A day in Fort Collins is filled with endless opportunities for adventure. Where else could you spend the morning browsing a local farmers market, the afternoon touring a brewery, and the evening playing miniature golf?

Or experiment at a hands-on science center, meet a bald eagle and ride a vintage streetcar to the park for an afternoon swim? Or feel Colorado history come alive in the lovingly restored buildings from the late 1800s in Old Town? And if you get a sense of déjà vu, you must have been to Disneyland: Fort Collins served as the model for the happiest Main Street on earth.

Fort Collins' location just north of Denver, the Colorado state capital, makes it the perfect base camp for explorations of Southern Wyoming, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Pawnee National Grasslands and so much more. It's also the perfect place for a relaxing weekend getaway.

This guide provides information about day trips, the Poudre Canyon and attractions, sports and recreation, arts and culture, dining and accommodations. Find more information on the Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau website at visitftcollins.com or the Chamber or Commerce site at fortcollinschamber.com.

Old Town

The heart of Fort Collins where the city's rich history meets the present. While many of the original buildings remain (See the historic walking tour), the area has become a premier entertainment and shopping district with unique shops, fabulous art and stunning architecture. Old Town offers a variety of dining and cultural options as well.

St. Peter's Fly Shop
202 Remington Street
(970) 498-8968
www.stpetes.com
Full service fly shop offering premium equipment, classes, guided trips, and destination travel. Located in a unique historic building in downtown Fort Collins.

Colorado State University

Fort Collins' largest employer provides a number of opportunities for interesting experiences, from concerts and performances in the new Performing Arts Building in the Old Fort Collins High School to the many beautiful experimental gardens around campus. Colorado State University's roots go back to 1870, when the institution was founded as the Agricultural College of Colorado. Today, Colorado State has more than 22,000 students, and is a Carnegie Class I research institution with annual research expenditures topping $138 million.

RamTracks is a premier VIP tour series developed to showcase Colorado State University's prestigious programs and faculty, expand community outreach and connect with key target audiences. It is a unique outreach approach that features more hands-on opportunities for members of the public to learn about university initiatives and visit with faculty about their scholarship. To schedule a tour or learn more about RamTracks, please call (970) 491-3958 or visit ramtracks.colostate.edu.

Family Friendly

Family friendly activities abound in and around Fort Collins. Who wouldn't want to ride a miniature train through one of the city's prettiest parks? After that, skip across the street and spend the afternoon in the City Park Pool, completely remodeled in 2004 with water features, slides, zero-depth entry, a lazy river and wading pool, all with the youngest swimmers in mind.

If you're at City Park on a summer weekend, grab a ride to Old Town on the only original restored city streetcar operating in the western U.S. Car 21 takes you through the heart of old Fort Collins along the broad landscaped center of Mountain Avenue.

Lee Martinez Park is a city park with a barnyard. The Farm at Lee Martinez Park introduces kids to agricultural heritage by letting them meet farm animals up close; ponies are available for rides in the summer.

For an indoor, all-season swimming/skating sensation, drop in at EPIC - that stands for the Edora Pool and Ice Center, the city's largest swimming facility which also houses two sheets of ice for open skates as well as amateur hockey league play. And if you prefer skating on dry land, check out the city's skate parks, here in Edora Park and in Fossil Creek Park. Just watch out for the flying disks sailing around the disk-golf courses. There's a reason locals call our town Fort Fun.

Then there is the actual Fort Fun; the family amusement spot complete with miniature golf and bowling, go-karts, laser tag, paddle boats, arcade games and a full-service kitchen for refueling. Groups of all ages enjoy Fort Fun.

For a different kind of indoor excitement, the whole family will be fascinated by the incredible hands-on exhibits at the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center. Changing displays and special events make learning about the world fun over and over again.

The Environmental Learning Center is a 212-acre nature preserve just minutes from downtown and includes nearly three miles of trails, four habitats, several ponds, and plant and animal life to explore. The injured birds of prey at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center, located on E. Vine Drive, welcome visitors interested in their rehabilitation and release.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beaver Meadows Resort and Stables (Estes Park, Fort Collins)
100 Marmot Drive
Red Feather Lakes CO 80545
(970)231-1955
www.beavermeadowsstables.com
Scenic trail rides into the beautiful Roosevelt National Forest. 25 miles of trail starting at 8500ft and up. Overnight rides and dinner rides!
Winter sleigh rides and horse back rides in the snow. Full service Resort Ranch with restaurant, lodge, fishing, tubing hill with lift, cross country skiing and more!

	Fort Collins Golf Courses
		South Ridge Golf Club 5750 S. Lemay Ave., Fort Collins (970) 416-2828 A regulation-length 18-Hole municipal golf course on 128 acres, and features gentle rolling hills, sculptured fairways with challenging sand and water hazards, well-manicured greens, and tee boxes with diverse elevations offering breathtaking views of the nearby majestic Rocky Mountains. Fossil Creek and Mail Creek both wind their way through the course. South Ridge has been voted the "Best of Fort Collins" annually since 1999.
		City Park Nine 411 South Bryan Avenue (970) 221-6650 City Park Nine is a regulation length 9 hole municipal golf course that offers enjoyment and challenges for players of all ages and abilities. Built in 1940 and located next to historic City Park and Grandview Cemetery, the course features tight fairways, small greens, and mature trees. Consistently recognized as the "Best Nine Hole Golf Course" in Colorado, City Park Nine is a unique experience for the casual player or golf purist.
		Collindale Golf Course 1441 E. Horsetooth Road (970) 221-6651 A championship regulation length 18 hole municipal golf course situated on 160 acres. It has been the home of local U.S. Open Qualifying and a perennial favorite for many State amateur events. Collindale features some of the finest quality greens in the entire Rocky Mountain region, as well as a 15,000 square foot clubhouse. If you enjoy great golf, then you will enjoy Collindale.