Fort Collins
June 30, 2010
Fort Ranks High Yet Again!
Fort Collins can be found on several lists as the place to live! This time, Portfolio.com has ranked Fort Collins third in the nation as a midsized metro area for quality of life. Key factors considered were:
- Health of the city’s economy
- Cost of living
- Traffic
- housing stock and
- education level of residents
We’re certainly not surprised! Just in the last year, Fort Collins was ranked No. 7 for best mid-sized metropolitan areas by Bizjournals.com, ranked by Forbes as the second best place for businesses and careers, ranked No. 1 by Next Generation Consulting as the best place to live and work for young professionals, and the National Resource’s Defense Council ranked Fort Collins the third midsized city on the “Smart Cities” sustainability list.
And let’s not forget that in 2006, Money Magazine named Fort Collins as the number one place to live in the nation!
(Photo and article courtesy of The Coloradoan)
May 18, 2010:
A Taste of Summer: Fort Collins Farmers’ Markets
Fort Collins was built by agriculture and today, is still a leading authority on agribusiness, known for its preservation of the science and progressive stance toward environmental sustainability. One of the great perks to living in the area is the access to the abundance of fresh fruit, produce, and other locally grown products. Every Spring, residents look forward to filling their reusable shopping bags with fresh (and often organic) peaches, tomatoes, lettuce and even honey! Be sure to click on the each markets’ link to see a list of venders and to learn more about all of Fort Collins’ farmers’ market, check out the Colorado Farmers Market Association.
Larimer County Farmers’ Market:
Location: 200 W. Oak Street (Larimer County Courthouse Parking Lot–north side of Oak Street between Mason and Howes) Hours: Saturday 8AM-Noon June 28th-October 16th. Also check out Local Harvest for information.
Location: Parking lot on SW Corner of Harmony and Lemay Hours: Sundays 11AM-3PM and Wednesdays 11AM-3PM May through October.
Location: Northwest parking lot on Drake and Worthington Hours: Saturdays 10AM-1PM April 17th-September 25th. Like all the other farmers’ markets, you’ll not only find fruits and vegetables, but also wines, pastas, honey, bread, coffee, jewelry and lots more!
If you can’t make it to the markets, consider partaking in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) that is offered through many farmers, ranchers and dairy producers throughout the county. You can even split shares with neighbors and friends–it’s an easy way to support local growers and eat healthy and (often) organic foods.
May 7, 2010:
Sunset Magazine Features Fort Collins!
Fort Collins landed itself on the pages of the latest issue (May 2010) of Sunset Magazine–not that we’re surprised–since this city has so much to offer. Sunset praised our scenic college town for being bike commuter-friendly (even “crazy for bikes”) and welcoming. Here’s a list of the magazine’s Fort Collins favorites:
1. Poudre River Trail, a scenic paved pedestrian and biker thoroughfare that runs along 10 miles of the Poudre River.
2. Brave New Wheel for their vintage cruisers and Full Cycle where you can rent a bike from $10 for 4 hours
3. The Bean Cycle, a bike and eco-friendly coffee shop that also houses an in-store, nonprofit bookstore.
4. Downtown’s Perennial Gardener, a gardening and gift shop that also has a courtyard out back with pots, fountains and other garden decor. A local favorite!
5. New Belgium Brewing Company, well loved for their brews, bikes and tours. Located along the Poudre River Trail, it’s the perfect place to bike to for a free tour of their “green” facilities and for it’s famous Fat Tire Ale.
Speaking of beer. . . Did you know that Fort Collins has the most microbreweries per capita in Colorado? Don’t miss our other great breweries: Fort Collins Brewery, Odell Brewing Company and our newest, Equinox Brewing, where you can learn to make your own beer. We can’t leave out the “King of Beers”, Anheuser-Busch Brewery that operates four miles from downtown, offering tours that includes a visit to the Clydesdale horses. Sunset also gave a shout-out to some local favorites: CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing, the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant and the Fort Collins Bike Library where you can borrow a bike for free for up to 7 days.
May 5, 2010:
Cache La Poudre River Canyon
Living in Northern Colorado, we are extremely fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful mountains, rivers and wilderness areas. The Poudre Canyon offers a refuge for those who love to hike, camp, hunt, bike, kayak, fish, picnic…the list goes on. Just follow Highway 14 west out of Fort Collins and enjoy the views of stunning mountains, lodgepole pines, aspens and gorgeous rock formations all while the river meanders along side of you. In fact, the Poudre is designated as a Colorado Scenic Byway between Fort Collins and Walden, which is about a 3 hour drive.
