolly is a summer treat. On the weekends, it runs from West Mountain Avenue through City Park to South Howard Street in downtown Fort Collins. The train has been restored from its original form but still rests on the Fort Collins Municipal Railway. It is about a 30-minute drive and is a perfect thing to do when you are visiting with kids!
Fort Collins Historic Buildings
Fort Collins has grown through new retail buildings and the modern construction of homes. With Fort Collins’s incredible history, dating back to the 1860s, there are many buildings throughout the town that are still viewable today. The buildings include churches, schools, residential homes, and even train depots. Here are 3 of my favorite sites to check out. The most famous historic building resides in the Avery House. Located on West Mountain Ave, it was home to Franklin Avery, the man behind the wide streets in Fort Collins, the First National Bank, and the building of agriculture in Northern Colorado. The home was built for only $3,000 and still stands today. The home has private group tours or weekly open houses. A second favorite historical building is the Saint Joseph Catholic Church. Also located on West Mountain Ave, it was a destination for traveling priests between 1866 and 1878. It is a stunning church from the inside out. Lastly on your historic buildings tour is the 1883 Water Works. This historical spot is located northwest of downtown Fort Collins and was designed to give Fort Collins enough water supply to fight off the wildfires that ran through the town.
Foco in the Fall
Visit a Brewery
Fort Collins is known for its incredible craft beer, making it the craft beer capital of Colorado. The town is filled with more than 20 breweries, all with some of the best-brewed beer I have ever experienced. My favorite brewery to visit is the famous New Belgium Brewery. It is located a quick walk north of downtown Fort Collins. At New Belgium Brewery, you can sign up for a free brewery tour, enjoy a beer on the lawn, or go for one of their special events. Another crowd favorite is the Odell Brewery due to its on-site food trucks, weekly live music, and daily tours. Both breweries claim that Fort Collins is a perfect home due to the purity of water from the Poudre River.
New Belgium Brewery
Go to Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is located about an hour southwest of downtown Fort Collins. If you came to Colorado for the mountains, you donβt want to miss this national park. It is located just off of Estes Park which is another cute mountain town. Fun fact, Dumb & Dumber, and The Shining both feature the Stanly Hotel, which is located in the heart of Estes Park. Beyond Estes Parkβs shopping and dining, you will find miles of hiking trails in the heart of the Rocky Mountain National Park. If you end up visiting during winter you can still enjoy the trails by snowshoeing.
Snowshoeing in RMNP
Have a Coffee at a Trendy Coffee Shop
Just like it is known for its craft beer, it is also known for its charming coffee shops. There are many to choose from but I have written down my favorites for you. The AlleyCat Cafe is one of my favorite coffee shops of all time. It is located in a small alleyway and the atmosphere has a one-of-a-kind feel to it. Another popular and trendy coffee shop is Mugs, either downtown Fort Collins or right across from Colorado State University. They have everything from coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, and even breakfast burritos. Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed the coffee from Dutch Bros. It may not be a trendy coffee shop because it lacks an inside, however, the coffee is incredible. Dutch Bros is located throughout the United States but has three locations residing in Fort Collins. If you need a quick pick-me-up, skip Starbucks and head to Dutch Bros.
Lory State Park
Lory State Park is located about 20 minutes west of Old Town, Fort Collins. Situated right behind Horsetooth Reservoir, Lory State Park is an outdoor playground. It is known for its hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and even horseback riding. If you want to go for a hike but donβt want to drive all the way to Rocky Mountain National Park, Lory State Park is the perfect place for you.
Gardens on Spring Creek
Visit Horsetooth Reservoir
Horsetooth Reservoir is a large reservoir located just west of Fort Collins. It is a scenic outdoor paradise that stretches 6.5 miles north to south. If you are driving you can stop at one of the incredible Horsetooth Lookouts located off of Centennial Drive. For those visiting in the summer, you can enjoy boating, paddle boarding, or even cliff jumping.
Enjoy Breakfast at Silver Grille Cafe
Silver Grill CafΓ© is Fort Collins’ best breakfast spot, donβt let anyone tell you otherwise. They are known for their hearty breakfast and giant freshly baked cinnamon rolls. On the weekends, you can also enjoy a Make-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar. Pro tip: if you want a taste of the cinnamon roll but not the entire thing, you can ask for the cinnamon roll toast with any meal you order. The cinnamon roll toast is a sliced piece of a cinnamon roll that then gets grilled and buttered.. my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
After Breakfast, Enjoy a Fine Dining Restaurant for Dinner
After studying Hospitality Management at Colorado State University, I learned that Fort Collins has also made its way with the culinary scene. It is one of Coloradoβs most popular foodie destinations due to its thriving agriculture industry. Fort Collins truly has all different cuisines (maybe best to make another post on this?) but some of my favorite fine dining restaurants are RARE Italian, The Still Whiskey Steaks, Bistro Nautile, and Sonny Lubick Steakhouse, Jayβs Bistro, Blue Agave, and The Emporium. All of these restaurants are located in Old Town Square.
Cache La Poudre River
Poudre Canyon is about 40 miles long through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and northwest of Fort Collins. Poudre Canyon is an easy drive from Fort Collins on Colorado Highway 14. Cache La Poudre River is one of Coloradoβs wild and scenic rivers. You can hike, fish, raft, kayak, or canoe the Cache La Poudre River.
Go to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Have a Picnic in the Oval at Colorado State University
The Oval is located at the start of Colorado State University on South Howes Street. Although Fort Collins is a college town, it is known for a lot more than that. This oval is a nationally recognized landmark for its green space and American Elm Trees. If it is summer, you will see many people enjoying the beautiful weather, the stunning views, and the open green space.
Visit Fort Collins during Tour de Fat or the Annual Flower Trial Garden
Both events are incredible for different reasons. The Annual Flower Trial Garden is from May to October. You will see common favorites like roses and petunias, and many other exotic plants or flowers. It is intended to evaluate the different flowers under the Rocky Mountain environmental condition. It is free to enter and is a beautiful sight to see. On the other hand, Tour De Fat is an annual summer bike parade usually held in early September. It is an event where you can dress crazy and bike around Fort Collins to some of the best breweries in town.
Leave a Reply