On our grand adventure through Texas and Colorado, one of our must-stop locations was none other than Fort Collins, Colorado. We actually lived in the Fort Collins area several years back, and we absolutely LOVE it. Fort Collins is such a beautiful, special place. Home to Colorado State University, Fort Collins is perfectly situated below the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and is just a short drive not only from Estes Park, but also from Denver and the Wyoming border.
Fort Collins is great for families! While we were there for a weekend, we visited some of our favorite places, which we’ll highlight below:
“Old Town” Fort Collins was actually the inspiration for Disney’s “Mainstreet USA.” Here you can find great restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. We especially love Mary’s Mountain Cookies, Clothes Pony and Dandelion Toys, Buttercream Cupcakery, Spoons, and Beaux Jo’s Pizza.
This is such a fun, relaxed place to take the kids. At Lee Martinez Park, there’s an actual farm that also offers pony rides in the summer! There are lots of animals and seasonal activities.
A perfect place for a picnic, a hike, or a scenic drive, this beautiful lake is a must-see while visiting Fort Collins.
This is such a fun place for kids! It’s a perfect blend of hands-on, interactive displays and historic/scientific artifacts. There’s also a huge digital dome theater inside with impressive daily shows.
the view from the rooftop
Take a drive on a Colorado Historic and Scenic Byway for beautiful views of the beautiful Poudre River. There are also plenty of recreational opportunities here as well! We enjoyed picnicking and rock scrambling along the river. There are places to pull off and park along the Poudre.
Colorado State University
CSU played a large role during one season of our lives, and it was only fitting that we stopped by the campus and visited the Oval! We have always loved visiting the beautiful trial gardens, and we knew it would be a great place to let the kids run around for a while! In my mind, this is a must-see while you’re visiting Fort Collins! It’s free, it’s conveniently located, and it’s a great place for photos.
I’m sure it won’t be long until we find ourselves back in Northern Colorado… Fort Collins is less than an hour away from Rocky Mountain National Park! Check out our memorable stay at the YMCA of the Rockies in this post!
Disclosure: We received a complimentary meal and attractions for purposes of this post. As always, all experiences are our own!
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