Wonder where the name, Cache La Poudre came from? It is the place where French trappers hid their gunpowder during a blizzard in the early 1800s. Flowing north and east through Roosevelt National Forest, it tumbles down the slopes of the Front Range and meanders through the city of Fort Collins. From its headwaters to the confluence with the South Platte River east of Greeley, the Cache la Poudre drops 7,000 feet.
So what’s there to do? Lots! There are a number of hiking trails along the highway, including Greyrock, Mount McConnel , Hewlett Gulch and many more. Click here for information and locations. Gateway Natural Area is perfect for half a day of fishing, hiking and picnicking and it’s located at the lower end of the canyon–just 15 miles from Fort Collins. After a day of hiking, fishing and sightseeing, check out a concert. That’s right…a concert! Mishawaka Amphitheater, called “The Mish” by locals, is located 16 miles from Fort Collins in the canyon and hosts a number of music concerts throughout the summer, including Brandi Carlile, George Clinton, and a Reggae festival in July.
Check out these other attractions you’ll find in the canyon:
Mark your calendars: June 5th is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day!
April 28, 2010:
Fort Collins Golf
Fort Collins and its neighboring towns have some of the most beautiful and award-winning golf courses around. Whether you avidly swing the clubs, or are a novice in the sport, there’s a place for you on the greens!
City Park Nine Golf Course
This course features 3,325 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 36 . The course rating is 69.9 and it has a slope rating of 123 on Blue grass. Designed by Fort Collins Golf Association, the City Park Nine golf course opened in 1940. Located at 411 South Bryan Avenue, in City Park, the course consists of tight fairways, small greens and mature trees.
Fees: $16 for 9 holes, $30 for 18.
Visit their website for more information or call 970-221-6650.
Collindale Golf Course
This 18-hole course features features 7,026 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 . Designed by Frank Hummel, the Collindale golf course opened in 1971 and is located at 1441 East Horsetooth Road. Consistently recognized as having some of the best (and fastest) greens in the state, it is the home of local U.S. Open Qualifying and a perennial favorite for many State amateur events.
Fees: $16-18 for a standard 9 holes, $30-33 for 18.
Visit their website for more information or call 970-221-6651
Link-n-Greens Golf Course
This course features features 4,897 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 64 . Link N Greens golf course opened in 1986 and is located at 777 East Lincoln Avenue where you’ll find a historic wood and stone barn built by homesteader, John G. Coy in 1869. The course terrain is flat, easy to walk, with stunning views of the mountains.
Fees: $16-18 for 9 holes, $30-33 for 18. Driving range: $4 (small bucket) $8 (large bucket)
Visit their website for more information or call 970-221-4818
Mountain Vista Greens
This course features 3,328 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 36, was designed by Victor Tawara and opened in 1992. It is located 2808 NE Frontage Road and as it’s name implies, has spectacular views of the mountains.
Fees: $15-17 for 9 holes, $28-31 for 18.
Visit their website for more information or call 970-482-4847
Southridge Golf Club
This course features 6,378 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71, designed by Frank Hummel, and opened in 1985. It is located 5750 South Lemay Avenue, offering scenic views and challenging tee shots from multiple tee boxes, Southridge is ideal for players of all levels and ages.
Fees: $16-18 for 9 holes, $30-33 for 18.
Visit their website for more information or call 970-416-2828.
Fort Collins also offers private courses:
Harmony Golf Club (Timnath–5 miles from Fort Collins)
Notable Courses in the northern Colorado area:
Highland Meadows Golf Course (Windsor–8 miles from Fort Collins)
Mariana Butte Golf Course (Loveland–10 miles from Fort Collins)
Pelican Lakes Golf and Country Club (Windsor–8 miles from Fort Collins)
Mad Russian Golf Course (Milliken–16 miles from Fort Collins)
March 31, 2010:
Downtown Fort Collins
So many cities boasts a downtown area that has great locally-owned shops and restaurants. Downtown Fort Collins has more than just that–it has a rich history of early settlement and architecture–there’s a reason it’s called “Old Town”–the heart of it at Mountain and College Avenues.
To learn some of the fascinating history of early Euro-American settlers and Native Americans, the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center, located at 200 Mathews Street, houses a vast collection of artifacts and archives. To learn more about Fort Collins’ architectural history, just take a walk! The Linden Hotel, one of the most well-known and admired buildings is located at the corner of Linden Street and Walnut where you will find great shops, such as Nature’s Own Imagination. Check out the Historic Walking Tour of Fort Collins map and grab your walking shoes! Best part–it’s free!
The Downtown Business Association is a wonderful resource for all things Fort Collins, particularly the history, tours, and business information. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Downtown/Old Town community and you can visit them at 19 Old Town Square, Suite #230 or at (970) 484-6500.
And we can’t forget the world-class shopping and dining that Downtown and Old Town offers! There is something for everyone, whether it’s gifts, clothing, souvenirs, or food. The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant may have a 3 margarita limit, but there is no limit to the fun atmosphere and food! Coopersmiths Pub & Brewing is local favorite offering pub fare, their own locally-brewed beers and several billiards, in an upscale yet casual atmosphere. For the Italian food-lover, Bisetti’s, locally-own and operated for over 30 years is a must, not just for their homemade pasta, but their famous Tiramisu and cheesecake!
There are so many unique shops–one could spend an entire day Downtown and still not hit them all! The Cupboard, a kitchen specialty store has been a successful, locally-owned and operated business since 1972.
Located in the historic Firehouse building on Walnut Street, Old Firehouse Books is an independent bookseller offering new and used titles of all genres. After purchasing a great book, hop next door to Happy Lucky’s Teahouse and Treasures where you can sip on unique and flavorful teas, or choose from a huge selection of bulk teas to take home. (They also offer lattes and cappuccinos). You will also find many fairly-traded and recycled goods handmade from Cambodia and other places.
For a list of Downtown and Old Town businesses, click here.
It doesn’t end there! The DBA also hosts a number of popular events throughout the year such as the First Friday Gallery Walk, Colorado BrewFest, Fourth of July entertainment, Farmer’s Markets and more! For a month-by-month list of events, click here.
March 23, 2010:
Shopping in Fort Collins
We are lucky enough here in Fort Collins to have lots of options for retail shopping and Front Range Village houses a variety of stores offering electrics, groceries, apparel and more. Some stores include: Super Target, Toys R Us, Ultimate Electronics, Sprouts Farmer’s Market, Lowe’s, Sephora and Learning Express Toys.
When you’ve worked up an appetite from shopping, there are lots of restaurants to chose from such as: Panera Bread, Suehiro Japanese Restaurant, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Cafe Athens.
In addition to retails shops, Front Range Village also includes the southeast branch of the Fort Collins Public Library.
Front Range Village is located on the corner of Harmony Road and Ziegler Road, just 2.5 miles west of I-25. Get directions here.
March 8, 2010:
Performing Arts
Fort Collins hosts some of the state’s most creative and dynamic performing arts facilities offering professional theater, dance, music, visual arts, and children’s programs.
The Lincoln Center, located at 417 W. Magnolia Street in Downtown Fort Collins, houses a 1,180-seat performance hall and a 220-seat theater, along with three galleries, and an outdoor sculpture/terrace/performance garden. It also has two conference/special events rooms available for rentals.
The building, which was constructed in the mid-1970s, is the largest of its type in Fort Collins, and likely all of Larimer County. It is also home to the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and regularly attracts national touring companies of Broadway plays.
The Lincoln Center has a variety of season packages available. Series include Showstoppers, Anything Goes, Classical, Dance, Adventure Cinema, and the Imagination Series. Tickets are available for order through the Lincoln Center website, or by calling the Lincoln Center Box Office at 970-221-6730.
The Bas Bleu Theatre Company, located at 401 Pine Street in Downtown Fort Collins, hosts an intimate “salon” atmosphere and has served over 32,000 patrons since it opened its doors in 1992. Supporting local artists and performers, Bas Bleu is known for their bold and adventurous performances and also collaborates with local high schools and students from Colorado State University.
Don’t miss the upcoming performance of Dancing in Combat Boots, based on the book by local author, Teresa Funke on April 6th and 7th. Click here to order tickets, or call 970-498-8949.
February 23, 2010:
First Friday Gallery Walk
With a thriving art scene, Fort Collins is a great location for both emerging and veteran artists. First Friday Gallery Walk is held every first Friday of month from 6-9pm. Don’t miss the next one, March 5th! This is a self-guided tour through Old Town art galleries that offer refreshments and a chance to not only view different types of art, but oftentimes, to meet and chat with the artists themselves.
For a map and schedule of the Gallery Walk, check it out here.
Check out some great art from Fort Collins artists:
